(seq. 291)

282

Materia Medica

Stimulants

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