(seq. 343)

334

Materia Medica

Stimulants

increased warmth of the bed, and clothes, the patient should endeavor
to sleep in an erect a posture as possible, either sitting up or having the head
of the bed elevated, he should always preceive himself as cold as possible.

Histeria. In this common affection opium is much
recommended, this disease like Epilepsy often depends on a plethoric state of
the system, and in such cases opium must be improper but when there
are irregular feelings depending on the mobility of the system opium
is proper. Dr Cullen however says that the frequent use of opium
increases the mobility of the system, in those cases of hysteria
depending upon the passions of the mind opium is usefull in large doses.

Palpitations of the Heart. Are sometimes owing
to an organic affection of that organ, but it frequently arises from
spasm, here opium is extremely usefull.

Asthma. Opium
is sometimes injurious or when it depends on a turgessence of the
vessels of the lungs, but in asthma of Spasmodic or Catarrhall
affections it is a usefull remdy. I believe asthma is often an
arthritic affection from observations in my practice. I know a Lady of a
gouty family who has violent attacks of asthma, and nothing relieves
her but the pain setting in her feet when the asthma leaves her, the
same remarks apply to palpitation, this sometimes goes of in the form