ON ANIMAL AND 



and throughout a large part of Hindoos- 

 tan and other portions of Asia, opium, by pro- 

 gressive habit is swallowed in very large propor- 

 tions in the solid form, to the amount of half an 

 ounce or more each day, without producing any 

 other effect than that of temporary inebriety; 

 and we know of many instances of its being 

 taken with extraordinary freedom in this country 

 by persons who have gradually accustomed them- 

 selves to its use. This practice, however, cannot 

 be too sufficiently deprecated ; since by enervat- 

 ing the system, it renders it more susceptible of 

 the attacks of disease, and by accustoming the 

 constitution to its use, it effectually deprives the 

 individual of a remedy, which, when required, is 

 the most efficacious perhaps of any in the whole 

 materia medica. Under ordinary circumstances, 

 great circumspection, in the administration of this 

 very powerful drug is required, so as to adopt its 

 proportions to the constitution and state of health 

 of the individual for whom it has been prescribed. 

 A moderate dose of opium for an adult, in the 

 solid form, is from a grain to a grain and a half; 

 or when given in solution under the title of laud- 

 anum, from twenty to thirty drops; a full one 

 may be rated at from two to two grains and a half 

 the solid; or from forty to fifty drops of the 

 liquid opium ; a large dose, from three to four 

 grains of the former, or sixty to eighty drops of 

 the latter; every dose beyond, is to be consid- 



