46 Narcotine, and Sulphate of Morphine. 
in its operation. It produces not only a considerable diminution of 
the natural excretion by the renes, but also a deficiency of contrae- 
tile power, or torpor of the bladder. 
Whether Narcotine is constipating or not, may perhaps be com 
sidered as somewhat uncertain, but it is most probable that it is so. 
While experimenting upon it, one of the gentlemen had a regular 
daily alvine discharge, but on account of a much greater suscept- 
bility, he took considerably less of it than the other gentlemen. . 
the contrary, one gentleman had none for three days, while taking it; 
and another gentleman had none for five, and I think six days, 
while under its use. Since the completion of the. experiments, | 
have known it taken twice, for a moderate Diarrhoea, with perfect re 
lief of the disease. It may however possess the power of relieving — 
Diarrhoea, i. e. of obviating morbid irritability, and irritative action of 
those muscular fibres, which produce the peristaltic motion of the — 
intestines, without being liable to produce constipation ; i. e. to lessen 
healthy excitability, and natural peristaltic motion. The resin of the 
Zanthorrhea hastilis operates in this manner. 
The antirritant effects of Narcotine appear to be greater, in pt 
portion to its other powers, than the antirritant effects of Opium; 
and also, as appears to me, than the antirritant effects even of Sub 
phate of Morphine. Its great power of diminishing the frequency a | 
the pulse, seems to indicate this, as well as its power of allaying cer 
tain sorts of cough. No opportunity has occurred of testing the ant | 
dyne powers of Narcotine. It will be obvious that this cannot bé 
determined upon a healthy subject. The soporific effects of Narer 
tine appear to be considerably greater, in proportion to its other pow 
ers, than the soporific effects of Sulphate of Morphine, or than th? 
soporific effects of Opium. The sleep produced by it, even whet 
taken in a moderately excessive dose, is peculiarly calm, light, placid, 
and easy ;—and even when it is the most intense, the subject of its 
influence is easily roused; and by voluntary bodily motion and & 
ertion, he can easily keep himself awake, and apparently very mu 
diminish its general influence upon his system; and yet, as soon ashe 
sits down, and remains quiet for a short time, its full influence speedilf 
returns. During the deepest sleep produced by Narcotine, the resp 
ration is light and easy, like that of a person in health, who has bee? 
some time perfectly at rest. When the subject of its influence awakes 
spontaneously from the sleep which it produces, he feels no heat 
ness, ahd nothing unnatural, but much as on awaking in the mo 
enemas 
