“ i be ie) 
48  Narcotine, and Sulphate of Morphine. 
without the least fear of contradiction, that if no articles which are 
capable of producing effects of this general character, are suffered 
to retain their place among-the narcotics, our catalogue of this class 
of agents will become extremely meager ; and on the other, that 
there is not a pure and unequivocal stimulant, that is capable of pro- 
ducing any such symptoms. 
9th. Narcotine appears to be entirely destitute of all stemulant 
_ powers, whether it is given in single full doses, or in moderate and 
uniform doses, at regular and short intervals. My attention, during 
the whole of my experiments, was particularly turned to the question 
of its stimulant operation, and in no case, while under its influence, 
was there the least perceptible increase of the vital energies, or of 
the strength of arterial action, or even of animal heat ; nor was there 
any sensation of fullness or throbbing in the head ; nor indeed, did 
any symptom whatever occur, which could by any means be con- 
strued into an effect of this sort. On the contrary, there was inva- 
riably a great reduction in the frequency of the pulse, in two cases 
as great as twenty six beats in a minute, and in none less than 
eighteen, in the same time. In some of the cases, there was a de- 
cided diminution, both in the force of the pulsation, and the fullness 
of the artery, and probably more or less in all, though in some, it 
was so inconsiderable as to be of very little consequence. These 
effects, I repeat, occurred equally, whether the agent was given it 
single full doses, or in moderate and uniform doses, at regular and 
short intervals ; and whether taken in substance, or dissolved in di 
lute Acetic acid, or in Olive oil. The power of producing preter 
natural watchfulness, even were it possessed by Narcotine, wo 
not indicate any stimulant properties, but rather mere nervine ones 
which are entirely distinct. The power of producing vertigo, heat 
ache, faintness, nausea, vomiting, irregular pulse, cold extrmities 
etc. is not the result of a stimulant operation, but of a narcotic one} 
and both Morphine and Narcotine are capable of producing all of 
these last effects, though Morphine more eminently than Narcotin®. 
If these results can be considered as at all correct, (and I cannot 
discover where there is any possible source of fallacy,) the futility af 
what is called denarcotizing Opium, as a means of improving its me 
dicinal operations, will at once be manifest. However, as the effects 
of Morphine and Narcotine differ considerably, not only from each 
other, but also from Opium, it is undoubtedly useful to have each of 
these proximate principles in a separate state, that we may be able, 
