OPIUM — MORPHINE 143 



It is also very serviceable in peritonitis, both for its analgesic effect 

 and because it checks peristalsis which causes the pain. Opium 

 is preferable to morphine for this action because it lies longer in 

 the bowel, and therefore evolves a stronger action there than on 

 other parts of the body and also because the other alkaloids have 

 some constipating effect. In septic diarrhea it is to be avoided. 

 There are several popular remedies for this use upon the intestines, 

 such as Sun Cholera Cure, Squibb's Compound Tincture of Opium, 

 p. 82. ^ 



In perforation and bleeding from the bowels opium is the most 

 efficient of all remedies, as it allows adhesions or clots to be formed 

 by checking the movements of the intestines which would promote 

 further leakage. 



Cough. Morphine and other members of this group depress the 

 sensibility of the respiratory center to reflex irritation and con- 

 sequently check cough. One of the members of this group is espe- 

 cially valuable when the cough is not attended with free expectora- 

 tion and is of sufficient frequency to prove distressing. But when 

 the bronchial secretion is free, the cough is necessary to remove 

 it and any interference with cough, results in an accumulation of 

 fluid in the air passages, making the ultimate condition of the patient 

 worse. 



As an Introduction to General Anesthesia in Dogs. If a dose 

 of morphine is given to dogs a few minutes before the beginning 

 of general anesthesia, it is found that the period of excitement is 

 much diminished and that much less anesthetic will be required. 

 Morphine is often combined with hyoscine or hyoscine and cactin 

 for this purpose. In larger doses either morphine or one of the 

 preceding combinations may prove sufficient as an hypnotic or 

 anesthetic for these animals. See Morphine scopolamine anesthesia, 

 p. 182. 



To Chech Distant Hemorrhages. This action is not due to 

 any specific action of the drug upon the bleeding surface but entirely 

 to the fact that it produces quietness, stops movements and in this 

 way favors the formation of a clot. 



Diaphoretic. Tor this purpose opium is usually combined with 

 ipecac and prescribed as Dover's powder. Althoiigh it has little 

 diaphoretic action alone, it may enhance the diaphoretic action of 

 ipecac by dilating the skin vessels. In the form of Dover's or 

 Tully's powder, opium and morphine are frequently employed to 

 produce sweating at the onset of colds, but they are not good 

 diaphoretics. 



Diabetes. Morphine, opium and codeine have a special power 

 to bring about a reduction of the sugar excretion. Von Noorden 

 attributes this action to quiet of the body. 



Comparison of Opium and Morphine. In general the action 



