JYarcotine, and Sulphate of Morphine. 47 



from an ordinary night's rest, except that he has a slight sensation of 

 dryness and clamminess in the mouth, a considerable hoarseness, di- 

 minished renal secretion, and diminished contractility of the bladder. 



In a moderately excessive dose, in relation to the susceptibility of 

 the system, Narcotine produces a mazy and confused state of the 

 head, vertigo, nausea and vomiting. Too large a quantity in the 

 twenty four hours operates in the same manner. But the effects of 

 a moderately excessive dose of Narcotine, are much less disagree- 

 able than the effects of an excessive dose of the Sulphate of Mor- 

 phine, or of Opium. The mazy and confused state of the head, and 

 even the vertigo which it produces, are attended with a decidedly 

 pleasurable state of the feelings ; and even the nausea and vomiting 

 which it occasions, are by no means distressing, and are far less un- 

 pleasant than the similar symptoms produced by Sulphate of Mor- 

 phine, and by Opium. The nausea and vomiting which a mode- 

 rately excessive dose of Narcotine produces, begin almost instanta- 

 neously, and terminate as suddenly ; and, in a very short time, no 

 sensations remain, which indicate that nausea and vomiting have oc- 

 curred at all, — there is no violent straining, no weakness, soreness, 

 or stiffness afterwards. 



According to Magendle, and others, the ultimate narcosis of Nar- 

 cotine is made up of the following symptoms, viz : signs of fright ; 

 backward movements, with incapacity of advancing ; frothing at the 

 mouth ; agitating or tremulous convulsions of the jaws ; general con- 

 vulsions of the common sort ; tetanic spasms of the extensor muscles 

 of the neck, throwing the head backwards upon the spine ; a stupor, 

 in which the eyes remain open, but from vvhich the subject cannot 

 be roused, and under which he dies in the course of twenty four 

 hours. These last seem to be the only effects of Narcotine that 

 have been heretofore fairly determined, either in Europe or this 

 country, at least within my knowledge. It is obvious that these 

 could not be verified on the human subject, nor is it necessary to 

 know them, for the therapeutic application of this agent, in the treat- 

 ment of human diseases. Magendie says that these effects are similar 

 to those produced by fatal doses of Camphor ; and what is remark- 

 able, he pronounces them to be mere stimulant effects, and not at 

 all indicative of any narcotic powers ! I wish that Magendie had 

 given us his precise views of the true nature of an ultimate narcotic 

 operation, for I cannot conceive of a purer one, ihan is indicated by 

 this aggregate of symptoms. I venture to assert on the one hand, 



