378 Treatise on 
timely old Age, an Acrimony and depraved Crafts 
of the Blood, a frequent Inclination to make Wa- 
ter, a Propenfity to venereal Adts, a Priapifm, and 
frequent Emiflions of the Seed in Sleep. 
They who have been long accuftomed to an 
immoderate Ufe of Opium, and leave it off on a 
Sudden, are affedted with thefe Symptoms, in a 
greater or leffer Degree, according to the Diffe- 
rence of Conftitution, or of the Excefs in its Ufe ; 
to wit, with a deep and infupportable Sadnefs, with 
Anxiety, Languidnefs, and Faintings •, by which 
the poor Tick Perfon is miferably tormented, and 
reduced to Extremity, and even fometimes to Death 
more defirable to him than Life, unlefs he return 
to the Ufe of Opium, or of Wine-, though the 
Force of this is not to be compared to that of Opi- 
urn. Moreover, with thefe Affedtions the old Com- 
plaints, which had been palliated by the Narcotick, 
often return with greater Violence. 
Having enumerated the chief Effedts of Opium, 
we fhail now attempt to explain the Manner in 
which it operates. The abovementioned Effedts 
then of Opium feem to proceed from its remark- 
able Adtion in the Blood, which it wonderfully dif- 
folves, expands, and rarefies. Hence arife fo many 
different, or oftentimes contrary Phenomena. The 
Diffolution and Rarefadtion of the Blood are proved 
by the Pulfe, which is great, high, yet foft and 
flow ; by the Tumefadtion of the Face with Red- 
nefs by the Heat diffufed over the whole Body ; 
and by the Fluidity of the Blood of Perfons who 
conflantly ufe Opium : For it fcarce concretes when 
cold. And it hath been obferved, that the Blood 
of Turks and Indians , who have fallen in Battle, has 
continued as fluid one or two Days after their Death, 
as if they had been (lain but the Inftant before. 
The 
