246 Botanic Drugs 



slight diaphoresis. The pupil is contracted from 

 central stimuli. Peristalsis is checked. Metabolism 

 is decreased. Secretion is lessened except as regards 

 urine. There is no anodyne action upon the un- 

 broken skin, but there is on mucous membrane. 

 The excretion of urine is little affected. Peripheral 

 muscles and nerves are little, if any, influenced. 



THERAPEUTICS. Externally upon unbroken skin 

 opium is of no value as an anodyne, despite current 

 belief to the contrary. 



Gastro-intestinal Disease. The pain of ulcer and 

 cancer relieved, preferably by morphine. In acute 

 gastritis laudanum is to be preferred. In vomiting 

 which persists give morphine. Opium checks per- 

 sistent diarrhea. If morphine is used give in repeated 

 small doses. Opium is indicated in intestinal colic. 

 In peritonitis opiates are to be used with discrim- 

 ination, if at all. Don't obscure the symptoms of 

 appendicitis or other abdominal lesion until sure 

 of your ground. In biliary and renal calculi mor- 

 phine relaxes the spasm. 



Heart. Morphine may be used cautiously in 

 cardiac dyspnea, given hypodermatically. The pain 

 of aortic aneurism is relieved by morphine and 

 atropine. Before general anesthesia, a hypoder- 

 matic dose of morphine may be given to diminish 

 the danger of cardiac paralysis. 



Respiratory Disease. Don't forget that morphine 

 depresses the respiratory center. Dover's powder 

 is, however, useful in the early stages of many 

 cases of bronchitis, pleurisy, and pneumonia, and 

 small doses of opiates to allay cough are often indi- 

 cated, as well as larger doses in severe pain. Never 

 use in the last stages of pneumonia and bronchitis. 



