J43 



PAPAVEU. OPIUM. 



PAPAVER. OPIUM. 



250 



The great pains now taken in the culture and preparation of 

 Indian opium induce a preference for it over the other kinds. 

 If Indian opium contain generally more narcotine, it is on that 

 account perhaps better suited to cases in which the stimulating action 

 is wished. 



Good opium is not perfectly soluble in water ; J^th generally remains 

 undissolved, consisting of the caoutchouc and resin. Constantinople 

 opium, however, leaves no residuum of caoutchouc. When opium is 

 entirely soluble in water, it may be suspected to have been prepared by 

 boiling the bruised capsules and leaves, and it is of a very inferior kind. 

 The specific gravity of good opium is 1'336, if great mechanical impu- 

 rities are not present. It is very inflammable, and burns with a clear 

 flame, and forms a transparent alcoholic solution. Opium from the 

 bruised capsules is not inflammable, and forms a turbid alcoholic solu- 

 tion. When gum arabic or tnv^acanth i.s used to adulterate it, the 

 specimen forms, when rubbed with one part of alcohol and two of 

 water, a tremulous gelatinous mixture. 



It must be obvious that a substance of so complicated a nature 

 cannot act uniformly on organised beings, even supposing them to be 

 r.lways constituted alike, which never is the case, since they vary 

 according to age, constitution, habits of life, states of disease and idio- 

 syncrasy, &c. Some of the effects which follow the employment of 

 opium have been attributed to one prinicple and some to another ; but, 

 with a fe\v exceptions, nothing positive has been ascertained. Morphia 

 is by no means the only sedative principle ; and narcotine, so long 

 regarded as the stimulating principle, in, when pare, nearly if not quite 

 inert. The odorous principle is unquestionably powerful, though it 

 has no reseuibl ince to hydrocyanic acid. The collectors of opium are 

 generally pale and affected with tremblings. If opium be heated, the 

 odour evolved is fatal to animals, and persons have fallen down in a 

 state of insensibility from breathing an air charged with the vapour of 

 opium in some pharmaceutical processed. 



It is most probable that the extractive and resinous principles, with 

 the meconic acid, which seems to modify the properties of the morphia, 

 are the stimulating ingredients of opium, and that the getting rid of 

 some or all of these, as in the watery extract of opium, and a few of 

 the secret preparations of opium, constitute the superiority of these 

 preparations, as ealmants, over crude opium, or the officinal preparations 

 in which they are retained. 



A most extensive series of experiments have been instituted to 

 determine the effects of opium : on vegetables by Marcet and Macaire ; 

 on animals by Charvet; and on man by numerous physiologists, 

 including Charvet. From these it appears that opium acts as a poison 

 to plants, by destroying their irritability. According to Charvet, in 

 the case of the sensitive plant, where the opium failed to kill the sub- 

 ject of experiment, and it slowly recovered its irritability, yet the 

 further growth was completely stopped. " In the animal kingdom, 

 < 'hnrvet tried its effectn on mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibia, fishes, 

 insects (both in their perfect and larval states), the annelides, the 

 mollusca, polypiphcra, and polygastrica, and found that it acted on all 

 as a poison, but with somewhat different effects according to their 

 organisation. Thus on man it may produce congestion of the brain 

 (marked by sopor and apoplectic symptoms), or irritation of the brain 

 and spinal marrow (indicated by convulsions and pain), or a sedative 

 effect (manifested by paralysis). 



In other mammals, two kinds of effects are seen for the most part ; 

 the one of irritation, the 'other of diminished nervous power, symptoms 

 of congestion being altogether wanting or very slight. This differ- 

 ence of effect corresponds with a difference in the development of the 

 brain. 



In the invertebrated animals, no symptoms of irritation seem to be 

 caused by opium. This poison in them acts only on the contractile 

 tissues, and produces symptoms of weakness or loss of contractile 

 power. 



In the animal series, the action of opium varies with the degree of 

 development of the nervous system ; and in the lowest orders the 

 effects are quite analogous to those observed in vegetables. (Pereira.) 

 \Vilmer, ' Die Wirkung der Arzueimittel und Qifte in gesunden 

 therischen Korper,' in which all the experiments are given in a classified 

 arrangement.) 



Much disputation has taken place respecting the question, whether 

 opium be a stimulant or a sedative, and most unnecessarily, as its 

 i depends, in general, on the quantity taken, the frequency of 

 i cputitiiin, and the state of the system when it is administered. That 

 to persons in health, if the dose be small, it is a stimulant, seems 

 unquestionable ; and this is proved by the fact that the habitual 

 opium-eaters consume it for the sake of its primarily stimulant effect, 

 and not for the sake of the depression, languor, and suffering which 

 succeed. The different degrees of action, resulting from a difference 

 of dose, are so ably given by Dr. Pereira that they may be quoted 

 here verbatim. 



1. first Hfjrte of Operation. " In small doses, such as from a 

 quarter of a grain to one grain, opium generally acts as a stimulant, 

 though in this respect the symptoms are not uniform. Usually the 

 vascular system is somewhat excited, and a sensation of fulness is 

 experienced about the heart. The excitement in the cerebral vascular 

 system is accompanied by alterations in the condition of the nervous 

 functions. The mind is exhilarated, the ideas flow more quickly, a 



pleasurable or comfortable condition of the whole system is expe- 

 rienced, which is difficult to describe ; there is a capability of greater 

 exertion than usual. These symptoms are followed by a diminution of 

 muscular power, and of susceptibility to the impression of external 

 objects ; a desire of repose is experienced, with a tendency to sleep. 

 While these effects are taking place, the mouth and throat become dry, 

 and hunger is diminished, though the thirst is increased ; and slight 

 constipation usually follows. 



" Such are the common effects of a small dose of opium on persons 

 unaccustomed to its use ; but by repetition the influence of this agent 

 becomes remarkably diminished, and those therefore who resort to it 

 for the purpose of producing a pleasurable stimulus are obliged to 

 increase the quantity in order to keep up an equal effect. 



2. Second Deyrte of Operation. " Given in a full medicinal dose, such 

 as two or four grains, the stage of excitement is soon followed by that 

 of depression. The pulse, which at first is increased in fulness and 

 frequency, is afterwards reduced below the natural standard. The 

 skin becomes hot, the mouth and throat dry, the appetite diminished, 

 the thirst increased, and frequently nausea or even vomiting is induced. 

 The symptoms of excitement soon pass away, and a state of torpor 

 succeeds ; the individual feels indisposed to exertion, the muscular 

 system appears enfeebled, the force of impressions on the organs of the 

 senses is diminished, and the ideas become confused. This state is 

 followed by an almost irresistible desire to sleep, which is frequently 

 attended by dreams, sometimes of a pleasing, at others of a frightful 

 nature. 



" These effects are usually succeeded by constipation (which may 

 continue for several days), by nausea, furred tongue, headache, and 

 listlessness." 



3. Third Dc'jree of Operation ; Poisonous Eftcti of Opium, as given 

 by Dr. Christison. " The symptoms of poisoning with opium, when 

 it is administered at once in a dangerous dose, begin with giddiness 

 and stupor, generally without any previous stimulus. The stupor 

 rapidly increasing, the person becomes motionless and insensible to 

 external impression ; he breathes very slowly, generally lies quite still, 

 with the eyes shut and the pupils contracted ; and the whole expres- 

 sion of the countenance is that of deep and perfect repose. As the 

 poisoning advances, the features become ghastly, the pulse feeble and 

 imperceptible, the muscles exceedingly relaxed, and, unless assistance 

 is speedily procured, death ensues. If a person recovers, the stupor is 

 succeeded by prolonged sleep, which commonly ends iu twenty-four 

 or thirty-six hours, and is followed by nausea, vomiting, giddiness, anil 

 loathing of food." 



The quantity which can produce a fatal effect in a person unaccus- 

 tomed to iU use is very small, even four grains ; and in children, 

 owing to the large quantity of blood which naturally goes to the brain, 

 and the great impressibility of their nervous system, a very minute 

 portion of opium, or of its numerous preparations, open or disguised, 

 can produce death. These facts constitute a strong reason for unskilful 

 persons refraining from its employment, and also for avoiding in this 

 place all details connected with its medical use. It is undoubtedly 

 one of the most important means of alleviating human suffering when 

 appropriately administered, and yet one of the greatest banes when 

 abused. It is by the self doctoring in general that the practice of 

 opium-eating is acquired ; and it is the more necessary to warn such 

 persons against commencing the use of it, even for the legitimate pur- 

 pose of overcoming disease, as they may inadvertently lapse into habits 

 which they may never be able to shake off. Further, it should be 

 known by those who are disposed to adopt this practice, that the 

 habitual consumers of this drug have recourse to it again and again, 

 not so much for the sake of the pleasurable sensations it can excite, 

 as to escape the muety, mental and bodily, which their previous 

 indulgence has entailed upon them. (Dr. Oppenheim's State of 

 Medicine.') 



It is necessary to place this statement before the public, as there is 

 reason to believe that the practice of taking opium is becoming com- 

 mon in this country, where other stimulants are relinquished. Besides 

 the injury done to the moral faculties and the general health, the 

 quantity required to procure the desired excitement becomes at last so 

 great as to render it a most expensive, and, to the poor, a ruinous 

 habit. It has been alleged, in cases connected with life-insurance, that 

 this habit has no tendency to shorten life. But the instances adduced 

 in support of this view are quite inadequate to warrant such a con- 

 clusion, and all those demonstrating the longevity of opium-smokers 

 in the East are altogether inapplicable. The effects of opium-smoking 

 are by no means so pernicious as those of opium-eating. The prepara- 

 tion which the opium undergoes seems to disarm it of much of its 

 injurious property. The Chinese employ only the soluble part of the 

 opium after it has been half roasted, which they term smokeable 

 extract, or cliandoo, of which 50 or 51 per cent, is obtainable from 

 Patna opium, and 70 to 75 per cent, from Malwa opium. This extract 

 retains all the bitterness of the opium, but has not in the least degree 

 the virose and nauseous odour which characterises crude opium. The 

 more it has a brown colour, the milder and more ngreeable is the 

 odour. If well prepared, it resembles the taste of hazel-nuts. It is 

 not mixed with tobacco, as some writers assert, and is smoked out of a 

 very different kind of pipe, one made of a cane of bamboo with two 

 joints to it. The smoke is held in the mouth as long as possible, and 



