PAP 



OR, BOTANICAL DICTIONARY. 



PAP 



241 



and spasm, and procures sleep; while others affirm, that when 

 thus applied it has no effect whatsoever. Applied to the 

 naked nerves of animals, it produces torpor and loss of power 

 in all the muscles with which the nerves communicate. The 

 officinal preparations of this drug are Opium Purificatum, 

 Pilula Exopio, Pulvis Opiatus, Tinctura Opii, and Tinctura 

 Opii Camphorata. It also enters into the Pulvis Sudorificus, 

 Balsamum Anodynum, Electuarium Japonicum, Pulvis Ecreta 

 Composita, &c. The requisite dose of Opium varies in 

 different persons, as well as in different states of the same 

 persons. A quarter of a grain in one adult will produce 

 effects which ten times the quantity will not do in another ; 

 and a dose that might prove fatal in cholera 9r colic, would 

 not be perceptible in many cases of mania or tetanus. The 

 lowest fatal dose to those unaccustomed to it, seems to be 

 about four grains ; but a dangerous dose is so apt to occasion 

 vomiting, that it has seldom time to cause death. When 

 given in too small a dose, it often produces disturbed sleep, 

 and other unpleasant consequences; and on the other hand 

 a small dose will sometimes produce sound sleep and alle- 

 viation of symptoms, when a larger one would not have suc- 

 ceeded. Its general operation is supposed to last about 

 eight hours. It is well known, that by continued habit 

 Opium may be taken in large quantities ; indeed an instance 

 is recorded, in which it was increased to ten drachms a day. 

 About twenty drops of the Tinctura Theba'ica, or Laudanum, 

 are considered as nearly equivalent to a grain of Opium. 

 Natives of the eastern countries, who are addicted to the 

 use of it, will sometimes take incredible quantities. The 

 heads or capsules of this plant are also powerfully anodyne; 

 and when boiled in water, they impart their narcotic juice. 

 The liquor, when strongly pressed out, suffered to settle, 

 clarified with whites of eggs, and evaporated to a due con- 

 sistence, yields an extract possessing the virtues of Opium, 

 but requiring to be given in double the dose. It is said not 

 to occasion that nausea and giddiness which are the usual 

 effects of Opium. It is convenient to prepare the syrup from 

 this extract, by dissolving one drachm in two pounds and 

 a half of simple syrup. The Syrupies Papaveris Albi, as 

 directed by both colleges, is an useful anodyne, aud often 

 succeeds in procuring sleep when Opium fails ; it is also 

 more especially adapted to children. White Poppy heads are 

 also used externally in fomentations, either alone, or more 

 frequently added to the Decoctum Profomento. The seeds 

 possess not any narcotic power ; they consist of a simple 

 farinaceous matter, united with a bland oil, and are eaten as 



food in some countries. In addition to the above, the 



remarks of other medical gentlemen are subjoined, to afford 

 the reader every possible information on this important sub- 

 ject. Meyrick observes, that tW heads or seed-vessels, are 

 the parts to be made use of. Syrup of Diacodium is a very 

 strong decoction of them, boiled up to 'a due consistence 

 with sugar. This syrup is a gentle narcotic, easing pain, 

 and causing sleep ; half an ounce is a full dose for a grown 

 person, and for younger subjects the quantity must be'dimi- 

 nished accordingly. The seeds, beaten into an emulsion 

 with barley-water, are excellent for strangury and heat 

 of urine ; but they have none of the sleepy virtues of the 

 syrup, nor of the other parts or preparations of the Poppy. 

 Opium is nothing more than the milky juice of this plant 

 concreted into a solid form. It is procured by wounding the 

 heads, when they are almost ripe, with a five-edged instru- 

 ment, which makes as many parallel incisions from top to 

 bottom ; and the juice which flows from these wounds is the 

 next day scraped off, and the other side of the head wounded 

 in like manner. When a quantity of the juice is in this 



manner collected, it is worked together with a little water, 

 till it acquires the consistence and colour of pitch, after 

 which it is fit for use. Opium has a faint disagreeable smell, 

 and a bitterish, hot, biting taste : taken in proper doses, it 

 commonly produces sleep, and a short respite from pain ; 

 but great caution is required in the administration of it, for 

 it is a very powerful, and consequently, in unskilful hands, 

 a dangerous medicine. It relaxes the nerves, abates cramps 

 and spasmodic complaints, even those of the more violent 

 kind ; but it increases paralytic disorders, and all such as 

 proceed from weaknesses of the nervous system. It incras- 

 sates thin serous acrid humours, and thus proves frequently 

 a speedy cure for catarrhs and tickling coughs, but must 

 never be given in phthisical or inflammatory complaints} for 

 it dangerously checks expectoration, unless its effects are 

 counteracted by the addition of ammoniac or squills ; and by 

 producing a fulness and distention of the whole habit, it 

 exasperates all inflammatory symptoms, whether external or 

 internal. It promotes perspiration and sweat, but checks 

 all other evacuations ; and is good to stop purgings and 

 vomitings, but this is to be effected only by small doses, 

 carefully and judiciously given. With regard to the dose, 

 half a grain, or at most a grain, is in all common cases a 

 sufficient quantity; and even in cases which require larger 

 doses, it is in most cases advisable to repeat them more 

 frequently, than to give a larger quantity at a time. An 

 over dose of Opium occasions either immoderate mirth or 

 stupidity, redness of the face, swelling of the lips, relaxations 

 of the joints, giddiness of the head, deep sleep, accompanied 

 with turbulent dreams and convulsive starting, cold sweats, 

 and frequently death. Opium is imported into Europe from 

 Persia, Arabia, and other warm regions of Asia; and six 

 hundred thousand pounds of it are said to be annually 

 exported from the Ganges. The manner in which this drug 

 is there collected may assist the English cultivator; we 

 therefore insert the following detail of it. When the capsules 

 are half grown, at sun-set they make two longitudinal double 

 incisions, passing from below upwards, and taking care not 

 to penetrate the internal cavity. In Persia, Keempfer informs 

 us that a five-pointed knife is used for this purpose. The 

 incisions are repeated every evening, until each capsule has 

 received six or eight wounds: they are then allowed to ripen 

 their seeds. If the wound were to be made in the heat of 

 the day, a cicatrix would be too soon formed; while, on the 

 other hand, the night dews favour the extillation of the juice, 

 which old women, boys, and girls, collect early in the morn- 

 I ing, by scraping it off with a small iron scoop, and deposit 

 the whole in an earthen pot, where it is worked by the hand 

 in the open sunshine, until it becomes of a considerable 

 thickness. It is then formed into cakes of a globular shape, 

 and about four pounds in weight, and laid into little earthen 

 basins to be farther dried. These cakes are then covered 

 over with Poppy or Tobacco leaves, and thus dried until 

 they are fit for sale. Opium is however frequently adulte- 

 rated with cow-dung, the extract of the plant procured by 

 boiling, and various other preparations, which the rogues 

 who use them of course keep as secret as possible. It appears 

 that the Poppy may be cultivated to great advantage for the 

 purpose of obtaining Opium in Great Britain. Professor 

 Alston of Edinburgh said long since, that the milky juice 

 drawn- by incision from Poppy heads, and thickened either 

 in the sun or shade, even in this country, has all the cha- 

 racters of good Opium ; its colour, consistence, taste, smell, 

 properties, phsenomena, are all the same; only, when care- 

 fully collected, it is more pure and free from feculencies. 

 Similar remarks had been made by others; to which, says 



