poppy. 243 



four or thirty-six hours, and is followed by nausea, vomiting, giddiness, 

 and loathing of food." 



" The dose of opium requisite to cause death has not been determined. 

 Lassus relates an instance of death from thirty-six grains, and Wilderghas 

 related in his Practical Manual a fatal case caused by little more than half 

 an ounce of the tincture. Very young children are often peculiarly sensible 

 to the poisonous action of opium, so that it is scarcely possible to use the 

 most insignificant doses with safety *. Dr. Alison has met with a case 

 where an infant a few weeks old died after taking four drops of laudanum, 

 and he has repeatedly seen unpleasantly deep sleep induced by only two 

 drops." f 



Morbid Appearances. Turgescence of the vessels in the brain and 

 watery effusion into the ventricles and on the surface of the brain are gene- 

 rally met with. The lungs are often gorged with blood. The stomach is 

 occasionally red, but very seldom inflamed. Lividity of the skin is gene- 

 rally present, and is sometimes excessive. The blood is generally very fluid. 

 The poisoned body is usually decomposed in a very short period. 



Treatment. The first object is tp remove the poison from the sto- 

 mach, either by the stomach pump, or by the exhibition of emetics. Sul- 

 phate of zinc, in the dose of twenty or thirty grains dissolved in water, is the 

 best emetic, repeated after a short interval if the first dose produce no effect. 

 Tickling the fauces with a feather, and draughts of mustard and water, 

 are also beneficial. To ensure the action of the emetic, the patient should 

 be roused as much as possible ; this may be done by obliging him to walk 

 incessantly, by loud speaking, tickling the nostrils, the injection of water 

 into the ear, the affusion of cold water upon the head, &c. To sustain the 

 powers of the system, warm brandy and water, ammonia, ether, aromatic 

 confection, or other cordials, may be usefully employed. The exhibition 

 of the vegetable acids diluted with water, and infusion of coffee is beneficial, 

 when the poison is removed from the stomach ; prior to this acids are in- 

 jurious by accelerating the solution of the opium. Orfila suggests that the 

 decoction of galls may be used as an imperfect antidote till the poison can 

 be evacuated from the stomach. Bleeding is improper until the opium 

 is ejected. The warm bath is efficacious when there is complete insensi- 

 bility, coldness of the extremities, feeble pulse, or livid hue of the counte- 

 nance. 



Medicinal Properties and Uses. — Although the poppy- 

 appears to have been cultivated long before the age of Hippo- 

 crates, it does not appear that he was accustomed to exhibit 

 opium in the treatment of diseases, nevertheless its use can be 



* The " syrup of poppies " should therefore be cautiously given to 

 children, as it is not unfrequently made with a certain quantity of opium 

 mixed with a decoction of poppy heads and sugar. 



•j- Christison on Poisons, p. 658. 



