poppy. 245 



continued and remittent, it is admissible when they are free 

 from inflammatory and bilious symptoms. In typhoid fevers* 

 when given in small doses frequently repeated, it is a useful 

 assistant to wine and tonics in supporting the powers of life, 

 and at the same time in allaying irritation and blunting the 

 susceptibility of those morbid impressions which occasion 

 watchfulness, delirium, tremors and subsultus tendinum. But 

 in those cases of typhoid fever that are accompanied with a hot 

 and dry skin, or where there is a tendency to local inflammation, 

 its exhibition is highly improper. 



Opium was formerly much used in intermittents f , but it has 

 now almost entirely given place to the more specific febrifuge 

 properties of bark and quinine ; nevertheless, it is a valuable 

 remedy for arresting or ameliorating the paroxysms of these 

 disorders, for which purpose it may be given either before the 

 fit, in the cold stage, in the hot stage, or during the interval. 

 Paracelsus, Horstius, Ettmuller, Wedel, and others, speak very 

 confidently of its efficacy when taken a little before the pa- 

 roxysm ; and Berryat J, who is a strenuous advocate for opium 

 in intermittents, recommends it in combination with Centaury. 

 Probably, the more effectual plan of combating some of these 

 obstinate cases is, to unite it with bark or quinine, particularly 

 when the latter remedies are disposed to run off by the 

 bowels. 



As opium accelerates circulation it is not ordinarily useful in 

 inflammatory diseases, and Dr. Young § went so far as to advance 

 a rule " that opium is improper in all cases where bleeding is 

 necessary," a maxim, however, which has been subsequently 

 ably disputed by others ||. Opium should not be employed in 

 inflammation of the bowels, but when the inflammatory symp- 



* On its use in these cases consult Campbell's Observations on Typhus ; 

 Wall's Observations on the Use of Opium in low fevers ; Gland in Journ. 

 de Med. 1789, Juin; Hufeland Annalen der franz. Arzneykunde, vol. i. 

 p. 103, &c 



f V. Scbulz. Diss, de intermitt. cur. antiquis. 



J Memoires presented a l'Acad. Roy. de Sc, 1755, torn. ii. p. 254. 



§ Treatise on Opium, sect. 39. 



|| Vide Remmett Diss, de Opii Usu in Morbis Inflamm. 1774 Wirten- 



sohn Diss. Opium vires fibrarum, &c, p. 32. — Triller Diss, de suspecta 

 Opii ope in pleuritide, p. 4. — De Haen, Rat. Med. pt. i. p. 24. — Richter 

 Anfangsgrunde der Wundarzneykunst, vol. i. p. 25, &c. 



