346 OV OPINM. 



Experiments suc, from its retention, during the long protracted poriofi 

 tk.ns'on'^urine ^^ many f ever s ? I might here offer some conjectures, in 

 &c. explanation, but will reserve them for another place. 



Having already trespassed so much upon the indulgence 

 of the academy, I shall here <;ontent myself with briefly 

 stating, that, from the above experiments and observations, 

 we may presume to say, acids of every kind are prejudicial, 

 and give rise to the formatioa of gravelly and calculu* 

 aHections, by causing a separation, and crystallization of 

 the lithic acid contents of urine, within the body : not 

 pretending, however, to deny the existence of other causes, 

 inherent in the system itself, occasionally productive of 

 similar effects, as has been already observed. 



V. 



An Essay^ Physiolo^^kal and Experiment ul^ on the Effects 

 of Opium on the living Sijstcm. Bif William Alexander, 



ilrtecx^oi iN this paper, which I have the hononr to submit to the 



JiTin'''svsienr consideration of the Society, I propose to <?nter into an 

 examination of two questions, viz. 1st. Can the effects ex- 

 erted upon the living f^/stem, by the operation of Opiums 

 he accounted f or y nithout the agency of the nervous system P 

 2d. What is the nature of that operation, whether sedative 

 or stimulant?. This subject I do not select either because 

 I have some new doctrines to establish, or because the 

 generally received opinions concerning the operation of 

 opium, require additional support, but rather because in 

 the discharge of a duty for a long season neglected, I am 

 obliged to have recourse to those means, which the present 

 €)^pof tunity allows me. 



In this dxsqiiisiiion, it may be considered, that I enter 

 upon the investigation of a subject, which has already been 

 rendered barren by the diligence ef preceding enquirers, 

 and that consequently nothing of novelty can be expected. 



* Abstracted and abridged from the Manchester memoirs. 

 New series. Vol. I. 



It 



