JVarcotine, and Sulphate of Morphine. 55 



used the Acetate of Morphine, with good effect, in Dysentery, tlie 

 pain and tenesmus were allayed, the complaint in some measure 

 checked, and sleep was produced." He adds, " I have however 

 been considerably disappointed in another case, where effects were 

 produced, which I must leave to Mr. Magendie to explain." " I 

 gave to a gentleman laboring under continued and troublesome gen- 

 eral irritation of the system, half a grain of Acetate of Morphine, 

 prepared by Messrs. Pelletier and Caventou." " This dose was ta- 

 ken at night, on going to bed, and in pill, but no sleep was produced; 

 there was great restlessness, a desire to rise, or 'as he expressed it, 

 an inability to keep himself down, giddiness, partial delirium, and, 

 in fact, all the symptoms of intoxication," [an extremely inappropriate 

 term in application to these effects,) " from Opium, were produced." 

 " The next day, headache, heat of the palms of the hands, lassitude, 

 and some febrile symptoms were the consequence." Three doses 

 of Morphine of half a grain each, dissolved in Alcohol, it is said, 

 produced on Sertuerner, and three of his pupils, a decided stimulant 

 effect, which was followed by prostration, numbness, and faintness. 

 In one delicate individual, who swallowed vinegar, while in this con- 

 dition, violent vomiting was immediately excited, which was followed 

 by profound sleep, and the next day, by headache, heaviness, ano- 

 rexia, nausea, retching, and torpor of the intestines. From such 

 observations as I have been able to make, I am inclined to think that 

 the quantity of Morphine which is required to relieve f . extremely 

 severe degree of pain, is more likely to be followed by vertigo, 

 nausea, faintness, vomiting, and headache, than the quantity of Opium, 

 which would be adequate to the production of the same anodyne ef- 

 fect; though perhaps my opportunities for determining this, have 

 not been sufhciently extensive to enable me to decide. But, whether 

 Sulphate of Morphine produces disagreeable and unpleasant effects 

 or not, appears to me to depend always upon the manner in which 

 it is administered and managed, just as is the fact with Opium ; and 

 I consider it certain that such effects from either, depend upon some 

 sort of injudicious management, in relation to the temperament, and 

 susceptibility of the patient, and the circumstances of the disease. 



Dr. Bally imagines that there is some reason to conclude that 

 Morphine is anthelminticj because worms have been rejected, when 

 it has occasioned vomiting. I have known worms rejected by vom- 

 iting when produced by the irritation of the fauces with a feather, but, 

 I did not, on that account, suspect that process of being anthelmintic. 



