SECT. XXL 4. OF DRUNKENNESS. m 



fenfation, in the fame manner as the more violent motions of our 

 organs are lucceeded by painful fenfation. And hence a greater 

 quantity of pleafurable fenfation is introduced into the conftitu 

 tion ; which is attended in fome people with an increafe of be- 

 nevolence and good humour. 



If the apparent motions of objects is much increafed, as when 

 we revolve on one foot, or are fwung on a rope, the ideas of 

 thefe apparent morions' are alfo attended to, and are fucceeded 

 with pleaiurable fenfation, till they become familiar to us by fre- 

 quent ufe. Hence children are at firit delighted with thefe 

 kinds of exercife, and with riding, and failing, and hence rock- 

 ing young children inclines them to fleep For though in the 

 vertigo from intoxication the irritative ideas of the apparent mo- 

 tions of objects are indiilintt from their decreafe of energy : yet 

 in the vertigo occafio><ed by rocking or fwinging the irritative 

 ideas of ihe apparent motions of objecls are increafed in energy, 

 and hence they induce pleafure imo the fyltcm but are equally 

 indittmct, and in confequence equally unfit to balance ourldves 

 by. This addition of pleafure precludes defire or averfion, and 

 in confequence the voluntary power is feebly exerted, an ; on 

 this account, rocking young children inclines them to deep. 



In what manner opium and wine act in relieving pain is 

 another article, that well deferves our attemion. There are 

 many pains that originate from defect as well as from extefs of 

 ftimulus j of thefe are thofe of the fix appetit'-s of hunger, thirft, 

 lull, the want of heat, of detention, and of frefli air. Thus if 

 our cutaneous capillaries ceafe to act from the diminifhed ftirnu- 

 lus of heat, when we arr expofed to cold weather, or our ftom- 

 ach is uneafy for want of food ; thefe are both pains from defect 

 of Itimulus, and in cunfequence, opium, which ftimulates all the 

 moving fyttem into increafed action, muit relieve them. But 

 this is not the cafe in rhofe pains, which ariie from excefs of 

 ftimulus, as in violent inflammations : in thefe the exhibition of 

 opium is frequently injurious by increafing the action of the 

 fyftrra already too great, as in inflammations of the bowels mor- 

 tific tion is of: en produced by the ftimulus of opium. Where, 

 however no fuch Dad confequences follow ; the ftimulus of opi- 

 um, by increafing all the motions of [he fyftem, expends fo much 

 of the fenforiai power, that the actions of the whole fydem foon 

 become feebler, and in confequence thofe which produced the 

 pain and inflammation. 



4 When intoxication proceeds a little further, the quantity 

 of pleafurable fenfation is fo far increafed, that all defire ceafes, 

 foi there is is no pain in the fyiiem to excite it. Hence the vol- 

 untary exertions are diminiChed, ftaggering and Hammering fuc- 



VOL. I. BE ceed ; 



