Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

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procuring opium is by incisions into head of poppies out of which ooses [oozes] the juice, it then becomes inspissated, this is the best method in my opinion, it is sometimes procured by boiling and then inspissating the liquor, and also by bruising the heads of the popies and pressing out the juice. Opium frequently comes to us in an adulterated state, it is generally adulterated with the common lettuice of our gardens. Dr Cox of this City proves that this vegitable contains opium, large poppy fields in this country I think would probably prove injurious, because they would in my opinion would frequently be resorted to for relief from sorrow and distress, the effects of opium when applied to the living animal fibres externally, when applied to the eye, Urethra, and other tender parts it first produces pain and a sense of heat but afterwards the sensibility of heat is diminished, its stimulating effects to the urethra should by no means prohibit the use of it in affections of those parts, as in Gonorrhea since it may be used without the smalest injury to the patient. Whither opium when externally applied exerts any decided effects on the system is a question where authors disagree. Dr Crumps experiments proves that it does, while

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the experiments of others prove to the contrary, for the experiments of Crump I refer you to his book on Opium, the theoretical part of his work is excellent, but I differ from him in the practical part. Opium has certainly removed spasms of the feet, by being applied to the soles of them, Laudanum rubbed on the stomach have removed obstinate spasm and vomiting. Dr Crump prefers the solution and says it not only acts upon the part to which it is applied but that its influence is manifest all over the whole system, his observations on the external use of opium is worthy the attention of every student of Medicine. Dr Jacksons experiments go to prove that opium has no effect on the system when externally applied, but from my own observations I can unequivocally assert that when applied externally it produces the most characteristic effects which follow its internal use. I saw its deleterious effects on a woman by her rubbing it on another, there are many other effects which I could advance in support of this opinion, a woman in this City had for some time had Laudenum rubbed on her temples which induced sleep, costiveness &c. Sickness at stomach, mania &c, have sometime been removed by rubbing large quantities of Laudanum

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and from this circumstance he draws his conclusion the experiments of Dr Crump are amongst the latest and best and most conclusive in favor of the stimulating properties of opium, he assures us they were made with the utmost care and greatest attention to every particular that could influence the result of them, having breakfasted says he I took one grain of opium in a teaspoon full of water, my pulse beat naturally at Seventy in a minute, in two minutes after I took the opium it was at Seventy, and in

[minutes/beats] 5/74, 10/76, 15/75, 20/74, 30/72, 35/72, 40/72.

I could scarcely perceive any variation in the strength and fulness of the pulse, and no drowsiness. I gave (continued he) A young man whose pulse beat naturally 44 in a minute one grain which produced the following variations

[minutes/beats] 5/44, 10/44, 15/44, 20/50, 30/52, 35/54, 40/45.

After twenty five minutes had elapsed there was a manifest increase in the fulness and strength of the pulse the man had never taken opium before, in the afternoon my pulse beat at seventy I took grs ij [2 grains] of opium the result was as follows,

[minutes/beats] 5/44, 10/44, 15/44, 20/50, 30/52, 35/54, 40/45.

in 20 minutes the pulse increased in fulness, in 40 minutes I experienced a language pleasing sensation, and afterwards nausea, headache, drowsiness, and

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sedative operation of opium, and induced him to teach this doctrine, for he previously taught you a contrary one from which he gradually slid after his pupil, we have still something to say before we conclude our remarks on the effects of opium on the late real system, while it increases the force and frequency of the pulse it actually does increase the heat of the body. Martius says however that he applied the thermometer and it indicated no uncommon degree of heat. But every person that observes with attention must be persuaded that the heat of the body (Martius says however he applied the thermometer) is actually increased by it. Dr Cullen in his experiments found this to be universally among its effects, and every writer observed a digness of the tongue and fauces, a flushing of the face and burnings of the palms of the hands, which are all indications of the presence of a stimulus and when increased heat of the body invites notice, the high coloured skin, heat &c, which follows the use of opium and Teneitus Aurium is also a general effect. It would seem in general unless the opium was taken in large doses the respiration is less affected than might be supposed. Dr Crump says unless they were large he perceived no alteration in his breathing, its effects upon its natural

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Dr Crump laid bare the heart of a dog and washed it till the action had ceased. A woman 60 years of age swallowed 36 grs. [grains] of opium, in five or six hours she fell into a profound sleep, she awoke and swallow'd some vinigar, her respiration was stertorious, Ipecacuanha was taken to no purpose and in eleven hours she died, upon dissection the inner part of the stomach was inflamed and partly coroded, it contained the vinigar and Ipecacuanha, but the opium was dissolved, the inflamation had extended to the intestines, and the small intestines wore gangrenous appearance, the joints were verry flexible the muscles entirely relaxed, the small intestine much so, nothing preternatural was observed in the brain, and the veins did not contain more than their usual quantity of blood, the resemblance between opium and wine is worthy attention, and has attracted the attention of Brown Booerhave, and others, wine increases the frequency and fulness of the pulse, it augments the heat of the body, gives propensity to venerial pleasure, in large doses it exhibits intoxication and is diuretic, and by long use reduces both body and mind, all these we