NAT. ORDER. PAPAVERACE^. 
141 
its known effects in restraining all the excretions, except that of 
sweat ; but unless the hoemorrhages be of the passive kind, or ex- 
cited by irritation, unattended with inflammation, Opium may pro- 
duce considerable mischief, and therefore its use in these com- 
plaints requires great caution and judgment. 
In dysentery, Opium, though not to be considered as a rem- 
edy, may, however, be occasionally employed to moderate the 
violence of the symptoms. 
In diarrhoea, especially when the acrimony has been carried 
off" by a continuance of the disease. Opium is a certain and effica- 
cious remedy. In cholera and pyrosis, Opium is the remedy 
chiefly trusted to. 
In colic it is employed with laxatives ; and no doubt often 
prevents ileus and inflammation, by relieving the spasm. Even in 
ileus and in incarcerated hernia, it is often found to allay the vom- 
iting, the spasms, the pain, and sometimes to diminish the inflam- 
mation, and prevent the gangrene of the strangulated gut 
Opium has been recommended for the cure of venereal ; and 
instances are related where it proved successful, where mercury 
failed ; yet few practitioners, we apprehend, will trust to either 
one alone in these complaints. Its use in preventing and stopping 
the progress of gangrene is well established. 
Opium is successfully used in different species of tetanus, and 
affords relief to various spasmodic and convulsive symptoms oc- 
curring in several diseases, which it would exceed our limits to 
describe particularly. Of these we may mention asthma, epilep- 
sy, dyspepsia, hypochondriasis, rabies canina, chorea sancti viti, 
mania, &c. 
Respecting the external application of Opium, authors seem 
not sufficiently agreed. Some contend that when applied to the 
skin it allays pain and spasm, procures sleep, and produces all the 
salutary or dangerous effects which result from its internal use ; 
while others assert that thus applied it has little or no effect 
