AN ESSAY ON LACTUCARIUM. 
39 
proportion in more than one respect ; the medical action of 
the remedy being sufficiently powerful to enable you to 
confine the dose to that of 15 grammes, at most, during 24 
hours, and the proportional quantity of the medicine cannot 
be forgotten. 
In addition to this, we must not forget that the stomach, 
according to Dr. Francois, soon accustoms itself to the ac- 
tion of lactucarium, and it is impossible to produce any sen- 
sible effect for many successive days, without rapidly in- 
creasing the doses of the medicine ; being able to return to 
the first dose after an interruption of a couple of days. By- 
neglecting this principle, the foundation for which rests on 
numerous observations, we frequently expose ourselves to 
miscalculations, which cannot fail to raise a prejudice 
against lactucarium. 
The conclusion to be drawn from the preceding observa- 
tions appears to me to be very easy. It is evident, in fact, 
that there is no advantage in treating the lactucarium with 
alcohol, either weak or strong. Neither does the prepara- 
tion of an alcoholic extract offer any thing advantageous in 
practice, while everything is to be gained by the employ- 
ment of boiling water to extract the active matter ; whether 
we operate for the purpose of introducing it into the syrup, 
or into any other officinal preparation, without having re- 
course to any previous concentration. 
These conclusions appear to me to be the necessary co- 
rollary to the facts I have submitted to the consideration of 
practical men. In addition to this they seem to answer the 
end proposed in a most satisfactory manner. Nevertheless, 
it shall not be my last observation. The confidence with 
which lactucarium inspires me, imposes upon me, in my 
turn, the obligation of pointing it out as an agent of the first 
class, which cannot receive too much attention, in regard to 
the numerous counter-indications opium exhibits, for which 
it may fairly be considered as the best succedaneum. Fe- 
brile affections are those only that have been mentioned, 
