Foreign Vegetables. 391 
fo as are extremely plethorick, for perhaps, from 
the fudden Rarefaction of the Blood, a deadly Sleep, 
or an Hemorrhage, may come on. It ought fel- 
dom to be given in acute Difeafes, efpecially fuch 
as are inflammatory, for Fear left the apparent A- 
batement of the Difeafe ftiould deceive both thePhy- 
flcian and the Patient. 
8. Its Ufe ought to be fometimes interrupted, 
otherwife it will become entirely ineffectual, or hurt- 
ful. 
9. The Indications for giving Opium are princi- 
pally three ; namely, great Wakefulnefs, fharp Pain 
of long Continuance, and enormous Vomiting or 
Purging. 
10. Sydenham likewife adds great Diforders of the 
animal Spirits : Whence it fometimes affords much 
Relief in fpafmodick Affections of the Nerves, and 
in hyfterick Fits. 
11. To this Virtue is chiefly owing the Faculty 
which is found in Opium of promoting fome Eva- 
cuations, when fuppreffed by a convulfive Affecti- 
on of the Nerves. Thus Sydenham , in his Epiftle to 
Co/e, 488. to reftore the Purgations of Child-bed 
Women, when other Remedies have been tried in 
vain, propofes Laudanum. 66 In this Cafe (fays he) 
“ Laudanum, though it be in its own Nature af- 
<c tringent, yet as it calms the Perturbation of the 
“ Spirits, whereby the wonted Evacuation of the 
Lochia had been interrupted, it fometimes proves 
“ very beneficial, and, when Emmenagogues are 
cc of no Service, is able to recal the Flux. It is 
“ however to be well obferved (continues the fame 
“ Author) if we mifs our Aim with the fir ft Dofe, 
tc and the Flux does not fucceed, that Opium is by 
* ( no Means to be repeated.” 
12. Many Phyficians highly extol Opium in all 
Difeafes, whether chronical or acute, not only as a 
C c 4 foporiferous. 
