46 JVarcotine, 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 contrac- 

 tile power, or torpor of the bladder. 



Whether Narcotine is constipating or not, may perhaps be con- 

 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 suscepti- 

 bility, he took considerably less of it than the other gentlemen. On 

 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, I 

 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 

 Zanthorrhcea kastilis operates in this manner. 



The aniirritant effects of Narcotine appear to be greater, in pro- 

 portion to its other powers, than the aniirritant effects of Opium ; 

 and also, as appears to me, than the aniirritant effects even of Sul- 

 phate of Morphine. Its great power of diminishing the frequency of 

 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 ano- 

 dyne powers of Narcotine. It will be obvious that this cannot be 

 determined upon a healthy subject. The soporific effects of Narco- 

 tine appear to be considerably greater, in proportion to its other pow- 

 ers, tLan the soporific effects of Sulphate of Morphine, or than the 

 soporific effects of Opium. The sleep produced by it, even when 

 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 ex- 

 ertion, he can easily keep himself awake, and apparently very much 

 diminish its general influence upon his system; and yet, as soon as he 

 sits down, and remains quiet for a short time, its full influence speedily 

 returns. During the deepest sleep produced by Narcotine, the respi- 

 ration is light and easy, like that of a person in health, who has been 

 some time perfectly at rest. When the subject of its influence awakes 

 spontaneously from the sleep which it produces, he feels no heavi- 

 ness, and nothing unnatural, but much as on awaking in the morning 



