OPIUM. 197 



8. Diaphoresis is generally accomplished with Dover's 

 Powder. 



The uses of the other preparations are obvious. The Con- 

 fection is a pleasant form of the compound powder. 



Influences modifying the action and uses of opium. 

 Dangers : Cautions. Age modifies greatly the effects of opium, 

 children being particularly susceptible of its influence on the 

 convolutions and medulla. An infant of one year should not be 

 given more than half a minim of the tincture for an ordinary dose, 

 and suckling women should be ordered opium with special pre- 

 cautions. Females are more easily affected than males. Certain 

 individuals have peculiar idiosyncrasies as regards opium, some 

 resisting its action, others being excited by it, others again 

 very readily narcotised ; whilst more frequently some persons 

 suffer from a species of shock after the hypodermic injection of 

 morphia, becoming sick, faint, and even alarmingly collapsed. 

 The effect of habit is extremely marked in opium, the necessary 

 dose steadily rising, until large quantities may be safely taken. 

 Disease, especially pain, affords great resistant power to the 

 action of opium, which appears to expend its action on the 

 morbid process. The quality of the opium, the particular pre- 

 paration, and the combinations used, also modify its action. On 

 the contrary, opium and morphia act more powerfully in the 

 subjects of kidney disease, as we have already seen. Morphia 

 and opium are contra-indicated, because dangerous, or are to be 

 used with special care, in diseases of the respiratory organs, the 

 heart, and the kidneys ; in congestive conditions and hyper- 

 aemia of the brain ; and in alcoholic intoxication. 



Opium and Belladonna : Combinations and Antagonism 

 of Morphia and Atropia. In several respects the action of 

 morphia is opposed to that of atropia, the important principle 

 of belladonna. The antagonism between the two substances is 

 in part real, such as their respective effects on the convolutions, 

 respiratory centre, and intestines ; in part apparent only. 

 Thus, the contraction of the pupil caused by morphia occurs 

 through the basal ganglia; the dilatation caused by atropia is 

 referable to paralysis of the ciliary branches of the third 

 nerve. Morphia is a diaphoretic through the centres : atropia 

 an anhidrotic through the terminal nerves of the glands. Both 

 depress the heart and reduce the blood pressure, in poisonous 

 doses. Thus, morphia and atropia are not true antagonists, 

 but the one may prevent or relieve certain effects of the other, 

 and may therefore be combined with the other for particular 

 medicinal purposes, or given in the treatment of poisoning by 

 the other under particular circumstances. Combinations of 

 atropia and morphia are now extensively used for hypodermic 



