poppy. 75 



not be restored by cordials, but gradually 

 languished, till they died. 



That the unskilful use of opiates greatly 

 injures the brains, senses, and mental powers, 

 is generally acknowledged; and we have a 

 particular casein Miscell. Nat. Curios. Decad. 

 1. a 5, where we are informed that a person, 

 upon ignorantly taking a large quantity of 

 opium, was first afflicted with terrible dreams, 

 and then deprived, in some measure, of the 

 use of his tongue ; an hour after which he 

 was seized with a vertigo, a disturbance and 

 gyratory kind of motion in his head. The 

 patient, also, afterwards told, that he and 

 the bed seemed not only to be suspended 

 in the air, but also to fly. Thus he re- 

 mained, as it were, in an apoplexy, and un- 

 conscious of his own existence. In the be- 

 ginning of his disorder, he said, he neither 

 perceived the taste of the strongest vinegar, 

 nor the smell of the spirit of sal-ammoniac. 

 His pulse was low ; and when he shut his 

 eyes, he had the appearance of a distracted 

 person. During this condition, spiritous 

 apoplectic water was given to him, by which 

 his spirits seemed to be forthwith recruited, 

 after which he perceived an itching all over 

 his body. 



