394 
THE SEDATIVE EFFECT OF OPIUM. 
as his legs were getting cold, ordered them to be well hand-rubbed 
by two men. 
By this time the narcotic effects of the medicine were very 
apparent, for as he lay with his head down and his neck stretched 
out, and apparently much inclined to sleep, his breathing became 
more tranquil, his coat dry, and in the course of a short time he 
got upon his legs and seemed relieved. 
We now thought that we had gained a favourable point,- and 
he was left for a short time; but on our return we found him as 
ill as or worse than before, while the action of the heart might 
be plainly seen from the door. 
On rousing him he immediately erected himself upon his 
haunches, propping himself up with his fore feet, and remaining 
in that position a considerable period. This he repeated several 
times. 
I now told the owner that I had not the least hope of his 
recovery, and that I suspected either a strangulation of the 
intestine or a rupture of the diaphragm. The injection was 
repeated, which appeared to give him much pain, and, as he 
passed no excrement, I desisted from the use of more injections. 
Being somewhat perplexed as to what further treatment I 
should pursue, I, as a last resource, resolved upon giving a large 
dose of liquor opii sedativus : I also ordered his belly to be well 
fomented with warm water, and left him to visit another patient, 
saying that I would return as soon as possible. 
Being uneasy as to the result, I was not long in arriving at my 
post again, when I found my patient completely narcotic, and, to 
an inexperienced eye, death was near at hand. A sort of con- 
vulsive motion kept the eye in a continual movement. When his 
head was held up, it fell to the ground as if he was dead. The 
legs when moved were the same ; in fact, he had every appear- 
ance of being irrecoverably lost, so far as unconsciousness went. 
Still the breathing was quite tranquil, the pulse more regular, 
and the heart’s action perfectly subdued. From these symptoms 
I began to form a favourable prognosis, and at a slight noise I 
made against the wall he made a sudden start, rose up, and 
stood firm and immoveable : after this he gradually improved, 
although he was very weak. 
He had now been ill twenty-four hours, and no faecal evacu- 
ation of dung had taken place. 
Ap.Oth. — Improving, but no motion from the bowels, although 
he passed his urine freely. Ordered injections of warm water to 
be given frequently. 
10th . — Voids his dung freely, and needs no more of my assist- 
ance. 
