76 The Poppy. 



that on that eventful evening, a peculiar clicking noise was heard 

 throughout the house, unaccountable to every one, which must 

 have proceeded from our respiration. By the bed-side the con- 

 tents of the stomach were discovered with the Opium. It must 

 have been ejected immediately after retiring; which was the 

 means of saving us. Zinc, the sulphate of which (white vitriol) 

 should be given by the teaspoon-full, and Ipecac used in the same 

 way, and with as great quantities of warm water as can be given, 

 are the best remedies; the stomach pump is an invaluable aux- 

 iliary. Constant friction should be kept up over the whole body 

 with warm hands. Our own escape, however, despite the theo- 

 ries of science, we firmly ascribe to Providence. We found 

 none of the exhilarating effects produced from it, for which it is 

 taken by the Mahomedans and Hindoos, nor do we think that 

 such effects uniformly follow its exhibition. For information on 

 which subject we must refer to the Confessions of an English 

 Opium Eater. 



A test to ascertain its presence is given by Dr. Hare, founded 

 on the fact, that meconic acid forms a red salt with the peroxide 

 of iron. He precipitated the meconate of lead by the addition 

 of a few drops of a solution of the acetate of lead to the sus- 

 pected liquid : applies to the precipitated meconate by means 

 of a dropping tube, about thirty drops of sulphuric acid, by which 

 the meconic acid is separated ; and finally adds in the same way 

 a solution of the red sulphate of iron, which gives the striking 

 red color of the permiconate of that metal. By this mode, a drop 

 of laudanum can be detected in six fluid ounces of water ! 



Phillips says, to show that Poppies were cultivated to ornament 

 the royal gardens of Rome, in the early days of that city, we 

 have only to call the attention of our readers to the interview 

 which took place between Tarquin the Proud, and the messen- 

 ger who was sent by his son from the city of Gabii. The Car- 

 nation Poppy, which adds so considerably to the gaiety of our 

 gardens during the months of July and August, and which is so 

 much neglected in England and cultivated in France, is only a 

 variety of the P. Rheas. In its double state it is a flower of 

 great beauty, both on account of its crumpled and delicate tex- 

 ture, elegance of shape and variety of coloring, some being per- 

 fectly white, others plain rose, blush-scarlet and crimson, and on 

 others the pencil of nature seems to have blended the dyes in the 



