386 A Treatise m 
upon this fimple Tindture, that he dignifies it with 
the Title of Panacea. Indeed, fince it appears that 
Opium is neither cold, nor coagulates the Blood, 
as the Ancients believed, what Need is there of fo 
many hot and aromatick Subftances wherewith it is 
ufually mixed ? Are they intended to affift its Vir- 
tue ? But I afk, what Affiftance can Opium receive 
from Saffron, Caftor, and other Aromaticks, which 
are vaftly inferior to it, either for inducing Sleep, 
or for provoking Sweat ? Some, however, admit 
thefe Aromaticks into opiate Compofitions for other 
Reafons; namely, to corredt the virofe Smell of 
the Opium, or to extend it more, that it may be 
diftributed into fmaller Dofes. Upon the fame Ac- 
count likewile Sydenham prefers liquid Opium to 
the dry Extract, a Grain of Opium when diffolved 
being more eafily divided into fifteen or twenty 
Drops, than into fo many Parts in the dry Ex- 
tract. 
The Purgation, or Preparation, of Opium with 
Water is performed thus. 
Take of Opium cut fmall q. v. diffolve it in 
q. f. of clear diftilled Water by digefting in 
B. A. Separate the Solution from the Refidue, 
and when it is cold filtre it through Paper. 
Pour a frefh Quantity of Water to the Refi- 
due, digeft, feparate from the Faeces and filtre 
as before ; and thus reiterate the Affufions, 
&V. till no Tindture is obtained. Then eva- 
porate all the Solutions together in B. M. to 
the Confiflence of a folid Extradt. The Dofe 
is from a Quarter of a Grain to gr. j. or ij. 
When a liquid Opium is required, one Grain of 
this Extradt may be diffolved in q. v. of any fuit- 
able Water, and be given in feveral Draughts at 
Difcretion. 
2 
The 
