SECT. XXI. 4. 5. OF DRUNKENNESS. 287 



cions : in thafe the exhibition of opium is frequent- 

 ly injurious by increafing the adion of the fyftem 

 already too great, as in inflammation of the bowels 

 mortification is often produced by the ftimulus of 

 opium. Where, however, no fuch bad confequen- 

 ces follow ; the ftimulus of opium, by incieafing all 

 the motions of the fyftem, expends fo much of the 

 fenforial power, that the actions of the whole fyftem 

 foon become feebler, and in confequence thofe which 

 produced the pain and inflammation. 



4. When intoxication proceeds a little further, 

 (he quantity of pleafurable fenfation is fo far in- 

 creafed, that all defire ceafes, for there is no pain in 

 the fyftem to excite it. Hence the voluntary exer- 

 tions are diminifhed, ftaggering and ftammering fuc- 

 ceed ; and the trains of ideas become more and 

 more inconfiftent from this defect of voluntary ex* 

 ertion, as explained in the lections on deep and re- 

 verie, whilft thofe pafTions which are unmixed with 

 volition are more vividly felt, and (hewn with lefs 

 referve ; hence pining love, or fuperftitious fear, and 

 the maudlirg tear dropped on the remembrance of 

 the moft trifling diftrefs. 



5. At length all thefe circumftances are increafed; 

 the quantity of pleafure introduced into the fyftem 

 by the increafed irritative mufcular motions of the 

 whole fanguiferous, and glandular, and abforbent 

 fyftems, becomes fo great, that the organs of fenfe 

 are more forcibly excited into action by this internal 

 pleafurable fenfation, than by the irritation from the 

 flimulus of external objects. Hence the drunkard 

 ceafes to attend to external ftimuli, and as volition 

 js nowalfo fufpended, the trains of his ideas become 

 totally inconfiftent as in dreams, or delirium : and 

 at length a ftupor fucceeds from the great ex- 

 hauftion of fenforial power, which probably does 

 not even admit of dreams, and in which, as in apo- 

 plexy, no motions continue but thofe from internal 



ia from fenfation, and from affociation. 



6. In 



