a very long and lavish use thereof The Inconveniences of leaving off the Use of Opium do bear a certain Proportion to the Time and Quantity that it has been used in 1. Note That the Turks do drink some Water always after the taking of Opium as being the best Menstruum to dissolve it 2. Note That it is usual with them to take a Drachm in the Morning and so much in the Afternoons and so may we as well as they if used to it and 't is a very silly saying that you 'll find in Authors That they are better able to bear it because of the Climate c. whereas the more Northern Persons are better able to take it than the Southern as will hereafter appear most plainly I am told of one near Banbury that takes Two Ounces a Day 3. Note That among the Effects of Opium may be observed many seeming Contradictions yet is there nothing more certain than the several different Matters of Fact which no doubt has been a great Cause to puzzle the World about it and to run Men into strange Absurdities concerning its Operation and all to deviate so far from the Truth that nothing in Nature can be farther unless you 'll say that Heat cools or what pleases the sensitive Soul is at the same time abhorr'd by it Now because these seeming Contradictions in the Effects of Opium are the greatest Rubs to be met with and that the Reader may take the better Estimate of the Undertaking and my Explication of its Effects when I come to it I shall not fear to enumerate them distinctly tho' they will make the strangest Catalogue of Riddles that ever was seen trusting in Him that created this wonderful Medicament that he will enable me to explain all its Effects The seeming Contradictions in the Effects of Opium 1. It causes Sleeping and Watching 2. It causes and prevents Sweat 3. It relaxes and stops Loosenesses 4. It stops Fluxes and causes that of Sweat c. 5. It stupifies the Sense of Feeling yet irritates by that Sense to Venery 6. It causes Stupidity and Promptitude in Business Cloudiness and Serenity of Mind 7. It excites the Spirits and quiets them 8. It is very hot yet cools in Fevers 9. It is hot and bitter yet lessens Appetite even in Cold Stomachs 10. It stops and promotes Urine 11. It relaxes and weakens yet enables us to undergo Labours Iourneys c. 12. It causes and prevents Abortions 13. It stops Vomiting above all things yet causes most violent tedious and dangerous Vomitings 14. It stops Purging in a most eminent manner yet sometimes causes it 15. It is very acrimonious yet as all say obtunds Acrimony however it allays Pain proceeding from Acrimony 16. It causes a furious Madness yet composes the Spirits above all things 17. It causes 〈◊〉 yet sometimes cures them as Willis says 18. It causes Palsies yet have I known it to cure a Palsie 19. It causes Drinâ—ss in the Mouth yet takes off Thirst in Fevers 20. It cures and causes a Hiccough 21. It stanches Blood yet causes the Blood to come outward as appears by the Efflorescence or Redness of the Skin that it causes yet moves the Menses and Lochia 22. We have many Instances of it promoting and hindering Critical Motions 23. It raises very weak People when nothing besides will do it yet it kills other weak People 24. It causes and cures Convulsions 25. It causes Relaxation and Contraction of the same Parts 26. It Relaxes yet causes Rigidity Tension and Erection of the Penis Priapisms c. Thus have I fairly and faithfully laid the whole Onus of the Operations Effects and Contradictory Phenomena's of Opium upon my Shoulders however I come off and clear my self of the Intricacy Mazes and cross Effects thereof by explaining them which none upon the View thereof will think possible and none before me durst as much as enumerate for that End CHAP. VII The Author contrives a Compendious Way of Examining all Opinions concerning the Operation of Opium HAving without any sly or sordid Evasion or considerable Omission which has been the persidious Course of Authors in this Case fully and truly enumerated the sensible and certain Effects of Opium in Humane Bodies and thereby empannel'd a Iust Iury for the Trial of Hypothesises which must be Judged by the Effects or Phenomena's of Opium I will now proceed to their Examination But because it would be endless to take every one particularly into Consideration I will use their Stratagem who blow up Foundations to save the tedious Pecking at all the Parts of the Superstructures which in this Case would require an Age and take up all my Time in demolishing them which may be better employ'd in erecting something that may be useful I have considered and find That the Foundation in which all Authors both Ancient and Modern agree and whereupon they have hitherto endeavour'd to build looking upon it as firm and Warrantable in all Ages is this viz. That Opium operates by diminishing or disabling the Spirits meaning the animal Spirits The Ancients affirming That it did so by an extreme cold Quality c. And The Moderns who observed it to act while it is at Stomach by affecting the Brain Nerves Animal Spirits c. and concluded no Action was perform'd without Contact infer'd and agreed because no visible Passage could be found from the Stomach to the Head that it must of absolute necessity act by Fumes Vapours Auras or Effluviums sent up out of the Stomach to the Brain Nerves c. So that all the remaining Question among the Moderns is Which Way those Fumes or Vapours do the Feat all allowing the Fumes do it One saying That they stuff the Pores of the Brain and so hinder the Generation of Animal Spirits A Second That they constringed and closed the Pores together thereby hindering the said Generation A Third That they fix'd and coagulated the Animal Spirits as Wedelius and others A Fourth That they clouded the Animal Spirits A Fifth That they acted as a Poison as Willis and many others A Sixth That they clog'd the Animal Spirits by adhering to them c. Not knowing nor I think caring what they said so they humour'd their own Imaginations and Hypothesises tho' utterly incapable of solving the Effects of Opium especially its most constant proper and genuine Effects For how can a cold Quality which Opium never had cause a gay and brisk Humour Bravery Magnanimity Euphory in Labour Promptitude to Venus c. And how can Clouds of Vapours hinder the Generation of Animal Spirits by stuffing or constringing the Pores of the Brain Poisoning fixing coagulating clogging or clouding the Animal Spirits cause a fine Ovation thereof a Gay Brave Couragious and Magnanimous Disposition Euphory Promptitude to Venery Serenity Expediteness in Management c. Which are as has been said the constant and proper Effects of Opium Nor indeed was any of those Authors so fool-hardy as to attempt it
Why then did they write and trouble the World to peruse their Books when they were so far from explaining the Properties of Opium that they scarce ever durst mention them nor set their Hypothesises and them as much as in View of one another Was not this a tacit Confession of the Incompetency of their Suppositions I beg Pardon for calling them theirs tho' they themselves do for I cannot offer them a greater Abuse than laying their Spurious and lame Brats at their Doors Tho' one scarce need say any more of them yet lest I be thought presumptuous or saucy for so much as offering to suspect the general Foundation of all the famous Authors that ever lived as Galen Avicenna c. among the Ancients Etmuller Willis c. among the Moderns 1. I will shew you very just Causes to suspect the Insufficiency of the general Foundation viz. That Opium diminishes or disables the Spirits 2. I will prove That it does not do it by a Cold Quality 3. That it does not do it by Vapours Fumes Aura or any such Way 4. That it diminishes or disables the Spirits by no Means whatsoever Which diminishing or disabling of the Spirits Cold Quality and Fumes or Aura comprehend the Foundations of all Opinions concerning Opium that ever I read or heard of and consequently if those Two Fundamental Opinions be refuted all the Superstructures that have been in this Case must fall to the Ground CHAP. VIII The Author shews Iust Causes of his Suspicion that all Authors have gone upon a wrong Foundation in their Disquisitions of the Cause of the Operation of Opium I Have shewn you That the general Foundation of both Ancient and Modern Authors is That Opium doth diminish or disable the Spirits And now I will plainly shew Iust Causes of my Suspicion of its Insufficiency which are these 1. I observe That all Learned Men are to this day highly dissatisfied as to the Cause and Manner of the Operation of Opium notwithstanding all that has been written concerning it and that it is the common Cry on all Hands that none has illustrated the Operations of Opium to any Purpose or given any Satisfaction therein and therefore Learned Physicians are still as much upon the Enquiry as ever they were It is much more Civil and Reasonable to suspect the Foundation that all former Authors have built upon than a general Failure in all the most Judicious Master Builders that ever endeavour'd to build thereon for if all the best Architects of the whole World fail to erect a firm Superstructure upon any one Foundation what can we think but that the Foundation is infirm especially when as in our Case no Way that Care Iudgment Perspicacity and Wit could invent or think of has been left untried to build thereon so that tho' I modestly call it a Cause of Suspicion it amounts almost if not altogether to a Demonstration that the Foundation that all Authors have gone upon is naught Would not any considering Man when he sees all the Iudicious Architects of the World fail to erect a firm Building upon a certain Foandation seek for another Therefore who can blame me if I do and not blame them that did not The meanest Bricklayer or Carpenter that should be guilty of such Stupidity as to attempt to build upon such a Foundation as always deceiv'd the Builders would be thought too great a Blockhead to be employ'd in Building 2. I observed That most Men do notwithstanding that Foundation is agreed upon think it impossible to explain the intâ—icate various contradictory Phenomena's and mysterious Effects of Opium sitting contented and perswaded that it operates by an occult Quality wholly unexplicable and particularly reserved from the Knowledge of Mankind But Nature works Mechanically in Weight Measure c. Therefore it is more than probable that it is only their being upon a wrong Bottom makes it seem absolutely occult for it is impossible to find a thing where it is not or to build firmly upon an insufficient Foundation whereas had it been right and true it is not to be imagined but some or other would have thereupon done something that would have stood against all Winds and Storms which none have done 3. I observed That none durst venture to lay the whole no nor one half of the Burthen of the Phinomena's or Effects of Opium upon that Foundation foreseeing doubtless that it could not bear them and that if they laid any more Weight thereon the whole would totter and fall to the Ground The Project in every Hypothesis is to perswade Men of the Truth thereof and the only way to do it is to solve all Phenomena's thereby for if it fails but in one it is an infallible sign of its Insufficiency There was no Reason to omit any of the Phenomena's if they could have discern'd that the Hypothesis would have born them therefore as has been intimated it implies a Confession of its Incompetency 4. I observed That ancient Authors writ of Opium before it came to be of common and general Use in the Day-time with Healthy Persons as it since is in many Nations to cause a gay pleasant and good Humour take off Sadness Melancholy and Anxiety To cause Assurance Boldness Courage Bravery Magnanimity Euphory or easie undergoing of Labour Iourneys Promptitude in Business Expediteness and Serenity To excite to Venery c. Which Effects cannot be explained by that Supposition of disabling the Spirits and that they used Opium only Medicinally for the sake of such other Effects as might be tollerably well explicated by that Hypothesis so that they had not any Occasion nor Inducement to look any farther The Effects they gave it for was only 1. To cause Sleep 2. To take off Pain 3. To stop Fluxes 4. To Compose the Spirits 5. To cause Perspiration and Sweat All which are not inconsistent with the Hypothesis of diminishing or disabling the Spirits as the other are and therefore might well deceive them For First Sleep is caused by diminishing the Spirits by Labour Watching c. as is most notorious over the whole World so other Things that diminish the Spirits as Bleeding Vomiting Purging and many other Causes of diminishing thereof do incline us to Sleep Secondly Indolence or Exemption from Pain is caused by nothing more than want of Spirits as in Paralytical Cases Stuporâ— Obstructions or Compressions of the Nerves Syncopes Leipothymies Deliquiums Faintings after Bleeding and Sleep which as was said is so much caused by loss of Spirits c. Thirdly Fluxes are stopt or moderated by nothing better than Sleep which generally as was said proceeds from loss of Spirits What also stops or moderates Fluxes more than want of the Sense of the Irritation of Humours And what takes away Sense more than want of Spirits Thus want of Sense by the absence of the Spirits in Paralytical Intestines stops Fluxes Thus fails a Paralytical Bladder to express the Urine So a Palsie of the Membranes
are reputed Opiates Borellus speaks of a Soporiferous Aura that proceeded from ones Thumb cured by a Caustick I have read of a Cataphora from Worms a Soporiferous Fume from the Womb and very many such sorts of Instances which Things are now easily conceived for 't is but supposing a Fume of the Nature of Sem. Animale or its Aura for I can no longer doubt but it is an Opiate and it would have much the same Effects with Opium if it were fit to use it after the same manner Having shewn 1. Which are the predominant active Principles in Opium and how combined c. 2. Which of them produces the usual and laudable Effects of Opium And why in general I come now to the Third Particular viz. to shew III. Which of them produces its ill Effects And why It s ill Effects are these viz. Nauseas Vomitings which are generally very dismal with great distress and sometimes dangerous Swimming in the Head Hiccoughs Distresses Anxieties Convulsions Faintings Leipothymies Syncopes c. 1. Note That its grievous Effects are at or about the Region of the Stomach or particularly the Mouth or Pit thereof or thence arising by Consent 2. Note That seeing there is nothing so good but may cause evil Effects in an excessive Quantity this Enquiry is more properly What Principle or Principles of Opium do cause those ill Effects in an ordinary Dose for what will in a moderate Dose will be sure cause them in an excessive Dose 3. Note That all the constant Effects of Opium as you may observe in the Enumeration thereof in the Fourth Chapter are good and laudable Effects it follows therefore that the bad are accidental 1. It is not the Earthy or Phlegmatick Part of Opium that causes those ill Effects because they are Passive Principles and consequently have not such a Power besides that they are known to be innocent 2. Opium has all those ill Effects when both the Earthy and Phlegmatick Parts are separated from it as when an Extract of well torrefied Opium is made in Spirit of Wine for by that means the Phlegmatick Part is dried up and the Earthy Parts subside and are separated yea such Extracts made by Spirit of Wine do cause those evil Effects rather more than crude Opium with its Earth and Phlegm in it as Experience assures us and Reason will plainly confirm by and by however fond the World is of such Preparations 3. It is evident from the Premises that the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum of Opium cannot cause those Vomitings Hiccoughs c. for they are the Effects of grievous Sensation at Stomach but the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum causes a most agreeable and pleasing Sensation at Stomach 4. Nothing quiets Vomitings Convulsions â—coughs c. more than that Sal-Volatile-Oleosum of Opium 5. Experience informs us That the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum of Opium separated from all other Parts and Principles thereof never causes such evil Effects as I and another Physician in London can testifie as does also Le Mort in the most Learned Dr. Love's Collectanea where he says of such a Preparation thereof as contains only the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum That Nunquam Anxietates circa Praecordia aut Phantasias conciliat That is It never causes Anxieties about the Mouth of the Stomach c. for that is most properly to be understood by Praecordia Wedelius testifies the like of such another Preparation and so do several Authors tho' they did not in the least know why but only by Experience 6. It s Fixt Salt is innocent in its Nature and but the 32d Part of Opium which is too inconsiderable in an ordinary moderate Dose to cause any sensible Effect It follows therefore That is must be the Resinous Part of Opium which it has in a considerable Quantity that must cause those ill Effects This manifestly appears 1. Because a Tincture of Opiam in Water which takes up none of the Rosin but lets it fall into the Bottom never causes any such ill Effects which it does not also if reduced to an Extract by Evaporation yet have they all the usual good Effects of Opium 2. Wedelius in his Opiolog assures the same of the like Preparation in Phlegm of distilled Vinegar L. 2. Sect. 1. C. 5. P. 92. 3. An Extract of Opium in Spirit of Wine does often cause those ill Effects and no other Preparation causes them as often Wedelius ibid. A Laudano opiato cum Spiritu Vini correcto solum ferâ— observavimus ortos Vomitus a nostro vero quod cum Phlegmate Aceti distillati fieri diximus nunquam Vomitum vel Nauseam saltem contigisse meminimus That is We have observed Vomitings almost only from Laudanum prepared with Spirit of Wine but never any Vomiting or Nausea from that prepared in Phlegm of distill'd Vinegar Which he confirms L. 1. sect 2. c. 4. p. 62. saying in Latine That a curious Observation is to be noted by which it appears that an Extract of Opium with Spirit of Wine shews more Narcotick Force by which he means That it causes more ill Effects than prepared in distilled Vinegar Whereas that in Spirit of Wine has nothing more in it than that in Vinegar besides the Râ—sinous Parts Therefore these do cause all the Mischief Note also That an Extract in Spirit of Wine has in it Quantity for Quantity more of the Râ—sinous Parts than Crude Oplum both because the Earthy Parts that help'd to make up the Bulk are taken away in that Preparation and because the 〈◊〉 of Wine imbibes the Rosin more greedily than other Principles of the Opium so that every Dose must in Proportion have much more Rosin in it than Crude Opium Therefore it is no wonder that it causes those ill Effects more frequently since the Rosin is most certainly the Cause thereof as has been and shall be more fully and beyond all contradiction proved Yet is this the Preparation boasted of by the blind and inadvertent World it would amaze nay terrifie a Man to see what great Care is taken to be sure to render Opium mischievous by solicitously using Spirit of Wine in extracting Laudanums and then and not till then they boast of the Preparation as Charas and very many others do calling it not without great Ostentation and desperate Folly their Laudanum May it be theirs and none others a Turk would be a Mad-man to use it for Crude Opium because it has much more of the pernicious Principle in it It is the common and much esteemed way first to extract it out of Water and then it is very good laudable and innocent but thought nothing worth till they extract the Rosin that is all left behind by the Water in Spirit of Wine and add it to the other then do they with great Authority praise it that is when they have wisely added the Poison to the Panacea It is as if they added Ratâ—bane to a Cordial and not think the Cordial worthy Commendation till they have done so 4. It appears That the Rosin is
that include the Glandules must as in Sleep which relaxes them stop or moderate all Defluxions Catarrhs c. because they are not sensible oâ— the Irritation of the Humour by Quantity or Quality which Irritation causes the Defluxions or Catarrhs by exciting the Membranes to contract and thereby to squeeze out the Humours contain'd in the Glandules Fourthly The Composure of the Spirits is procured mainly by Sleep which all loss of Spirits as was shewn inclines us to so Bleeding which diminishes the Spirits compose their Fury in Fevers Deliriums Madness c. Fifthly Perspiration is caused by nothing more than Sleep for we perspire twice as much in Sleep as when we watch as is most manifestly demonstrable by the Statick Experiments of Weighing People nor is Perspiration ever so great as in Deliquiums Syncopes Leipothymies and such like deadish Cases which are caused by diminishing or disabling of the Spirits nay 't is so in Animals quite dead for a little time while they are hot as is evident by like Statick Demonstrations The true Cause of which is Relaxation of the Pores Skin c. for want of Spirits to contract and constringe them as shall be fully proved hereafter by God's Help These Things were doubtless the occasion of that Hypothesis of diminishing or disabling the Spirits by Opium but how likely are they to err by establishing it without any consideration of its enlivening encouraging and brisk Effects as Ovation of the Spirits Gaity Bravery Magnanimity Euphory Promptitude to Venery c. which can never be solved by Diminution or Disability of the Spirits till Depression and Elevation thereof are reconcilable and consistent at the same time in the same subject which can never be till Disabling and Not Disabling are the same thing Have not we then good Reason to suspect that general Foundation of diminishing or disabling the Spirits by Opium which was laid by such as never considered any thing of its generous and sprightly Effects which as has been shewn are its constant and therefore most proper and genuine Effects Who can doubt then but they must err in laying a Foundation quite contrary to the very Properties of Opium 5. I observed That all our Modern Authors and Physicians receiving the Knowledge of Opium its Effects and Uses from those Ancients do use it only for the same Ends and Purposes as they did and that our Modern Authors living in these Western Parts of the World very remote from the Eastern Countreys where it is used commonly and in large Doses by People in Health in the day-time to enliven invigorate and encourage them and cause the brave generous and magnanimous Effects aforementioned viz. Courage Euphory c. and finding no Physician that went before them to mention these noble cordial and glorious Effects and if they did at any time slightly touch them to do it with all imaginable Disregard Neglect and Contempt as if there was no Heed to be taken of them but as idle Tales and improbable Stories being contrary and utterly as they thought inconsistent and irreconcilable with the daily and most notorious Effects of Opium observed among us and to the Universal Opinion of all Authors who stated Opium to be a Diminisher or Disabler of the Spirits which could not produce as they concluded such contradictory and therefore to them utterly incredible Effects and fabulons Flams arising as they fansied from some silly Errours as want of due Observation in Travellers mistaken Discourses and the like so that as the saying is they let them in at one Ear and out at the other there being no such contrary Effects of any one Thing to be observed in the whole Creation and they being well assured of the other Effects by daily Experience and having never observed those lively Effects for the several plain Reasons that you 'll meet in the following Paragraphs had no cause to alter their Opinion when all Things seem'd to them to make for their Hypothesis for want of a Notion of those brisk Effects 6. I observed That those brisk Effects of Opium were not taken notice of by our Physicians nor indeed all things considered do I well see how they should without getting out of the common Road of observing which is sometimes as I have found very useful upon such Occasions For First Opium is seldom if ever given in these Western Nations but to Sick People as the Ancients did who are utterly incapable of those brisk Effects or at least to any remarkable degree that might call for a particular or special Advertency or Attenâ—ion without which they passed off as they came without any Reflection thereupon and so signified nothing as if they had never happen'd Secondly We as the Ancients did generally give Opium when People are going to Bed by which means all Opportunity of Observation is lost because darkness and being alone hide or hinder the shewing of any such Effects and the Physician whose only Business it is to be more curious in such Matters is gone to his own Rest tho' if he were present not likely to take any Observations of such Matters whereof he has least Thoughts or Belief as being in his Opinion contrary to all Reason Sense Experience and the Opinion of all Authors of the Stupefactive Quality of Opium in which they all agree Thirdly Opium is as was said given in these Countreys to cause Sleep or such Effects to which Sleep conduces as composing the Spirits causing Indolence stopping Fluxes and promoting Perspiration and therefore always given with all careful Directions and Injunctions that may conduce to that End as going to Bed lying still putting out Lights keeping Silence c. which concurring with the Opium cause Sleep which is utterly inconsistent with shewing any of those lively Effects that belong only to a waking Person to do so that all Opportunity of Observation is utterly precluded Now all the Premises considered it cannot be conceiv'd that such as set their mind upon contrary Effects and expect no other much less contrary ones against which also they are highly prejudiced by their Reason Experience and Reading should observe such brisk Effects if they did happen and how can a brisk Humour Courage easie undergoing of Labour Promptitude to Venus c. be observed in Sick and Infirm People lying in Bed alone and in the dark or which renders it utterly impossible while they are asleep and the Thing it self disbelieved and esteem'd contrary to Common Sense and the Universal Sentiment of the Learned and all others Therefore 7. If after all any such brisk Effect did ever happen it must be either not regarded or if observed which is no way likely as was shewn you may be sure for the many plain Reasons and Causes aforesaid that it was not imputed to Stupifying Opium as all esteem it but to any other Cause or Accident rather than to a Thing well known to have quite contrary Effects For Instance If the Sick Person happen'd to be
increase more and more and make one more and more remote from waking 4. Why should warm Baths Fomentations Feetwashes Head-washes warm moist Weather the Act of Venery the Pleasure of sweet Melody gentle rubbing of the Head in a pleasant manner scratching the Back where it itches and all gentle Pleasures that are consistent with lying or sitting still which do all cause a very free Perspiration of Fumes at the Pores that are then most certainly opened by all those Causes as may be proved by statick Demonstration Magnifying Glasses c. cause Sleep seeing they all cause a spending of the Fumes Obj. Some half-witted unthinking Caviller may say That such Things stir up the Vapours c. Answ. What such mean by Vapours stirr'd is not easily determinable but this I know that all stir of Humours or any other thing hinders Sleep and that the longer such Causes of opening the Pores and consequently of perspiring Fumes do last the more we are inclin'd by them to Sleep so that the more our Fumes have been spent the more we are inclined to sleep which is a strange Contradiction if Fumes be the cause of Sleep I can but smile to think how most Physicians come to call several things Vapours First they say that Sleep is from Vapours then call every thing Vapours right or wrong that inclines us to sleep by reason of that false Supposition How then comes Camphire not to be a great Causer of Sleep that is so apt to evaporate 5. Fear Sorrow Grief Melancholy Depression of Spirits Cold c. do most certainly close the Pores as appears by statick Experiments by which means Vapours are much crowded in the Body yet all such Grievances do hinder Sleep as they also do the Effects of Opium and Drunkenness Therefore they do not proceed from Fumes as the World imagines for then these things that crowd in the Fumes and Vapours would promote not hinder Sleep 6. If Fumes are the cause of Sleep then are the cause of Sleep and Vertigo's as the Vaporanians allow the same it follows then that we could never sleep without a Vertigo 7. Many as Dr. Willis says eat their Meat take their Drink c. as other People yet do not sleep at all for many Weeks together which were impossible if the Fumes of Meat and Drink caused Sleep for they by eating and drinking must have those Fumes and consequently Sleep as other People if that were true Thirdly They suppose and take it for granted which I do not for I know the contrary That Opium while it is at Stomach can affect the Brain c. no other way but by Fumes which is a most groundless Supposition For 1. How should a Lump of Curd at Stomach or the Hast of a Knife swallow'd and many such things which can send no Fumes to the Head cause Convulsions Head-achs Vertigo's Syncopes Leipothymies of the whole Man Manias Furors c. if there were not another way for things to affect the Nervosum Genus c. while at Stomach besides sending up Vapours to do it But of this matter to shew how a thing at Stomach may affect the Brain and the whole System of the Nerves c. and how Opium does it without Fumes the 17 18 19 20 c. Chapters will shew you at large Therefore I shall say no more of this at present for it is fit for us first to overthrow that Supposition of Fumes and Vapours before we establish our own For farther Satisfaction then as to that general Supposition of Fumes let us duly and fully consider Things for it is not a slight matter to proceed against a General Opinion that has continued through all Ages or to wipe off the Prejudices acquired thereby Observe 1. That the Brain is a Principal Part. 2. That it is very soft tender and next to a Fluid 3. That very small fine and gentle Things do highly offend it as the Effluvia's of sweet or ill-scented Things causing hysterick and epileptical Fits Syncopes Faintings c. It is also notorious among us Physicians that a little Fume scarce sensible as to Quantity or Quality rising from a Toe Finger c and arriving at the Brain causes dreadful epileptical Fits Vertigo's c. 4. That our Wise and Provident Creator has therefore secured and fortified all the Avenues of the Brain in a more particular manner by several Circumvallations viz. First With the Pia Mater Secondly With the Dura Mater called so from its Hardness Solidity and Strength Thirdly With a strong Skull of a round or arched Figure Fourthly With the Pericranium All which belong to it particularly besides other Integuments common to it with other Parts as 1. The Skin 2. The Cuticle 3. The Membrana Carnosa 4. The Periostium All which do surround it and after all it is Thatched as it were with Hair 5. That the same Providence has taken care which is very observable that none of the Objects of Sensation nor probably any Particle or Effluvium that flies from them should ever reach the Brain but only bare Impulses and they not immediately convey'd but by the Intervention of a fine tenuious soft gentle and most agreeable Aura viz. the Animal Spirits lest any Offence should be given in the least manner to this most tender delicate principal Part and Royal Seat of the Soul all which Care had never been without Necessity for God and Nature do nothing in vain And if you 'll duly consider the Organs of Sensation that are near the Brain you 'll find that they are contrived as Shutters to exclude all extraneous Particles from the Brain for Impulses might have been contrived without their Intervention because they do not alter or improve the Impulses received from Objects for if they did we should not have true notice of Things And seeing they do not alter or improve the Impulses of what Use should they be but to exclude extraneous Particles Eumes Effluvia's c. For instance The tremulous Motion of the Air in the case of Sound would have as truly hit the Auditory Nerve or Membrane without the Tympan and very often much truer without it because of the several Faults and Disorders that it is liable to Yet so necessary was it thought by the best of Iudges who cannot err that it was rather to be placed there with all its Inconveniences that might follow than any way expose the Brain though to the most gentle of Bodies viz. the Air by which in all probability the Animal Spirits themselves are nourished or sustained Were it not that extraneous Particles or Air would offend the Brain What need is there of the Tympan when we know as well by Experience as by the aforesaid Reasons that a Dog c. can hear as well without it upon the first taking it off but that the Hearing will afterward decay because the Brain c. being exposed will be injured What is evident in the case of the Ear may be made so
impossible it should be without such Disturbances as I mentioned would follow if they passed in the Road of the Spirits it is not common Sense that such câ—de Blasts should meliorate or enliven the Spirits to cause Briskness Bravery Serenity Courage Magnanimity as Opium does much less if those Fumes stopp'd and crowded in the Brain and any way hinder'd the Generation of Animal Spirits as the common Assertion is The like is to be said of their passing between the Pia Mater and the medullary Part of the Nerve which cannot be allow'd because of its close adherence thereto with this addition That they would constantly cause a violent Head-ach which Opium and Meals to which Fumes are particularly attributed do often cure So if they got up to the Head between the Pia and Dura Mater it is Head-achs and not the Symptoms of Opium that they would produce which Head-achs as was said Opium and Meals do cure 21. Lastly If they passed by any means quite on the outside of the Nerves and their Membranes viz. the Pia and Dura Mater then must they take their Lodgment if within the Skull between the Dura Mater and the Skull and produce no other Symptom but a Head-ach which as was said Opium and Meals rather cure than produce and if without the Skull it is quite beside the Cushion and the Vaporarians own Intention for in all these last Cases they could not affect the Animal Spirits for good or evil Many and very many things may be added to shew the Impossibilities Inconveniences Incoherences Absurdities c. that attend the Passage of the Fumes and Vapours into the Brain Head c. 22. I had forgotâ— mentioning the Absurdity of its passing up at Gullet and so to the Head because I could not imagine that any one would be so beastly an Animal as to belch up an Argument of that kind considering our very Senses tell us that what comes up that way passes out at Mouth or Nostrils and because if it were so the Operation of Opium c. would be in proportion to our Belching which is ridiculous 23. The greatest Comfort of a Cordial is at first or soon after it is taken but if ' its Comfort were by Fumes or Essluvia's passing to the Bloud or any where besides the Comfort would as their Cause of Fumes do increase for a long time and be more after a good while than at first So 24. If Opium operated by Fumes while at Stomach which must gradually increase continually how comes Opium to be at the height of its Operation in a short time viz. in about half an Hour after it begins sensibly to operate or an Hour at farthest and not increase continually in its Operation as their pretended Cause the Fumes must do by continual steaming 25. If Opium operated by sending Fumes by Passages c. from the Stomach to the Brain I should think that when it has got out of the Stomach as into the Intestines lacteal Veins c. there should be a kind of Interval of its Operation which is never observ'd till it got into the Bloud again therefore it does not operate by Fumes for the Pylorus is always shut but when somewhat is sent downward which would hinder the mounting of the Vapours into the Stomach in order to pass to the Brain 26. If Vapours were the cause of Sleep after Meals then should we be more sleepy two or three Hours after Meals because of the abundance of the Fumes that would be crowded into the Brain by that time but we are more sleepy presently after Meals and if we indulge it but for a quarter of an Hour we are refreshed and far from sleepiness afterward tho' the Fumes if that Hypothesis were true would be much more at Brain two or three Hours after the Meal So it is in the case of Wine if one take a short Nap after some Glasses he may drink a great many afterward without being sleepy which plainly proves that it is not the Fumes of the Wine is the cause of the Sleep because he is not at all sleepy when there must be more Fumes 27. All allow that hot Fumes assaulting the Brain cause Phrensies if that be true then the Fumes of Wine and Opium which are both very hot must always do so but Opium and Wine also do often cause Composure Good Humour Sleep c. which are contrary to Phrensies therefore they do not operate by Fumes 28. If Sleep says Helmont the only Man that I have read who is against Vapours is caused by Vapours ascending from the Stomach to the Head obstructing and intercepting all the Passages of Sensation Motion Speech Iudgment c. as the Schools say then a Disease would have been before the Fall of Adam because Sleep would have been a Disease that is a flatulent and vaporous Palsie 29. All allow Vomitives and Purgers to operate by Irritation or a grievous Sensation of the Membranes of the Stomach Why not Wine Cordials Opium c. by a pleasant Sensation Cujus est Dolor aut Gravamen ejusdem est Voluptas and as a grievous Sensation or Pain causes Melancholy Depression of Spirits Fretfulness Lassitude c. so a pleasant Sensation causes Comfort Elevation of the Spirits Euphory c. But we have not cleared the Way sufficiently for these Matters yet which will in due time be solemnly considered Obj. It may be said That both Vomitives and Purgatives take some time before they operate unless a Nausea upon Aversion causes them to work sooner for Things must have time to insinuate themselves or soak through the Crusta Carnosa of the Stomach and afterwards to affect its sensile Coat which argues that Wine and Cordials which operate immediately do not operate that way but by Fumes or Effuviums passing into the Brain or Bloud Answ. I doubt indeed that this Difference may be an occasion of referring the Effects of Cordials and those of Emitticks and Catharticks to different Causes but it is very strange that they should go so far as the Bloud or Brain to seek for the Cause of the Operation of Cordials which operate in a Moment and go no farther than the Stomach for the Cause of the Operation of Vomatives and Purgatives which take more time to operate especially seeing the Bloud and Brain have no Sensation and that all sensitive Comforts happen by that means I think it were much more proper first to consider the immediate Part upon which they insist when at Stomach especially seeing it is so very sensible before we run roving I know not whither to seek for the Cause of a Thing that works pleases and comforts the Stomach as soon as it is down I take my self running off the proper Subject Matter of this Chapter and anticipating that of another therefore I will be short and deliver my Opinion in this Case by way of Position with a familiar Instance to illustrate it which may in some measure prepare you for the Proof
the Spirits by any means for there is nothing so good in Nature but will do it if used unduely or immoderately as Wine Bread Milk Honey Sugar Beer c. in excess for I intend that it does not do it when duely and moderately used 1. That which refreshes the Wearied and highly prevents Weariness must add to or excite the Spirits which is directly contrary to diminishing or disabling them but Opium does in a most eminent manner refresh the Wearied and prevent Weariness therefore it does not diminish or disable the Spirits Some have been so silly and inadvertent as to object that it refresh'd the Weary only by Sleep It is Matter of Fact that it refreshes them whether they Sleep or no and that without failing as often as it is used in that Case Others that were no Wiser have said that it only took off the sense of Weariness by stupifying which happened by the diminishing or disabling of the Animal Spirits Bare Insensibleness cannot enable the Spirits to Labour with eminent Briskness and Alacrity as Men most certainly do after Opium is taken being finely enlivened and invigorated as with generous Wine if they do not know this to be true let them for shame hold their Tongues till they know Matter of Fact which if they will not they proclaim themselves to be idle and impertinent Babblers but if they will patiently and wisely abstain arguing till they are satisfied as to Matter of Fact then will they be past Opinion and Hypothesis in that Case for they will have sensible and certain Knowledge of the contrary and the Truth of what I say which will end all Controversy and precarious Squabbles upon false Suppositions as the manner is that cannot lead them to what is Right but by meer chance and never to a true Knowledge that they are in the Right which makes it none in effect for they can do nothing with Assurance but only suppose and hope they are in the Right when they are as much out to their Patient's sorrow as Physicians have been in the cold Quality and Fumes of Opium It is true that a Grain or Two of Opium will if a Man composes himself sitting or lying still cause a Sleepiness equal to that caused by spending the Spirits by a Day 's Labour but spending of the Spirits is not the only no nor best proportioned or more adequate cause thereof as I have shewn If loss of Spirit were the adequate cause of Sleep how should good and generous Wine cause Sleepiness after that eminent Rate as it does in most People How should the most pleasing Musick incline such as lie or sit still to sleep but if one Dances thereto it makes him more lively and brisk than ordinary The like exactly do Wine and Opium if Men lie or sit still but otherwise they make them much more brisk and lively and able to undergo Labour Action c. Which Note that you may not any more wonder that Enliveners and Exciters of the Spirits do cause Sleep as well as Diminishers thereof and observe that they are all pleasing things as Musick Wine and Opium which cause Pleasant Dreams Pleasant Watchings Pleasant Humours c. Expect more of this Matter in the following Chapters and all by degrees according as I Judge the prejudiced World will bear Things For a great Paradox how true soever must not be abruptly obtruded but gently and gradually ushered in by insinuating Reasonings otherwise it will be entertained like a rude Stranger that contradicts a Multitude in Fashions and Customs that they have always used and judged to be the very best however blameable Consider that if Opium diminished or disabled the Spirits proportionable to the Sleepiness that it causes as a hard Day 's Labour does then if Opium were given a Man after a hard Day 's Labour it would be as it were adding another hard Day 's Labour to cure it the Day 's Labour and Opium impairing the Spirits alike Think what a miserable Condition the poor Man would be in especially if Sleep did not make him some amends it would be such as were utterly intollerable but so far is Opium from any such Effect that it refreshes him tho' he Sleep not at all after the hard Day 's Labour and not only so but will enable him to Work all the following Night with great Alacrity if need requires it What a Condition would those be in who take a Drachm of it twice a day for 10 20 or 30 years Nay how could any possibly do it for half 10 days if a Grain or Two destroyed the Spirits so much as to cause Sleepiness thereby as hard Labour does Which they must allow that assert it causes Sleep by diminishing or disabling the Spirits But some may say tho' very inconsiderately that it only disables them for the time of its Operation That is strange indeed considering that even during that time they are mostly enabled to Work or Labour tho' tired before and that it 2. Causes Comfort Refreshment Ovation of the Spirits all the time of its Operation as Wine moderately taken does especially if People keep themselves in Action Labour c. otherwise indeed they may fall asleep upon the comfortable satisfaction contentation of Mind and acquiescence of Spirit that it occasions as Wine does 3. The first Effect that we find of Opium which may therefore probably be a very leading fundamental and significant Effect is that it causes a most agreeable pleasant and charming sensation about the Region of the Stomach which if one lies or sits still inclines him to Sleep if not it makes him gay good humour'd brave c. It is a Pleasure so sweet and delicious that tho' I endeavour'd to express it by the Ovation of the Spirits upon Joy a good Genius informing a Man or the Helmâ—sians Archeus in his best Humour or a continual Vâ—real Pleasure Wine drank ad Hilaritatem c. yet I doubt all my Ways of expressing it do come short of the charming Complacency that it causes Therefore if Wine Musick a good Meal agreeable Frication of the Head or Back the sound of Waters c. do incline us to Sleep by the Pleasure thereof which lulls and sooths us to it as is most certain if we sit or lie still much more must the high Charms of Opium cause it That it is a Pleasure that affects by one of our Senses namely by Feeling is indisputable for it is not a Pleasure of the Eye Nose Tongue or Ear and it must be sensitive because caused by Matter and that Opium has doubtless the like Effect upon Brutes who have no other Pleasure but what is sensitive That it is at Stomach is also evident where we can be pleased only by the Sense of Feeling That it is involuntary and pleases us whether we will or no and that the same Particles excite Venery Itching c. Now all the Senses especially Feeling and particularly that at Stomach are given us for
Sleeps are the soundest and that Sleep gradually declines in degrees as we are recruited till we awake the nearer which we are the more we dream the state of Dreaming being a kind of Twilight between sound Sleep and Awaking or between a full somniferous Relaxation and vigilative Contraction And as the Sensitive Soul uses all degrees of Contraction below that of the Vigilative till it comes to bare Compression of the Air so it can exercise super-vigilative Contraction if I may so call it that is much higher degrees thereof than what was requisite ordinarily for a state of Vigilancy as in Cases of Danger to the Animal Frights Terrours grievous Passions and Sensations by which means the animal Spirits being more compressed than under the ordinary vigilative Contraction Sensation grows more nice and smart and Motion more prompt and vigorous they always going together for the Defence of the Animal by extraordinary Flight Repulsion or otherwise Hence it is upon Fear Terrour grievous Passion or Sensation which manifestly proves the Being of such an extraordinary Contraction upon such Occasions That 1. Perspiration sails in a yet higher degree than under bare or ordinary vigilative Contraction as appears by infallible statick Experiments and Demonstrations 2. It is by reason of the said defensive Contraction for so I call it because it is excited in an extraordinary manner for the defence of the Animal in time of need or great Exigence That in Frights Terrours c. our Hair Dogs c. does stand on end or more upright 1. Because the Pores do by that violent Contraction strictly close about the Root of the Hair that it cannot swag incline or yield any way by reason of its Weight c. as when the Skin is more lax and soft and the Pores wherein the Hair is fixed more open 2. Because which is the main Reason the said Contraction renders the oblique Pores more upright as suppose the Pores and Hair do naturally stand obliquely as they do to carry off Wet c. as in Fig. 1. Fig I Fig II And that a in Fig. 1. is by the said Contraction brought nearer to i as much as is from a to o then will the Pores and Hair stand upright as in Fig. 2. and the Skin a o e i s contracted and brought within the prick'd Perpendiculars whereas in Fig. 1. it excur'd beyond the Perpendicular n m as much as is from a to o. 3. For the same Reason it is That the Face in grievous Passions and Sensations as acute Pain c. is contorted and wrung awry as you see in Persons that cry because of Grievances after the same manner as when they strive to lift up a great Weight and that at the same time Tears and Moisture at Nose and Mouth are squeezed out by the same Contraction which makes People use the Saying of Casting Snot about when Men cry It is for the same Reason that People's Mouths water extreamly when they are trimm'd with a bad Razor that puts them to Pain which contracts the Parts and squeezes out the Spittle 4. The Pulse grows sensibly narrower and harder by the same Contraction 5. It is by the Contraction upon grievous Sensation that our Mouths water very much upon a Nausea at Stomach because of the continuity of the Membranes of the Mouth and Stomach 6. The same Contraction is the true Reason why People upon Hunger which is a grievous Sensation at Stomach have so much Moisture or Spittle in their Mouths and so much the more when they see good Victuals and cannot have it because the Grievance which causes the Contraction that squeezes it out is by so much the greater This is the cause why the Mouth waters when hungry People see or smell good Victuals By the same Contraction Moisture is squeezed out into the Oesophagus or Gullet and the Menstruum into the Stomach at the same time where observe God's Good and Wise Providence that Hunger which calls for Meat at the same time provides Spittle to lubricate it for swollowing and to help Digestion render the Gullet slippery and distensible and causes the Menstruum to flow more abundantly into the Stomach and all this when most needed and that exactly in proportion to the Hunger or grievous Sensation that causes the Contraction It is well worth your nothing That God's Wisdom does always cause the Want of what is necessary in sensile Creatures to be the solliciting and urging Cause for supply that a due Proportion may be observed between the Supply and the Want which may upon the telling of it appear so plain a Case that it is scarce worth the mentioning but believe me it is so little observ'd as plain as it may seem to be that People have and do err extravagantly for want of noting it which if they had noted they could never have said that Vapours or the retiring of Spirits into the Brain c. was the Cause or Call of natural Sleep nor feigned Menstruums to be the cause of Hunger but would have duly considered what is mainly supplied by Eating or recruited by Sleeping c. and then had nothing to do but to conclude the Defect of that to have been the Cause that solicited for the Supply in proportion to the Defect Which if observed will most naturally and easily lead you to the true Knowledge of the Causes of all Appetites in an Animal upon a few Minutes Consideration for want of which most plain and one would think very obvious Method the deviating World has sadly puzzled it self about the Cause of Hunger Thirst Sleep and the like to this day and still is in Disputes about them of which tho' my advertent Reader may well prevent me by using that natural Method I shall God willing give an account in my Tract of Animal Mechanism Only note here That I do not mean bare privative Defect as such to be the positive Cause but that the Defect of what keeps or guards the Stomach c. from the Grievance causes other Matter to grieve it cause Hunger c. without which means no Proportion can be observed between Hunger and what takes it away or our Food 7. The same defensive Contraction does upon grievous Sensation as Pain Cold Terrour c. cause a Corrugation of the Scrotum contract the Skin into little Tubercles like that of a Goose-Skin c. 8. By it upon grievous Sensation as by squeezing the Nose very hard pulling the Hair Sand or any such thing in the Eye or a Grievance by the Volatile Particles of Onions Mustard Horse-Radish-Roots c. the Parts and Membranes about the Eyes contracting squeeze out Tears that what grieves the Eyes may thereby be washed away or qualified as much as the Tears can do it 9. By this Contraction repelling the Bloud the Skin grows Pale by Cold Fear Pain c. which also closing the Pores stop Sweat as in a moment You 'll have an account hereafter how Contraction may cause Sweat
by diminishing or disabling the Spirits except it be that the pernicious Rosin may do something of that kind by its aforesaid ill Effects but by pleasantly affecting the Membranes at Stomach Venereal Parts c. 2. That Sleep is caused by Relaxation and quieting the Spirits 3. That Pleasure especially if intense and lasting as that by Opium comforts enlivens encourages and causes an Ovation of the sensitive Soul and Spirits and Displeasure causes Sadness Dejection c. 4. How Pleasure must cause Complacency Satisfaction Content Acquiescence and Composure of the sensitive Soul and Spirits as Grievances cause the contrary 5. How Pleasure elevating and keeping up the Spirits and causing an entire Relaxation of the Defensive and a great Relaxation of the Vigilative Contraction which tire the sensitive Soul must cause Euphory or easie undergoing of Labour Iourneys c. without Lassitude as Experience shews 6. How Pleasure causes Relaxation of all the sensile Parts 7. How the said Relaxation as in Sleep does by suffering the Animal Spirits to expand and thereby making them unfit to carry Impressions smartly which is necessary to convey a sense of Pain for a smart Impression is the very cause of it take away Pain To which you may add That the sensitive Soul's attending willingly to the Sense of Pleasure is diverted from Pain and that a Sense of Pain cannot be in the same Subject with Pleasure which being therefore once excited Pain must disappear but that of taking away all smartness of Impression by Relaxation is a plain Mechanical Cause 8. How therefore all Fluxes that are caused by or require a grievous Sensation or Irritation by Quantity or Quality to maintain and continue them by causing a Contraction of the Parts to squeese out the Humours must be moderated for want of Sensation upon such Relaxation to irritate the Parts as it happens in Sleep or in any Case where Relaxation and thereby Expansion of the Animal Spirits incapacitates them to carry Impressions smartly which is of the Essence of Pain as has been shewn 9. How Perspiration must be promoted by Relaxation which opens the Pores 10. How that by the same Means Sweat also must be promoted if the Body be full of moisture 11. How Opium or Semen Animale being of the same Principles and of like Principles with Cantharides Pismire Bees Garlick c. must excite to Venery cause Itchings of the Skin c. 12. How Opium may by too high an Ovation of the Spirits cause Watching while Pleasure causing Relaxation c. may take away Pain for Relaxation as in Sleep Syncopes c. is enough to take away Pain but to Sleep Quietness of the Spirits is also required as well as their Expansion by Relaxation so that Pain may very well be taken off without Sleep as it often is by Opium that always relaxes 13. How the Pleasure that Opium causes is as was said by the same Principles and therefore of the same Nature with that which Animal Seed causes upon the Membranes but that Animal Seed causes it only upon one Part and Opium upon the Membranes of the Stomach Venereal Parts and all other in general and that only for a Moment but this of Opium for many Hours by which Means the Effects of Relaxtion by Pleasure come to be more remarkable as after much Wine whose Effects is somewhat lasting and internal as that of Opium is 14. How the Rosin of Opium causes its ill Effects by its Indigestibleness adhering Quality and tedious stinging of the exquisitely nice Coat of the Stomach by continually teazing and urging it by its Actimony and acute Volatile Points or Spiculâ— Therefore having 1. A most perfect and compleat Sol-Volatile-Oleosum in Opium of the same pleasing Principles as to all Membranes as Animal Seed is to the Membranes of Venus whereby they must be pleased tickled and relaxed 2. A pernicioâ—s Rosin indigestible sticking and arm'd with acrimonious and stinging Points which must highly offend the most sensile Coat at the Stomach I am now ready by God's Assistance to explain every Phenomenon or Effect of Opium however Amazing and Mysterious hoping they will not remain long so CHAP. XVI The Explication of the Effects of Opium used Externally ITS Effects Externally used are of Two sorts either I. As an Opiate or pleasing Tickler of the Membranes Or II. As an Alterative of the Parts that it is applied to First As an Opiate or Pleaser of the Membranes it has the same Effects as Opium used internally and for the same Reason therefore the Cause of its Operation in this Case will be better seen by the Explication of its Internal Effects which are far more perfect compleat and certain Secondly As an Alterative of the Parts that it is applied to which are the following viz. 1. It incides resolves and discusses by its pointed penetrating and volatile Salt insinuating it self into the Parts and Humours of the Animal because its Particles are fine minute and agreeable thereto as Menstruums to the Things to be dissolved Then by its Volatility it discusses what it has so incided and resolved 2. It mollefies and relaxes by its Sal-Volatile-Oleosum so resolving the Parts and Humours and thereby kindly loosening them Thus Opiates as Solanum Lethale or deadly Night Shade Hemlock Mandrake c. come to be of excellent Use in hard Tumours of the Spleen Tophousness c. 3. It Maturates and Suppurates for the aforesaid Reasons for nothing can better dispose towards Maturation and Suppuration than relaxing mollefying and resolving 4. It exulcerates or causes Blisters or at least rubifies tender Skins if it be very strong because of its Volatile Salt as Cantharides Spearwort and other Things do upon the same Account But this Effect belongs mainly to the true Mastack or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that drops from the Incisions made in the Heads of the Poppies more especially the Theban which affords a most powerful Iuice for Exulcerating or Blistering is but a stronger fuller and therefore painful Resolution as you see by the Cuticle upon Blisters resolved into a kind of Jelly 5. It is Psilothrick for the same Reasons for while it so resolves the Parts it loosens the Roots of the Hair and so causes its shedding 6. It hurts the Eyes because of its Acrimony by Reason of the Volatile Salt 7. It causes Itching in the Skin by the Titillation of the same Volatile Salt as you find by the Application of Squills and the like 8. It excites Venery by the same Titillation on the Veneral Membranes CHAP. XVII The Explication of the Effects of Opium used internally in a moderate Dose NOte That because Opium has been generally hitherto used either Crude or with its Rosin in it the Effects of Opium are accordingly considered as common Experience thereupon has given Opportunity of Observing them but as I proceed I shall shew you where the Resinous Part of Opium is concern'd in the Effect 1. It is manifest why Opium may well
Parts by its relaxing the Pores of the Kidneys and rendring the Humours more penetrating in some measure by the Volatile Salt 20. It causes a Nausea by its Rosin sticking to and teazing the sensile Coat of the Stomach The Reason why it is generally so long before it causes a Nausea or Vomiting is that its Pleasure does at first prevent it till at last the sticking Rosin urges it by its long Stay and vexatious Adherence 21. It causes Swimmings in the Head by Consent when the Stomach is grieved by that Rosin as you find upon Nauseas before Vomiting or when any Thing does much offend the Stomach as much Drink or Wine which when they have Vomited those Swimmings cease 22. It causes Watching in some Persons who are of very moveable Spirits by actuating and stirring their Spirits by its active Volatile Salt tho' it does at the same time please the Membranes and consequently relax the sensile Parts and thereby cause Indolence the Effect of Relaxation which it also does when People keep themselves from Sleep by voluntary Motion and therefore takes away Pain even when Men Travel c. Besides there are some sort of Persons that upon Ioy good News Pleasure or the like are too much elevated or have a restless Ovation of the Spirits which will not suffer them to Sleep tho' they are in a Pleasant Condition all the time This may be the Case of some that cannot Sleep after Opium tho' they are all the Time as they call it in a Heavenly Condition for as I have said a Quietness of the Spirits is requisite to cause Sleep as well as Relaxation but Relaxation alone and thereby Expansion of the Spirits so that they cannot carry Impressions smartly is sufficient to cause Indolence and the Pleasure to cause a Heavenly or very pleasant Condition Sanctor Stat. Med. Sect. 7. Aph. 28. says That Laetitia perseverans per multos dies somnum impedit Persevering Pleasure may do the same by like Reason that is too much 〈◊〉 or Ovation of the Spirits Sometimes too large a Dose causes Watching by over-actuating and exciting the Spirits Medicum vini generosi Allium says Sanctorius conciliant somnum Perspirationem si vero plus justo sumantur utrumque prohibent perspirabile tamen in Sudorem convertunt that is A little generous Wine and Garlick will cause Sleep and Perspiration but too much hinder both yet they convert the perspirable Matter to a Sweat which Wine and Garlick have the Nature of Opiates and the Reason why they Sweat is the Quantity of the Wine affording more Moisture Hippocrates says 23. A dubious State between Sleeping and Waking is caused when the Relaxation upon the Pleasure of Opium inclines to Sleep but the irreâ—uiete Ovation of the Spirits by the Pleasure and Titillation will hardly suffer it yet highly pleases and puts them in a sweet agreeable Condition CHAP. XIX The Explication of the rare Effects of Opium in a Moderate Dose 1. IT causes temporary Pulses of the 〈◊〉 and sometimes of other Parts by its over relaxing the Parts and causing thereby an Expansion of the Elastick Spirits which as was demonstrated weakens their Motion 2. Faltring of the Tongue does as in Relaxation by Drunkenness proceed from the same Cause 3. Looseness of the Lower Iaw as you see in the Drowsy and Drunken People is from the same Relaxation 4. It sometimes prevents Sweat by causing a very Liberal Perspiration as was shewn for as Sanctorius says who should know it much insensible Perspiration and Sweat cannot consist especially in a Temperate Person who Eats and Drinks moderately Therefore if you keep a Person that Sweats much at Night in a free Perspiration all Day by the Help of an Opiate you 'll much lessen or totally prevent the Sweat at Night as in Consumptive Persons c. 5. It causes Abortion by relaxing the Neck of the Womb which also the Pleasure of Coition sometimes does for the like Reason and would be much more apt to cause it if it continued long as that of Opium does Note the Inconvenience of Coition after Impregnation This is the great Cause that Whores are not apt to bear Children because Frequency of Pleasure does over-relax the Collum 〈◊〉 6. It prevents Abortion when Fear Terrour or any contracting Cause as Grief grievous Passions or Sensations do threaten it by its taking off the Contraction and Grievance that causes it 7 Intumescence of the Lips is from their Relaxation admitting the Bloud and Humours into them in a plentiful manner besides that their Laxity and the Inadvertency occasioned by the Diverting Pleasure or Drowsiness that follows letting the Lower Lip hang down carelesly as is usual in such Cases may by exposing much more of that Lip which is most concern'd in this Effect make it seem larger as a hanging Lip does 8. It may cure a Dropsy as Dr. Wâ—llis doth instance 1. By causing a free Perspiration which is much wanted in those Cases 2. By relaxing the Pores and making way for the Humours to 〈◊〉 3. By causing much Urine as Cantharides Millepedes c do upon the Account of their Volatile-Salt with which Opium abounds 9. It cures Stupors that proceed from Contraction as by Cold c. by relaxing all Parts 10. It causes Anxieties and Distresses by the Rosin sticking and teazing the Stomach 11. Vomitings and Hiccoughs proceed from the same Cause 12. Convulsions are caused by the same Rosin while it continually urges the Stomach to grievous Vomitings which at last draw other Parts as the Stomach usually does when under great Griâ—vances into violent Contractions or Convulsions by consent to endeavour its Assistance because the defensive Contraction growing very high by the almost intolerable and tedious Grievance at Stomach causes a mighty compression of the springy Animal Spirits by which Means they grow very forcible irrequiete and violently springy under the urgency of an enormous Compressure which causes such Convulsive Motions Note That such a violent Compression of the Animal Spirits into a great springiness is the cause of the Strength of Convulsive Motions so that sometimes a strong Man can hardly hold a Child's Limb in such Cases 13. Syncopes Leipothymies and Faintings follow when the sensitive Soul being quite tired and overborn by the Fatigue of such Distresses Vomitings and Defensive Contractions to reject and excuss the said adhering and teazing Rosin yields it self to Rest and le ts go the Reigns of Contraction as being fruitless and no longer endurable whereupon all the sensile Parts being relaxed in the highest degree they thereby grow unfit for Sensation and the Animal Spirits expand as far as the Atmospherical Compressure permits them so that they grow incapable to convey Impressions by which means Sense fails and Motion also for the same Reason because the Animal Spirits loose their springy Endeavours for want of a sufficient Compression to render them flippant for the Purpose which is the Cause as in Sleep that Sense
and Motion fail together of the great Perspiration and all other Effects of Relaxation in such Syncopes or Leipothymies in a yet higher degree than in Sleep wherein the sensitive Soul does not quite let go the Reigns of Contraction as appears by the Motions that remain as of the Heart Intestines c. tho' far more remiss in Sleep than in a Waking State Note That such Leipothymies are as was hinted of the same Nature as Sleep is but that they are suddain more profound and not so usual natural and of course as Sleep is which makes them more amazing and surprizing therefore it follows that they are as Sleep is a Means of Recruit when all working and tugging by Defensive Contractions fail and so the last Refuge of the sensitive Soul when over-tired in order to recover Strength for a fresh Engagement with the Enemy as being tired at Night the sensitive Soul loosens the Rigns of Contraction to enable him the better to fall to his Work the next Day This you 'll find by all Reason and Experience to be the true State of Leipothymies upon Grievances and Fatigues tho' not hitherto minded that I know of Many true and useful Consequences do hence follow as That we are not always to disturb them or put them out of these recruiting Leipothymies by grievous Means as Prickings Pinchings c. but only by Cordials and Refreshing Things as you would Treat a Person much tired or by letting them take their Nap if I may so call it if there be not very eminent Danger But 't is endless and besides my Purpose to make a particular Discourse of this Matter which will belong more properly to my Tract of Animal Mechanism 14. Death happens sometimes tho' very rarely and that in very weak People that take little or no Sustenance because either when fallen into such Syncopes they never come out of them by Reason that they have not within them wherewith to recruit their Spirits or that Opium taking them much spent and tired with Distempers causes as in weak and wearied People a most profound Sopor which not recruiting them who take or digest no Sustenance they must rather grow weaker and weaker for somewhat is spent while we live and consequently the Sleep or Sopor more and more profound till they Sleep their last for want of some Recruit which is the very Thing that naturally lessens Sleep and awakes us when there is no other apparent Cause for as the being tired and want of Recruit causes Sleep so the having it causes Waking or which is the same in Effect no farther need of Relaxation for Recruit's sake so that the sensitive Soul fall to his useful Work of Vigilative Contraction for Sense and Motion's sake 15. It sometimes causes Purging which happens as far as I have observed or can learn only when it is given in a good Quantity to Persons of a strong Digestion or canine Appetite The Case is thus When Persons that are of a strong Digestion take a Resinous Opiate in good Quantity they do in great measure by their fixed Salts at Stomach and strong Digestion subdue the Volatility of the Opium and dissolve its Rosin which then as acrimonious Rosins or Vomits subdued by fixt Salt use to do causes Purging Hence it is that it generally if not always Purges Dogs and People of a high canine Appetite and that sometimes meeting such fixed Salts it Purges the Consumptive Bartholine says That Mandrake Iuice purges when it meets with acrimonious fixed Salt Erastus and Quercelan do agree That it has a Purgative Quality but that it does not always exert it 1. Because it takes away the Sense of Irritation 2. Because it is given in too small a Quantity The Reasons are Just and Right and not only consistent with but confirm what I say Note That this is not intended of the Purging that happens after the declination of its Operation which is as you 'll find from another Cause therefore this does not smell of the Opium as the other does because it is past and gone before that in the Declination happens Of which more in its proper Place 16. It raises and revives some Persons that are almost expiring in Two Cases One is when such as have been used to take it are even expiring for want of it of which more hereafter The other Case is when violent Contraction as from Pain Cold Vomitings and Grievous Passions as Terrour c. are the Cause that People are almost expiring for it takes off the Contractions by relaxing c. 17. It stays very long at Stomach when the Rosin thereof sticks to the Stomach and is there detain'd Besides that the Stomach being relaxed and having little sense or motion as in Sleep does not soon digest it or discharge it It is fine in this Case and all other to observe how Sensation and Motion go Hand in Hand keeping equal Pace and equal Proportion as it plainly must be by the Principles of Relaxation and Contraction which I have stated and proved 18. It causes stoppage of Urine sometimes especially in old People by over relaxing and causing a kind of a temporary Palsie of the Bladder as was shewn and taking away the sense of the Irritation of the Urine which should contract the Bladder to squeese it out by which Means it happens sometimes that the Bladder comes to be so over extended beyond its due Tone that they cannot contract it to make Water in all which Cases strong Contracters as Cold Terrours c. immediately cures them the very putting the Scrotum to the Edge of a cold Chamberpot has effected it several times by my Advice tho' if need be you must come to Dashing of cold Water upon the Region of the Bladder or Pumping on it or Dipping in it c. so Terrour and causing a very smart Pain especially near those Parts will do much but Cold is the readiest and best Remedy 19. It sometimes proves dangerous after great Hemorrbages or Evacuations as Tapping in Dropsies c. because the Relaxation hinders the Parts duely to contract upon what remains which may cause great Mischiefs as Discontinuation of Motion c. Thus have you all the constant frequent and rare Effects of Opium taken internally in a moderate Dose so naturally easily plainly and mechanically explicated that People may in my Judgment more admire how all fail'd of discovering the manner of their Production than that I found it as Men are apt to think of the Circulation of the Bloud which now as I hope the Effects of Opium do seems very obvious both which Cases are to me very strong Arguments of a Being that rules and disposes darkens and illuminates c. as he pleases when I consider that both the Circulation of the Bloud and the Cause of the Operation of Opium viz. Pleasure at Stomach c. fell under the Senses of many Millions who in one Case saw the Bloud move and in the other felt
Opium extracted out of Spirit of Wine to make it worse than when Crude therefore has sometimes ill Effects especially when used alone in the Form of a Pill in a large Dose as was said 10. Philonium magistrale is also to be rejected because the Opium is prepared in Spirit of Wine and Benjamin added which is resinous 11. Philon. Rom. Persic are tolerable because the Opium is disgregated and mix'd as Galen would have it among much and several other Things which keeps it's resinous Parts from Coalescence II. As to its Form 1. A Pilular Form of crude Opium or any resinous Preparation thereof wherein the Rosin is not duly subdued segregated altered or corrected is as has been shown the most pernicious 2. The Form of an Electuary is commendable 't is in small Quantity mix'd therein with many or much other Things that prevent the Coalescence of the râ—sin us Particles 3. A liquid Form is generally good because the Parts as in a Tincture of Opium in Spirit of Wine are severed and segiegated yet it is not so very safe where the Râ—sin is not separated because if Care be not taken as has been directed the resinous Particles may be precipitated at Stomach and so câ—alesce and stick to it 4. The Operation of Opium is quicker in a liquid Form but more lasting in a solid Form especially if the Opium be resinous which tho' noxious in general yet has the Advantage of Duration where it may be born as in Persons of a robust Texture and good Digestion or where Custom has taken off it's Grievounsess as you find in habitual Tobaco-taking c. 5. The liquid Panacea of Opium is better for Alteration because it is the first Fruits of the Opium and more sincere and unaltered by Fire than the solid But 6. The solid Panacea is better where a stay at Stomach and the Intestines is convenient as in stopping of Vomiting Loosenesses c. To be brief 7. Liquid Forms should be always given in foul Stomachs where the Digestion is weak in Feavers and when a nimble Operation is requisite III. As to its Dose 1. The mean or middle Dose is generally to be used and where there is no Direction to the contrary 2. The mean Dose may serve except in violent Pain or where much of the Opiate is lost as it happens very often in Vomiting or Looseness or to excite Venery because those Parts are remote and require a very sensible Titillation But as to these matters you 'll have particular Directions in the respective Cases in the following Chapters that treat thereof in a special manner 3. The Dose must be proportionably less in the fine and lax-textured Children Women warm and moist Weather weak Stomachs Persons much debilitated or over-tired with Work Labour Disease c. IV. As to its Vehicle 1. It should generally unless there be particular Cause to the contrary be pleasant and agreeable to the Taste and Stomach that it may rather conspire with the Opiate to please the Membranes c. than contradict the Sensitive Pleasure that it causes 2. It should not be an Acid because it infringes the volatile Nature of Opium except some particular Case requires it which will be seen hereafter 3. It should not be a Volatilo-saline especially to cause Sleep or because that may render it too acrimonious or pungent and so hinder Sleep Composure c. 4. It should not be lixivial because its fixed Nature opposes the volatile except it be where the Opiate is resinous to help it's Dissolution Therefore 5. Wine or fermented Liquors Cordials Waters or smooth and pleasant Liquids as Emulsions Milk and Water Water and Sugar c. will be the most proper generally speaking 6. The resinous Opiate should be always given in sulphureous Spirits Wâ—ne or strong Liquors or in a lixivial Vehicle or rather in both mixed or in a rear Yolk of an Egg or finely poudered and well mixed with Electuaries Bolus's Conserves thick Syrups Pulps or any Thing that is innocent and of a good Consistence to keep the resinous Particles asunder and to prevent their Coalescence for which End I judge that good white Sâ—p must be because of the Alkali its Slipp'riness and Aptitude to join with the Rosin a good Vehicle the Opium and scrapings of the Soap being mixed with a little Rose-Water and what else you think fit to render them more acceptable by pounding them in a Mortar for a good while to an intimate mixture V. As to Time 1. Give the Liquid Forms half an Hour at least or an Hour before the Time you would have them operate 2. Give the solid Forms an Hour or an Hour and a half before you would have them operate It is very silly not to give them till the very Time that they should operate as 't is usual at Bed-time when they should be then operating and causing Sleepiness that the Rest and Ease of lying down may concur with it whereas if People are unapt to sleep as generally they are who take Opium they not taking it till Bed-time lie tossing and tumbling grow uneasie and restless and the Bed hard and in a great part of the Year too Hot before the Opium operates so that the Opium cannot take Effect by Reason of Disquietudes so the Persons lie all or most Part of the Night without any Sleep whereas if it be so given as to cause a great Sleepiness by the Time they go to Bed their lying still a very little Time which they are then apt to and the Bed being soft easie cool and pleasant they immediately sleep and their Spirits being composed continue their Sleep all or most Part of the Night Therefore I have often come where People had not slept tho' they took an Opiate at Bed-time and given them the very same a convenient Time before and they have sweetly slept to their Heart's Desire and Refreshment 4. Give Opiates as to Meals at least 3 Hours before and after them or about the middle Time between them if it be in the Day-time or when the Stomach is near empty or but little or light matter in it which if gentle and agreeable will help Men to sleep But great Repletion and perfect Emptiness or Hunger which is a grievous Sensation do disturb or hinder Sleep 5. Opiates may and have proved inconvenient before or after Letting of Blood and Hemorrhages especially if the Evacuation was large and sudden the Reason is because tho Persons being very dispirited and so much inclined to Sleep of themselves may sleep too much and dangerously and because Opium relaxing hinders the Vessels duly to contract upon the remaining Blood which may cause a Discontinuance of its Streams by Reason that the diminished Blood may not suffice to fill up the relaxed Vessels tho' this may seldom happen because the Compressure of the Air is appointed by most wise Providence to close all our Vessels in such Cases but it must be better done when the
That when People are in an untoward Condition or as they call it out of Sods the next day after Drinking Men often advise taking the Hair of the same Dog that is drinking some of the same Wine or Liquor it is best for them to use it as I just now directed for their Case upon the good Effect of the Wine ceasing is much like that upon the going off of the Operation of Opium which may also in this Case be used instead of Wine to procure a better and blither Condition for that day that uses to be very troublesome to Drinkers 3. Note That good Preparations of Opium may be conveniently used to Horses to prevent their being tired or take off their Weariness and cause them to go on but I would not advise any Preparation in this Case but the liquid Panacea in good Ale or Beer and that only in the same Quantity as is used to Men till farther Experience emboldens the Practice By such means I cannot doubt it any Iade may be made to appear lively go well c. CHAP. XXXII Of the Use of the Panacea c. to compose the Sensitive Soul Spirits c. I Have shown how and why it composes and quiets the sensitive Soul Spirits Bloud Stomach c. and by that means allays all the Fury Commotions Perturbations and turbulent Exorbitances thereof and that often without Sleep but much better with it It follows therefore 1. That it prevents and takes off all Frets and turbulent Passions of the sensitive Soul as Anger uneasie Agitations and Tosses of the Mind Peevishness Fretfulness Discontents Disquietudes Dissatisfactions Murmurs turmoilings and vexatious Thoughts Anxieties Solicitudes c. and all the evil Effects thereof as Watchings Waste of Spirits or Strength Lossitudes Hypochondriacal Melancholy Cachexies Scurvies c. But these last belong most properly to its Alterative Faculty or Vertue 2. All involuntary furious Agitations of the sensitive Soul and Spirits as Madness more especially Melancholy Madnesses or such as proceed from grievous Thoughts or Apprehensions Losses Crosses Despair Fears Terrours or the like but they are not so good in Merry Madnesses as those from Ioy Venereal Fury and such-like which answers the great Disputes about Opiates in Madnesses Deliriums Epileptical Fits Convulsions general and particular as those of the Head Rising of the Lights Vomitings Hiccoughs Sabbings Keckings Convulsive Asthma's Palpitations and Tremblings of the Heart Shakings and Shiverings upon Fear Terror Cold Pain Ague-Fits Convulsive Colicks Hysterick Fits Iliack Passions c. 3. All Fevers and Frets of Humours that happen from any of the aforesaid Causes Or from any violent Motion voluntary or involuntary as Labour Running Hewing Fighting or any vehement Exercise Ratlings Tossings Concussions in Coaches Waggons Boats in stormy Weather violent Riding c. Or from Heat of Fire Sun Baths Hot-Houses Bagnio's Crowds lying too many in one Bed or with too much Clothes Or from grievous Sensation Irritation or Pain as Fevers upon Inflammations Abscesses Buboes Stone Colick Cardialgia Wounds Fractures Dislocations Confusions Amputations Lithotomy Paracentesis or any painful Operation of the Noble Art of Chirurgery Agony or Pain of the Small-Pox as its second Fever and the like Or from Fluxes as tedious and turbulent Vomitings Diarrheas Dysenteries Cholera's Iliack Passions artificial Purging and all symptomatick or immaterial Fevers whatsoever which either never had any Matter but proceed from such agitating Causes as I mentioned or remain as some do after the grieving Matter is carry'd off by Vomiting Purging c. I forbore mentioning Pleurisies and Peripneumonia's among the Fevers that it prevents or takes off because there are great Disputes whether Opiates are convenient in those Cases which I hope to determine Unless it be when the said Distempers are come to that pass that it is dangerous to cause Sleep or take away any of the Sense of the Irritation of the Matter to be expectorated lest it should be too much amass'd in the Bronchias or Wind-pipe and so choak the Person I see no cause to forbid them any more than Sleep or Opiates in other Inflammations wherein they are highly beneficial to give Ease cause Sleep compose the Spirits and take off or at least moderate the Fever But I see many good Reasons to use them 1. Because as a Sal-Volatile-Oleosum they reserate and resolve clammy Humours and are so agreeable in Principles as Menstraums should be to the thing to be resolved I cannot doubt but Red Poppy is upon Experience stated a Specifick in those Cases for that reason 2. Because these Distempers as Hippocrates speaks are from a segregation of Humours by Agitation c. and Opiates excellent Composers thereof 3. Because they are such great Discussers and 4. Open the Pores to let the discussed Matter quite out of the Body 5. Because it may be that by its Relaxation upon such Resolution the lodged Matter may be caused to flow off and circulate again and so be gradued discussed and carried off by the open Pores 6. Because it envigorates Nature to perform those Things And 7. Gives Ease and Recruit of the Spirits by Sleep So that all Things considered I think as Experience assures us that Red Poppy or Opiates in due Quantity are the very best Remedies that can be used Hence it is that Wedelius calls Opium an Antipleuritick Specifick he having observed as I and others have done That the whole Course of the Disease and Expectoration will succeed much better by their Use. He adds also That he has very often cured them by its help without letting of Bloud which is an infallible sign of their good Effect since the Pleurisie can hardly be cured without Bleeding I cannot see how an Effect that bears such Analogy to Sleep can do any more Harm than Sleep Etmuller also advises the giving of Opiates not only in the Beginning but also during the Increase of the Pleurisie or Peripneumoniae So that I conclude That they are of excellent Use in those Diseases unless it be when Sleep or them may cause too much Insensibleness of the Bronchias and so retard Expectoration when the Case is such that the Want thereof may endanger the Person 's being choak'd We have also many Histories of Persons cured in other Fevers by large Doses of Opiates I suppose that resinous Opiates causing Vomiting and great Disturbances by reason of ill Digestion in those Cases might be one great Cause of People's Fears and Ieolousies in giving Opiates which is easily prevented by giving liquid Opiates void of any resinous Particles as the liquid Panacea c. 4. It does by composing quieting and appeasing the Motion and Perturbation of the Bloud conduce much to the stop of its Efflux in Hemorrhages or Bleedings that are unnatural as at Nose in spitting and vomiting of Bloud bleeding at the Hemorrhoids in Dysenteries pissing of Bloud c. and sometime in profuse Menses when they happen from a Fever or too much Motion of the Bloud and
the Pores Therefore 1. It is of excellent Use to carry away noxious Vapours or Effluvia's by the Pores of the Skin to prevent Putrefactions and cure them to carry off venomous Particles in the Plague infectious Distempers Bitings of Serpents mad Dogs c. ill Fumes Wind in the Bloud or Habit of the Body that causes Stitches Tumors c. 2. To carry off noxious Humours the same way especially such as stagnate or offend in the Habit of the Body as in Colds intercutaneous Water Leâ—cophlegmatia and sometimes in Dropsies as Dr. Willis observes in Declinations of Diseases to carry off the concocted morbid Matter in Rheumatisms and Gouts particularly that which is call'd the Wind Gout 3. When Perspiration is any way hindred as by grievous Passions Sensations or Pain acid austere or cold Humour by which many Diseases are caused Thus 't is very useful in Grief Sorrow Anxieties Solicitude Melancholy Panick Fears Gachexies Scurvies Hypochondriacal Cases wherein it performs wonderfully when all things fail as you find in Chap. 24. 4. To promote the Menses or Lochia when stopp'd by reason of the constriction of the Pores by such grievous Passions or Sensations or by acid austere or cold Humours external Cold c. by its relaxing and opening the Pores and Ways and soliciting the Parts by a gentle agreeable Titillation Hence some justly call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is An Opener of the Mouth of the Veins or Bloud-Vessels by which means as has been shewn Puberty Coition c. do kindly and naturally cause the Menses to flow while the same Relaxation causes an Increase of Bloud as it does of Milk by widening the Vessels This is all Mechanical Truth that will answer upon Experience as the most Ingenious Dr. Edw. Brown can witness who is the only Man as far as I know that seems to have this Practice 5. It promotes Urine by the like opening or relaxing of the Pores of the Kidneys by its titillating Volatile Salt as Cantharides Bees Pismires Millepedes c. do 6. It may probably be of great use in cutaneous Distempers either by taking large Quantities of proper Liquids and sweating them out again by its help to wash of ill Particles or to open the Pores for the admission of external Medicaments Note That they are natural Fluxes it promotes and unnatural ones that it stops which proves its operating as an entire Friend to Nature both ways I. The Form may be which you please or is most agreeable to the Patient II. The Dose moderate except it be when extraordinary Relaxation or opening of the Pores is desired III. The Vehicle should be such as is proper to prepare the Humours to pass by Sweat or insensible Perspiration or the Bloud by the Menses and Lochia therefore should generally speaking consist of attenuating Things as Volatile Spirits and in the Plague venemous and contagious Cases of Alexipharmacks of Diureticks to promote Urine and so in all Cases of what is proper in the respective Humours for their Exit or Passage IV. The Time because Sleep conduces to open the Pores may be at the due distance before Bed-time but that hinders not but it may be given when there is occasion at any other time In the Plague it should be so often given as to keep the Pores always open Mayern glves an Instance of a Physician that had all Signs of Death Petechiae a Carbuncle c. who recovered by taking Laudanum 6 times a day I suppose 24 Hours or the natural Day is meant thereby V. The Regimen must be such as is proper convenient and usual in the respective Cases for 't is endless to mention all it requires a Volume To cause Sweat much temperate Liquids must be always given especially in Fevers or dry Bodies as the Hypochondriacal c. Most part of the Liquids should be given before the Opiate that they may have time to get into the Bloud by that time the Opiate operates which does so as was shewn while 't is at Stomach To move the Menses proper means should be used for a due time before the Use thereof because the Effect expected in this Case from Opiates is only to open the Ways or Pores So Humours in Leucophlegmatia's c. should be duly prepared for the like Reason To cause Perspiration it is convenient in cold Constitutions and old People gently to warm the Bloud with 2 or 3 Glasses of generous Wine a little Garlick Onions Selery or the like to attenuate and cause Evaporation which Heat promotes but if you over-heat the Bloud it hinders Perspiration by its growing grievous for what is so causes Contraction and closing of the Pores Note That nothing can be so good to cause Perspiration or Sweat because it not only opens the Pores but takes away any grievous Passion or Sensation that may close them and atenuates resolves c. by its Volatile Salt CHAP. XXXVIII Of the Use of the Panacea c. as a Titillative THis it does as was shewn by its Volatile Salt as Cantharides Bees Pismire Sem. Viril c. Therefore 1. It is of great use to excite to Venery cause Erections to actuate a dull Semen for the sake of lawful Propagation 2. To increase the Semen 1. By the Titillation of the Venereal Parts which invites it thither by the Agitation thereof as Frication of the Breasts and those Parts cause Increase of Milk and the Semen 2. By the Pleasure thereof relaxing the Parts which causes a greater Flux of it as of Milk to the Breasts and Nourishment to any Part. It is observable how desirous Rachel being Barren was of the Opiate call'd Mandrake so that she parted with her Beloved Husband to her Sister Leah for a Night to purchase it Whether it was any means to cause her to Conceive which she did afterwards is not to be determined tho' it seems not altogether unlikely 3. It s Use to increase Milk is spoken of in the Chapter of its Use to Relax only it does it here as Titillating and there as Relaxing 4. It conduces to move the Menses by its Titillation 5. The Titillation of its Volatile Salt as Cantharides c. do moves us to Urine I. The Form is wholly indifferent II. The Dose must be large and generally greater than any I have mentioned and possibly requires a Repetition thereof to excite to Venery tho' I shall not prescribe any more than I have in the Table of Doses but leave it to Iudicious Physicians to do as they think â—it where there is a just Cause for its Use which I will not expose to every lustful Goat It is not unlikely but one great Cause of the Ignorance of its Use to excite Venery in these Western Parts of the World may be the smallness of the Doses that we use besides the Reasons mentioned in Chap. 8. and that such Circumstances might occasion the Disputes and Contradictions that have been about the Effect of Opium whereas there is