244 ' THE LAWS OF ORGANIC 



the eye will be affected by what is painful to the 

 ear, as that these organs will suffer to the same 

 extent by the general operation of opium or 

 any other agent. 



CCLXIV. The heart and the brain reciprocally 

 and almost immediately act on each other. If the 

 former be excited, it almost directly communi- 

 cates to the brain a portion of the energy which 

 it displays ; and if the latter be deranged or dis- 

 eased by congestion or external injuries, it dis- 

 orders the action of the heart, by perverting the 

 regularity of the respiratory functions. By ren- 

 dering the respirations less frequent or complete,, 

 the qualities of the blood are deteriorated ; and as 

 the motion of the heart depends on these, it will 

 necessarily be implicated in those conditions of the 

 cerebrum by which the respiration is deranged. 



CCLXV. When a small quantity of opium has 

 been taken, it is absorbed, and carried by the cir- 

 culation to every part of the body. The heart is 

 increased in its contractions, because its nerves 

 are directly stimulated ; and the faculties of the 

 mind are also excited, exhibiting a state of simple 

 exhilaration, or delightful reverie, from the ope- 

 ration of the same cause upon the brain. If a 

 still larger quantity be taken, the mental powers 

 are still more disturbed, showing the sedative ef- 

 fects of opium, such as insensibility to impres- 

 sions, or stupor, accompanied by stertorous or 

 interrupted respiration ; but while the sangui- 



