50 JYarcotine, and Sulphate of Morphine. 



Bally says that the brain and nervous system are the parts of the ani- 

 mal economy, upon which Morphine appears to exert its principal 

 operation. This may be also true in general with the Sulphate; but, 

 according to my observations, it would be very incorrect to under- 

 stand it as excluding all effects upon the circulating, secretory, and 

 absorbent systems. The Sulphate of Morphine produces a very 

 considerable degree of the calm, placid, and pleasurable sensation; 

 the peculiar wakefulness, and even inability to sleep ; and the men- 

 tal exhilaration, which constitute a nervine operation. I am satisfied 

 that its nervine effects are considerably greater, in comparison with 

 its other operations, than the nervine effects of Opium. Whenever I 

 have taken a single full dose of the Sulphate of Morphine, (which, 

 with me, is about a quarter of a grain,) I have invariably been entire- 

 ly unable to sleep, for a period between four and six hours after- 

 wards. My wakefulness has always been calm, placid, and pleas- 

 urable. Thus, when I have taken the dose, the beginning of the 

 evening, I have usually been kept awake by it, till about two o'clock 

 the next morning, though the sleep obtained during the remainder of 

 the time, has seemed to refresh me as much, as if I had slept the 

 whole night. 



Sulphate of Morphine appears to possess more or less diaphoretic 

 power ; though, as far as I am able to judge, less than Opium, and of 

 course less than Narcotine. Sometimes also, it produces a trouble- 

 some itching of the skin, which, in some cases, is universal, but in 

 others, confined to the nose, the neck, the loins, and the inside of the 

 thighs. According to Dr. Bally, this itching is occasionally, but rare- 

 ly, accompanied with an eruption. 



In single full doses, the Sulphate of Morphine, under my observa- 

 tion, has invariably produced more or less hoarseness. 



The Sulphate of_ Morphine powerfully allays morbid irritability 

 and irritation, — morbid sensibility and sensation, — morbid mobility, 

 restlessness, and jactitation, and irritative actions generally, provided 

 they are connected with a non-phlogistic, or a positively atonic dia- 

 thesis. This is substantially stated by Dr. Bally, though with less 

 precision. He however asserts that this agent is incapable of allay- 

 ing cough. Now I have been long in the habit of using it, for this 

 purpose, not only upon my patients, but upon myself, and I consider' 

 it as the most effectual article, in the whole Materia medica, perhaps 

 with the exception of Narcotine only. 



The Sulphate of Morphine is speedily and powerfully anodyne ; 

 and I believe it is more so, in proportion to its soporific powers, than 



