20 INCITANTIA. ART II. 2. i. 3. 



vine feces, and pulmonary mucus. Whereas the perfpiration 

 being fecreted on the furface of the body is vifible in its increaf- 

 ed quantity, before it can be reabforbed ; whence arifes that 

 erroneous opinion, that opium increafes the cutaneous fecretion, 

 and leffens all the others. 



3. It muft however be noted, that after evacuations opium 

 feems ^o promote the abforprions more than the fecretions ; if 

 you except that of the feniorial power in the brain, which prob- 

 ably fuffers no abforption. Hence its efficacy in reftraining 

 haemorrhages, after the veflels are emptied, by promoting vinous 

 abforption. 



4. In ulcers the matter is thickened by the exhibition of opi- 

 um from the increafed abforprion of the thinner parts of it; 

 but it is probable, that the whole fecretion, including the part 

 which is abforbed, is increafed ; and hence new fibres are fe- 

 creted along with the matter, and the ulcer fills with new gran- 

 ulations of flefh. But as no ulcer can heal, till it ceafes to dif- 

 charge ; that is, till the abforption becomes as great as the ex- 

 cretion ; thofe medicines, which promote abforption only, are 

 more advantageous for the healing an ulcer after it is filled 

 with new flefh ; as the Peruvian bark internally, with banda- 

 ges and folutions of lead externally. 



5. There are many pains which originate from a want of due 

 motion in the part, as thofe occafioned by cold ; and all thofe 

 pains which are attended with cold extremities, and are gener- 

 ally termed nervous. Thefe are relieved by whatever excites 

 the part into its proper actions, and hence by opium and alco- 

 hol ; which are the mod univerfal (timulants we are acquaint- 

 ed with In thefe cafes the efTVcl of opium is produced, as 

 foon as the body becomes generally warm j and a degree of in- 

 toxication or ileep follows the ceflation of the pain. 



Thefe nervous pains (as they are called) frequently return at 

 certain periods of time, and are alfo frequently fucceeded by 

 convulfions ; in thefe cafes if opium removes the pain, the con- 

 vulfions do not come on. For this purpofe it is Deft to exhibit 

 it gradually, as a grain every hour, or half hour, till it intoxi- 

 cates. Here it is muft be noted, that a much lefs quantity will 

 prevent the periods of theie cold pains, than is neceflary to re- 

 lieve them after their accefs. As a grain and half of opium 

 given an hour before the expected paroxyfm will prevent the 

 cold fit of an intermittent fever, but will not foon remove it, 

 when it is already formed. For in the former cafe the ufual 

 or healthy aflbciations or catenations of motion favour the effect 

 of the medicine ; in the latter cafe thefe affociations or catena- 

 tions 



