(seq. 285)

276

Materia Medica

Stimulants

it impairs the fulness and frequency of the pulse, others that it
stimulates and increases the frequency and fulness of the pulse, it is
uncertain who was the first that maintained the stimulating
effects of opium, it has been said Cullen, but is untrue, it
has been attributed to Brown but he does not deserve the whole
merit, yet his merit is considerable, first because he supported
the old opinion and secondly because he recommended it in
debility, Fratis long ago observed that opium produced
stimulating effects and even before this Dr Burgess wrote a
treatise in which he maintained that opium produced fever,
and another circumstance that proves Booerhave had a correct
opinion of opium is this he says those who could not procure
it fell into a lethargy and sell everything they possess to
purchase it or resort to the halter to end their trouble, he also
informs us that opium increases the fever and rapidity of the
circulation, he says it acts while it is retained on the stomach,
and therefore exerts its force on the nerves of that organ or at
least it need not enter the circulation to produce its effects, he
gave a quantity to a dog and while the animal was in
convulsions he opened it and found the opium in the stomach,