48 JVarcotme, 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 stimulant 

 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 in 

 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, would 

 not indicate any stimulant properties, but rather mere nervine ones, 

 which are entirely distinct. The power of producing vertigo, head- 

 ache, faintness, nausea, vomiting, irregular pulse, cold extrmities, 

 etc. is not the result of a stimulant operation, but of a narcotic one j 

 and both Morphine and Narcotine are capable of producing all of 

 these last effects, though Morphine more eminently than Narcotine. 



If these results can be considered as at all correct, (and I cannot 

 discover where there is any possible source of fallacy,) the futility of 

 what is called dewircotizing 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, 



