VEGETABLE POISONS. 239 



vomit, followed by a full dose of castor oil, sul- 

 phate of magnesia, or of any other suitable ape- 

 rient; and succeeded by frequent doses of ether 

 in combination with the volatile alkali, fomenta- 

 tions to the abdomen, and demulcent drinks. 

 Should inflammatory symptoms supervene, the 

 free use of leeches, and the substitution of saline 

 diaphoretics for the cordial remedies, are to be 

 resorted to. 



The most important, however, of all the nar- 

 cotic vegetables, and the one most frequently 

 productive of accidents, is the inspissated juice 

 of the Papaver Somniferum, or, as it has been 

 termed more familiarly, Opium. 



This article is imported from Persia, Egypt, 

 Smyrna, and other parts of Levant, and from 

 the East Indies, in cakes from four ounces to a 

 pound in weight; and is prepared from the poppy 

 in the following manner, as related by Mr Ker, 

 in Dr. Crump's dissertation on opium. 



"The seeds are sown in quadrangular area, the 

 intervals of which are formed into aqueducts for 

 conveying water to each area. The plants are 

 allowed to grow six or eight inches from each 

 other and are plentifully supplied with water 

 until they are six or eight inches high; when a 

 nutrient compost of dung, ashes, and nitrous 

 earth, is laid over the area. A little before the 

 flowers appear, they are again well watered, till 

 the capsules or heads of the poppy are half 



