ON OPIUM. 359 



not contract, but after salt had been applied some time. Effects of 



. . , mi " 1 !■ 1 / opium on the 



feeble contractions were excited. 1 he salt applied to the aying system. 



muscles of the superior extremities and to those of the 



breast and back, was incapable of exciting the smallest 



degree of contraction. 



In this manner I submitted the experiments and opinions 

 of the Abbe Fontana, to an accurate investigation, and I 

 did not draw conclusions different from his Avithout the 

 conviction that the experiments which I have related were 

 carefully made and many times repeated, and in the pre- 

 sence of those whose bias led them to favour the opinions 

 of the Italian physiologist. I shall therefore conclude this 

 part of the paper, with a general enumeration of the facts 

 which have been ascertained. 



The first series of experiments proves that opium applied 

 to the muscular fibre (the heart) exhausts or consumes, the 

 irritability of that organ. Vide Exp. 1st. 2d. 3d,, and 4th. 



The second series of the above quoted experiments proves 

 that the effect of opium is transmitted to distant parts of 

 the animal body, when the agency of the cirt;ulation is both 

 withheld and destroyed, and in as rapid a manner as when 

 the circulation of the blood is entire and vigorous, ^de 

 Exp. 7th. 8th. and 9th. 



The third proves to a certain extent, that opium either 

 does not exert any immediate action upon the blood, or 

 that this fluid is an insufficient medium to convey it to 

 distant parts of the system. Vide Exp. 10th. 



The fourth series proves that the effect of opium is 

 directly exerted upon the nervous system. Exp. 11th, 

 12th, 13th. That in proportion to the unity and integrity 

 of this system, the effects of opium are extended to distant 

 parts. Exp. 8th. and 9th, That where this integrity is 

 only partial, the effects are only partial. Vide Exp. 16th. 

 That where the integrity is interrupted, the effect of opium 

 is interrupted. Exp. 15th. And finally, that the una et 

 indivisa proprietas of irritability is inadequate in any 

 degree to extend or communicate the effects or operatioa 

 of the above-mentioned power *. 



VI. On 



* In the dissertation which has been so often quoted, the above 



experiments will be foimd supported by macy others, the tendency 



2 of 



