JVarcotine, and Sulphate of Morphine. 43 



A stimulant operation consists exclusively in a quickly diffused, and 

 transient increase of the vital energies generally, and a similar in- 

 crease of the stretigth of arterial action. Stimulants usually dimin- 

 ish atonic morbid frequency of the pulse, but, in perfect health, they 

 usually (though not invariably) increase the frequency a few beats. 

 Stimulants also commonly diminish in a slight degree, both morbid 

 irritability and irritation, and irritative action generally ; — morbid sen- 

 sibility and sensation ; — morbid mobility, resdessness, and jactitation; 

 but, they do this, in a less degree, even than the nervines, and still 

 less than the efficient narcotics, and, as 1 think, doubtless in a man- 

 ner different from either. Pure stimulants never produce the least 

 trace of the last three states or stages of a nervine operation, nor a 

 single symptom of what constitutes ultimate narcosis, with the occa- 

 sional exception of nausea and vomiting, and perhaps headache, from 

 the mere irritation of excessive doses or quantities ; nor do they ever 

 produce any condition at all analogous to the secondary and rather 

 remote sort of prostration, which, I have already mentioned, as 

 sometimes the sequel of too large a single dose of certain narcotics. 

 These circumstances afford absolute tests of pure stimulant powers. 



It must be remarked that narcotic and nervine powers are princi- 

 pally exerted upon the nervous system, while stimulant powers are 

 mainly exerted upon the sanguiferous system; and, particularly that 

 the first three states or stages of a narcotic operation, — the whole 

 states or stages of a nervine operation, — and a perfect stimulant 

 operation, are by no means incompatible with each other. Thus for 

 example, a full and complete antirriiant operation, as produced by 

 Opium, — a perfect anodyne, and a prominent soporific effect, may 

 take place, at one and at the saiT.ie time with a most decided increase 

 of the vital energies generally, and of the strength of arterial action ; 

 and' either, or both of these operations may, or may not be accompa- 

 nied, at one and the same time, vi^ith all the states or stages of a ner- 

 vine operation. Sedative effects then, are by no means incompatible 

 with stimulant effects. What is called ultimate narcosis, at least in 

 any prominent degree, does in fact seem to be incompatible, either 

 with positive nervine, or stimulant effects. 



The conjuncdon, at one and the same time, of full stimulant effects, 

 with the three first states or stages of a narcotic operation, may be 

 witnessed in a prominent degree, by the use of moderate and uni- 

 form doses of Opium and Alcohol, at regular and short intervals, for 

 a certain length of time, in any case to which both are appropriate 

 remedies. 



