Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

286

Materia Medica

Stimulants

affecting the sanguiferous system and in this case it generally acts as a stimulant. I know a gentleman it always purged, but if at any time he was affected with Diarrhea opium would stop it. Opium is a carminative. Physicians entertain different opinions with respect to its diuretic effect, some have given it in dropsy, but I shall speak freely on this subject in treating of diuretics. Donald Monroe Mason gave it in dropsy, Hunnis observed its diuretic effects, when giving it to venerial patients, Dr Haller did not think it diuretic = I have sometimes seen it act thus not always, I think it rather increases the effect of henbane, digitalis &c. It is often said to act as a sialogogue. Dr McKinnis says he has known it produce and increase a flow of saliva, there are however other medicines (mercury) that produce this effect, it has rarely acted as a sialogogue except in Syphilis, opium increases the perspiration but without lessening the pulse this effect of it is generally accompanied with itching of the skin, which often continues for two or three days, and which may be removed by drinking warm wine whey, this medicine often occasions a milliary eruption on the body. Dr Haller informs us the smell of it is perceptable