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
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
Watches and Sentinels to discover and give notice of what is or is not good and agreeable to our Animal Nature That upon notice of what is good and agreeable Pleasure Comfort Satisfaction c. are conceived otherwise Displeasure Discomfort and Dissatisfaction What diminishes or disables our Spirits does us the greatest Evil that can be and consequently Sensation would according to its Office give us such notice thereof as would cause Displeasure c. otherwise these Sentinels that God and Nature have appointed for faithful Notice would instead of trusty service which is the End they are made for deceive us and consequently do us mischief rather than good which is very Prophane if not Blasphemous to assert as being highly abusive of God's Goodness and Wisdom to make Things in Nature that would not only not answer but act quite contrary to their Ends it follows then that what causes such a mighty agreeable and pleasant Sensation at Stomach which is the greatest and most accurate Judge of what is or is not agreeable to the Animal cannot be destructive or disabling of its Spirits which are the most excellent and useful Things that belong thereto Therefore Opium which so mightily recommends it self to pleases and comforts the greatest Iudge that God has given to a sensible Creature to discern what is good and evil for it cannot diminish or disable our Spirits One may say what I dare not that the Sensation at Stomach may deceive us We may deceive our selves and say so when that which pleases the Stomach does not please our perverted Imagination which makes no Argument let us therefore consider Things where there is no such vain Imagination to contradict the good Ends of Nature if the Stomach and Senses in a Brute or meer Animal which has no other means to Judge of what is good or evil for it should not Judge aright all the Animals in the whole World would soon perish It is the vain Opinion of Men that perswades them that Things are cold when hot c. as in the Case of Opium when the Senses truely inform that it is hot If you 'll stand to your Imaginations and Suppositions for such all must be without the Information of Sense against the Dictates of Sensation you must inevitably err But one may say Is the Sense at Stomach such an infallible Guide always I believe it will be very hard to give many Instances to the contrary and prove it well however if we do or may allow something of this Kind to a perverted Stomach at certain times to avoid a squabble about it it is never to be allow'd That all the Stomachs in the whole World should be pleased with one and the same Thing at all times and yet that this Thing should be so highly pernicious to the Animal as to diminish or disable its Spirits Then indeed it would follow that the most exquisite Sense at Stomach to discern what is or is not agreeable to the Animal were absolutely in vain which no Man of Reason that has any Apprehension of the Wisdom of God and Nature can assert 3. What is more notorious than that Pleasure or being pleased raises and Displeasure or being grieved depresses the Spirits Are not all People pleasant gay and good humour'd brisk prompt c. when pleased Do not Men Travel or Labour with more Ease in Pleasant Company c. But of these Matters and the Reasons thereof more in the following Chapters 4. How can Opium that revives People when they are so dispirited that they are even almost dying as when Opium is wanted by such as use to take it in Deliquiâ—ms and Agonies from Paiâ— c. diminish or disable the Spirits It is plain Contradiction to say that it should Next to Opium nothing revives People in such Cases better than Wine and those Things that produce the same or like Effects have like Nature and who can say that Wine that was made to glad the Heart of Man diminishes or disables the Spirits Or that Opium which produces all the sprightly enlivening and encouraging Effects of generous Wine in a more eminent manner than Wine and in the 10000th Part of its Quantity and for a longer time than Wine causes them should diminish or disable the Spirits For Instance Wine and Opium in a due quantity but Opium in a far less quantity as was said cause a pleasant gay and good Humour Courage Bravery Magnanimity Promptitude in Business Expediteness in Management Serenity Euphory or easy undergoing of Labour Iourneys Fatigues c. Both take away Sadness Grief Melancholy Fear Depression of Spirits c. Both cause Promptitude to Venery Sine Cerere Baccho friget Venus So Wine and Opium prevent and cure Cold open the Pores promote Perspiration and Sweat especially the following Mornings as Sir Theodore Mayern my self and others have observ'd of Opium and is notorious as to Wine Both cause Sleep and take away the Sense of Pain and require a greater Dose than ordinary in Proportion to the Pain Both take off Shiverings from Fear Cold or Ague Fits and cause Mirth Contentation and Acquiescence Driness of the Mouth Thirst a Sense of Heat within us a Dreaming Condition pleasant Dreams if the Quantity of Wine be not grievous by its Heat Load c. Nâ—cturnal Pollution and in some Constitutions both cause Vigilancy but Wine and Opium cause that more rarely than Sleep Both stop and cause Vomiting if they stay too long at Stomach Both moderate Hunger 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and are good in a canine Appetite Both cause Swimming in the Head c. So Both in an Excessive Dose Do cause at first Mirth and afterward a kind of Drunken Soper in some in others Fury or Madness Sardonick Laughter and Weight at Stomach Vomitings Hiccoughs great Heat at Stomach Debility and laxity of all Parts Faltring of the Tongue Scotomies and Darkness of the Eyes Vertigo's Laxity of the Cornea of the Eye Dilatation of the Papilla Deadness of the Eyes to the View Loss of Memory Venereal Fury a high Colour profuse Sweats Purging sometimes Alienation of the Mind Loss of Memory and lastly greater or lesser Effects according to the Dose Constitution c. So A long and lavish Use of both Causes a dull and moapish Disposition Dropsies Fall of Humours upon Weaken'd Parts a Sleepy Disposition Want of Appetite Weakness of Digestion Aptitude to Sterility and Abortion early Decrepiteness Stooping in the Back Trembling of the Hands Weakness of Memory Shortness of Life Difficulty and Danger in suddenly leaving them off Revive such as sink for Want of either and supply the Want of each other How can any have the Face to say that a Thing which agrees so with generous Wine in Effects can be a Diminisher or Disabler of the Spirits The Mischiefs of excessive Doses and lavish Use of either is no Argument against their inspiriting Nature if it were then Wine is no Cordial tho' made to glad the Heart
the Body be well fill'd with Moisture To shew the Cause of which Difference will be the Business of my Tract of Animal Mechanism if I have not hereafter an Occasion to do it in this Tract as I suppose I may 8. Why Sleep cures Colds by opening the Pores 9. Why the Skin is more florid in Sleep because as has been said it being relax'd admits the Bloud into it which Vigilative Contraction does in good measure repel and thereby cause the Skin to appear more white and pale as it is and any one may observe upon awaking 10. Why the Eyes look deadish in Sleep viz. because as has been shewn the Humors do not fill up the relaxed Cornea to a due Tension and Roâ—undity which as was said makes the Cornea shine sparkle and particularly to reflect a brisk Speck of Light as shining round Things must do which Speck if Painters omit the Eye looks deadish therefore they should when they have a mind to express the Deadness of the Eyes as in Fainting Fits Syncopes Sleep Death Wanton loose Oglings of Lovers Drunkenness c. omit that Speck or rather draw it duller wider and discomposed in Figure with the Pupil very large and the Upper Eyelid falling down loosely which would exactly express the Deadness of the Eye in all those Cases of Relaxation in which alone it so appears Note That the Reason why some in such Cases see divers Colours before their Eyes is because the uneven Cornea variously retracts and reflects the Light which I mention because none that I know of have observed the Cause 11. Why People are more sleepy in warm moist Weather viz. because the Parts are more relaxed and the Pressure of the Atmosphere less to assist the Vigilative Contraction to keep us in a waking State by the Compressure of the Animal Spirits How much better therefore is a cool and dry Air that raises the Mercury high in the Barometer or Weather Glass both for Heath and Action because it renders the Animal Spirits more powerful prompt and flippant by the Compression This should be observ'd by such as are to run Races alone lift Weights or perform any Thing that requires Strength Vigour or Speed nor can I doubt but if we had an Artificial Means to compress Men's Bodies in a high manner as by putting them into convenient Cavities and forcing Air upon them but they would be much stronger for the Time and thereby enabled to do Exploits beyond their ordinary Strength which puts me in mind of several Things that confirm it very much as Mens lifting of greater Weights in low Places than on the top of very high Hills where the Pressure of the Air is less to compress the Animal Spirits The Contraction of all Parts in lifting of great Weights The prodigious Leaps and Swiftness of some Persons in great Frights Terrors c. which mightily contract the sensile Parts and Vessels of the Animal Spirits by which Means they are render'd more springy and powerful Note That the true Cause of Strength is the Compression of the Animal Spirits and that probably the Force of Muscles may some way or other depend upon 't which is not my Business to explain at present Note That it is the Membranes are primarily contracted and the Medullary Part of the Nerves Spirits c. compressed thereby by Consequence 12. Why the soft fleshed and moist are more sleepy as Children c. viz. because the Compression of their Animal Spirits is not so great by Reason of the laxity of their Parts so are they weaker for the same Reason which tells you why little Men whose Flesh is firmer that are no bigger than Boys are much stronger than Boys or Women of the same bigness 13. Why warm and emollient Baths Fomentations Feet or Head Washes c. do as moist and warm Weather cause Sleepiness and indeed all Things that cause Relaxation or incline the sensitive Soul to leave off contracting as Weariness c. do cause Sleep Note That in dry Bodies as old People c. such Emollient Baths Fomentations c. with the Use of Emollient Moistners inwardly will cause Sleep very finely when Opium it self will not and that Opium in such Cases should be used with such Things both internally and externally but which is not observ'd the Baths Fomentations c. should not be above the Warmth of Bloud because the Heat may otherwise cause too much motion of the Bloud and Spirits which is a great Enemy to Sleep that consists in their Rest and the aforesaid Relaxation of Parts by both which co-operating you may and cannot fail to cause any Man to Sleep if you can make them concur 14. The same Relaxation causes the Pulse to be larger and slower in Sleep Nocturnal Pollutions want of due Contraction and Sensation at Stomach by which Means the Meat stays longer there in our Sleep than when we are awake So 15. Frets Commotions and Perturbations of the Spirits c. are composed by Sleep because the sensitive Soul who is the Original of all motion is at Rest and that the Animal Spirits being expanded are nearer their absolute Rest which consists in a full and perfect Expansion so that there is no farther Endeavour towards Motion 16. Sensation being much lessened by the Expansion of the Animal Spirits upon the said Relaxation the Sense of the Irritation of Humours is thereby lessened or quite taken away whereupon all Fluxes occasioned by the Irritation of Humours as Diarrhea's Disenteries Catarrhs c. are stopt or moderated at least by Sleep Besides that Relaxation being quite contrary to Contraction by which those Humours are squeesed out le ts the Humours stay quietly where they are Relaxation being more for receiving containing detaining and suspending Humours in the Parts than sending them forward as you see in a Spunge first contracted and afterward suffered to dilate or expand it self in a Dish that has some Water in it which it takes into it self and suspends till something squeeses it out by contracting it 17. Therefore it is that the Spittle does not come into the Mouth in Sleep or very little and that People are apt to awake thirsty tho' it is soon taken off in some measure by the Vigilative Contraction squeezing out the Spittle into the Mouth unless there is some special Cause to the contrary 18. For the same Reason the Menstruum of the Stomach comes but very slowly into the Stomach in Sleep which is one Cause that Digestion goes on but slowly in Sleep Note That Digestion and sending the Chyle out of the Stomach depending both upon Contraction they are hastned and retarded in exact Proportion so that the Extrusion keeps equal Pace with the Digestion How equal and duely proportioned are the Works of Nature 19. It is plain also from what has been Stated concerning Sleep why Ague Fits seldom if ever take People in the time of their first sound Sleep because the Shivering is caused by a grievous
by squeezing in some Cases and stop it by shutting the Pores in other Cases 10. It is by it that Contraction that Fear Cold c. closing the Pores and repelling the Bloud stanch Bleeding So happens also a greater Contraction of the Pupil of the Eye by the same Cause 11. It is the Violence of this Contraction upon Fear Terrour Pain Cold c. closing the small Vessels of the Animal Spirits and thereby repelling them causes the Shivering in those Cases by the Renitency of the elastick Animal Spirits springing back again toties quoties having gain'd more elastick Force by the very Compression it self which that Contraction causes so that by reason of the dubious velitation or skirmishing between the repelling Contraction and the springing Spirits happens a tremulous Motion as of quavering Springs which Shivering in Ague-Fits did formerly lead me to the Situation of the Cause of Agues when I writ my Book De Febribus intermittentibus in the Angustiae at the end of the Vessels which terminate in the Membranes the grievous Sensation of which causes all the Shivering that happens in any Case to Animals 12. By the same Contraction when very violent and of the whole Body cold Sweats happen in Pain Fear Terrour c. while it violently squeezes out the outmost and therefore coldest Moisture of our Bodies as Laundresses do Water out of wet Linnen by Contortion Thus if you dip one half of a wet cold Sheet in hot Water wrapping the hot side within the cold or let a warm Sheet that is contorted cool on the out-side of it and then wring it as Women do Linnen the Water that first exudates will be cold for in this Case the closing of the Pores avails nothing to hinder it as long as the expressing Force masters it more especially in Animal Bodies wherein the Parts are so contrived that Humours design'd for Exoretion cannot well return and therefore must upon Contraction run out Hence it is that Alum or Vitriol which are very astringent and therefore close the Pores will notwithstanding cause the Mouth or Nose to run very plentifully with Moisture by contracting all the Membranes about the Mouth or Nose and thereby squeezing out the Moisture design'd to be excern'd which cannot return because the Parts are contriv'd against the return or readmittance thereof whereas Alum or Vitriol will stanch or stop Bloud by the same Contraction because it may return as not being design'd to be excern'd either into the Arteries and so pass by other Branches thereof or which is more ready and natural keep its course into the Veins So the two Riddles that I have known some Proud Physicians amaz'd at tho' but Trifles of Alum and Vitriol causing the Spittle c. to come out instead of stopping it by their Astringency and their stopping Bloud at Nose at the same time they cause the Snot or other Humours to run out are unfolded 13. It is by this mighty Contraction growing to an enormous degree that the Animal Spirits being violently compressed grow exceeding irrequiete as upon Convulsions in great Pain or very grievous Sensation at Stomach c. while the sensitive Soul compressing them with mighty Force and somewhat disorderly and unevenly because of the Confusion and Hurry he is in to relieve the Animal they by their springiness fling up and down with great Vigour This makes convulsive Motions have great Strength 14. The Body under this Contraction is manifestly shrunk by measure especially when the Sensation is very grievous but most of all if they cause a general Convulsion which I manifestly observed in a little Bitch that was convulsive all over for three Hours and was just expiring when I gave her the Sal Volat. Oleos of Opium which perfectly restored her by relaxing the Vessels Some may think it strange That Nature should contrive a more nice and smart Sensation which the Contraction of the Vessels of the Animal Spirits must cause by compressing them c. in Pain and by it which becomes so much the more acute whereas one would judge That Nature would rather contrive its Ease than improve its Smart You are to know That the Pain is in order to relieve the Animal by exciting all its Powers to defend expel or reject the Cause and that without a grievous Sensation the sensitive Soul is neither minded nor excited to do it and the more the Pain is the more it is stirr'd up to Self-preservation and as was shewn the more vigorous do its Motions grow by the Compression of the elastick Spirits to perform that Work so Nature not regarding the Pain which is rather for good as much as taking away the Cause advances that for this Purpose like a wise Physician who finding a Grievance at Stomach not sufficient to excite effectual Vomiting to throw away the grieving Cause adds to the Grievance by giving a Vomit which because as was said Nature is proportionably excited to and invigorated for Self-preservation sufficiently sollicites and enables it by a stronger Contraction to reject the grieving Matter As the greater the Relaxation is the more is the Rest of all Parts and the weaker the Animâ—l Spirits because less compressed the gentler are all Motions as you see in Sleep consequently the less is the Expence of Spirits so that in Sleep we generate more than we spend and are thereby recruited So the more the Contraction is the more violent is the Motion of the Heart Intestines and of all Parts and consequently the Expence of Spirits is the greater Therefore it can be no Wonder That Contractions do cause great Commotions of Spirits Diary Fevers c. when you consider 1. That the sensitive Soul is by the grievous Sensations c. that cause them put upon a great Fret Concern and Hurry to defend the Animal and lays about him all manner of ways for Self-preservation 2. That the Animal Spirits are by means of great Compression caused by the defensive Contraction in a very forcible Springiness which causes all the Actions that are continual involuntary and of course to be perform'd with great Violence proportionable to its compressed Elasticity Besides that 3. The Systoles of the Heart are oâ—tener repeated All which conspire to cause greater Commotions upon grievous Sensations whereby Diary Fevers c. are caused which are easily and naturally cured by Sleep or Relaxation at present compose and quiet those Perturbations Who knows tho' it is not my Business to discuss it at present but that the Contractions in the cold Fits of Agues have a great hand in causing the hot ones How otherwise should Opium by only taking away the grievous Sensation of the cold Fits take off or prevent the hot Fits also But of this in my often-mentioned Tract though not so often as it grieves me that it is not published How reasonably may we now expect That pleasant Sensation may cause quite contrary Effects to that of grievous Sensation viz. Relaxation and all its Effects
only the opening of the Pores so that I need add no more Words about it for the fame Cause must have the same Effect therefore an intense and permanent Pleasure must have all or much of the Effects of Sleep in general as has been shewn It cannot therefore be any Wonder that Opium causes Sleep Yet is there Difference between Sleep and Pleasure upon other Accounts tho not upon the Account of Relaxation viz. because 1. That Sleep requires also a rest of Spirits or the sensitive Soul whereas Relaxation by Pleasure is consistent with motion of the Spirits either by outward Action or internal motion thereof by some inward Causes Hence it is First That we can Labour Travel Dance c. and enjoy Pleasure and its Relaxation Volantary motion which requires only a particular Contraction of some Parts by the Dictates of the Will or Appetite being consistent with the general Relaxation by Reason of the Prerogative of the Will Thus do we move tho' more relaxed or when most Merry and pleased with Wine nay some will walk in their Sleep when extreamly intâ—t upon a Thing as when awake which shews the ruling Power of intentive Contraction that may be exercised with Relaxations and other Contractions as the Will it self may or intentive Appetite Secondly That Pain is often taken away by Opium by the Diversion and Relaxation caused by Pleasure and its Inconsistence with Pain without Sleep which requires the aforesaid Rest That bare Relaxation as such does not include tho' Relaxation suffices to take away Pain Thirdly That Opium does by its Heat active Particles c. hinder some Persons to Sleep yet have you in both these last Cases all other Effectâ— of Opium as Pleasure Indolence Relaxations c. which shews how far Sleep is from being a constant and the most genuine Effect of Opium as is generally imagined however we must allow it as has been shewn to be a mighty Disposer of us towards Sleep because of the Relaxation that it causes which is the main Requisite of Sleep II. That Pleasure does without Nutritive Refection by the Complacency it causes in the sensitive Soul produce Comfort Satisfaction Composure Elevation of the Spirits Euphory c. of which Sleep is either not at all capable or but in a low degree proportionable to the sensation that it has which is but little however a Pleasure that remains within us even in our Sleep as that of Opium may well cause Pleasant Dreams c. The Reader may observe that in all Places where I mention that Relaxation causes the opening of the Pores that I speak only of Perspiration as the Effect thereof without mentioning Sweat 1. Because Perspiration is the only constant and infallible Effect thereof by reason that the Levity of the Fumes causes them as certainly to pass at the Pores when open as Smoak passes up at an open Chimney 2. Because Sweat is an uncertain Effect thereof for it requires that the Body be well fill'd with moisture tho' there is a Relaxation or Opening of the Pores as Hippocrates very rightly intimates in that Aphorism of his that I cited in the last Chapter 1. Because Sweat has not that Levity that the Fumes have to cause it readily to move as soon as the Pores are open 2. Because Relaxation is more apt to receive detain and suspend Humours 3. Because the protrusive Motion of the Heart is weaker in all Relaxations and all see how much its Vigorous Protrusion contributes to Sweat upon Action 4. Because a Heartfull of Bloud does not make such a Push forward when the Arteries are widen'd by Relaxation 5. Sweat having more of Continuity Consistence and Viscidity cannot flow out so readily at the Pores as a meer Vapour However if the Body be full of Moisture and the Pores open there being a Natural Course that Way and the Heart continually protruding it farther and farther a Sweat follows and that whether they Sleep or not 3. Because Sweat as was in some sort intimated is sometimes caused by the strong Protrusion of the Heart as in Motion c. and upon that Account comes more under the Title of Fluxes caused by Contraction than Relaxation of which Perspiration is a constant Effect 4. Because Sweat is sometimes caused by another sort of Contraction viz. the Compression of the whole Body by a violent Defensive Contraction as in great Terrour Agonies and the like causing thereby as was shewn by the Comparison of a wet Sheet wrung whose out side is cold a cold Sweat which that of Alum or Vitriol causing an Exudation of the Spittle into the Mouth by constringing the Parts does illustrate very plainly Therefore you see I had just Cause not to mention Sweat as a certain and proper Effect of Relaxation without good Distinctions first made tho' unwary Authors that talk any Thing one after another not knowing what they say make it their common saying That Sleep and Opium stops all Fluxes but Sweat whereas they should have rather said but Perspiration for Opium and Sleep also will sometimes hinder Sweat viz. that from Pain Terrour c. and that as happens just upon awaking by the stronger Systole of the Heart and Contraction of the whole Body and that also upon motion unless the Body be as was said full of Humours or Moisture Therefore it is a Vulgar Errour to say Sweat instead of Perspiration in the Case aforesaid You may remember that in the Beginning of this Chapter I concluded that a Sal-Volatile-Oleosum such as Semen Humanum wherein the Oily and Volatile Parts are strictly combined and the Volatile somewhat more active or acrimonious than that in our Membranes in general must be most pleasing to the Membranes by a fine Titillation c. therefore if Opium should prove to be such we need not wonder at its titillating to Venery nor indeed its causing a high sense of Pleasure upon any Membrane they being all of the same Nature but especially upon the most exquisitely disposed Membrane of the Stomach and the Venereal Parts nor consequently its causing all the aforementioned Effects of intense Pleasure as Comfort Satisfaction Ovation c. of the sensitive Soul or Spirits and Relaxation of all the sensile Parts which will easily solve all the Phenomenas of Opium however numerous mysterious and seemingly contradictory as you 'll find Let us therefore now see whether Opium be such a Sal-Volatile-Oleosum wherein the Volatile Particles are somewhat more active or acrimonious than ours and the Oily and Volatile Parts strictly combined If so the Business is done the Nail is hit on the Head and I may say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CHAP. XV. Shews what are the Principles of Opium and which cause the good and bad Effects thereof HAving tried if not tired your Patience and premised what I thought necessary in the foregoing Chapters I now reassume the Thread of my Discourse As for the passive Principles of Opium which do or signifie little or nothing
Spoons and cause no more Effect than Oil of Olives and Spirit of Sal Amenoniack taken inwardly one acting too softly lazily and greasily to cause any brisk and agreeable Ovation of the Spirits and the other too rudely stinging the Membranes therefore we must proceed in our Enquiry Fourthly Opium has a sort of Resinous Sulphur that is loose and not united with the Volatile Salt which plainly appears 1. Because if you dissolve Opium in Water cold or hot or any Watery Menstruum you 'll find a good quantity of Rosin undissolved at bottom while the Volatile Salt is all or most dissolved in the Water especially if the Water be often repeated and quite separated from the Resinous Part which subsides without any more trouble which shews that the Volatile Salt and it are not combined but in a very loose and distinct manner 2. Because if you first dissolve Opium in Spirit of Wine which imbibes the Rosin it is easily again precipitated by plain Water leaving behind it all or most of the Volatile Salt in the Form of a red Tincture in the Menstruum as it does also in the former Case Note That the Resinous Part of Opium has no Effect as an Opiate for if it be well washed with Water as was said it has no Operation of that kind or so little that it is not worth the minding but all the Vertue Specifick Taste Smell c. is carried away in that red Tincture which has all the good Effects of Opium as Experience assures us 3. Because if Opium be very much torrefied most of the Volatile Salt is evaporated and with it most if not all the Vertue of Opium but the Rosin remains as a deadish Stuff in Respect of the good Effects of Opium tho' it is as shall be proved the Producer of the ill Effects thereof Therefore this Rosin must be wholly rejected Fifthly The Red Tincture aforesaid has all or most of the Volatile Salt in it 1. Because Water is the Proper Menstruum for Saline Things and that the Tincture reduced to an Extract gives very much in moist Weather which Quality it must have from the Volatile Salt because it has very little Fixed Salt 2. Because the Specifick Bitterness which proceeds from Volatile salt and Oily Parts is wholly in that Red Tincture 3. Because that Tincture has also the Specifick Rankness of Smell that the Volatile Salt as was shewn gives the Opium by the Help of some Oily Parts 4. Because that Tincture reduced to an Extract has the biting Taste of Opium which as was shewn proceeds from its Volatile Salt 5. Because that Extract incides discusses resolves is Psilothrick titillates to Venery causes Itchings in the Skin acrimonious Sweats c. all which are as was shewn the Effects of Volatile Salt But what need I insist so much upon its Effects to prove it When 6. It appears by Crystalization of the said Tincture after it has been evaporated to a due degree that it contains the Volatile Salt in it which in a cool Place shoots to elegant Crystals and that 7. It is found therein by Chymical Operation by Fire Sixthly The said Tincture is Oleose 1. Because the Redness of the Tincture must be from Oily Parts for pure sincere Volatile Salt gives no such Tincture 2. Because it is bitter one Ingredient of which Taste is ever Oily Parts as was said 3. Because of its rank smell like Sem. Viril which proves it to be Sulphureous for the Volatile Salt alone has only a quick smell or Urinous at farthest 4. Because it is of a Hot Taste when reduced to an Extract which Heat of Taste considered distinctly from its pungent or biting Taste must be from Sulphureous or Oily Parts 5. Because Spirit of Wine and other Spirituosulphureous Menstruums do readily dissolve it when reduced to an Extract 6. Because the Extract softens with dry warmth as Sulphureous or Oily Things do 7. Because a true Sal-Volatile-Oleosum wherein the Volatile Salt and Oily Parts are intimately combined as you find in all Blouds Tinctures of several Plants that have such a Sal-Volatile-Oleosum is red 8. Because it could not otherwise so finely please the Membranes cause Sleep compose the Spirits c. if it were all Volatile Salt which is wholly pungent and acrimonious mightily opposes Sleep and causes a great stir in the Bloud and Spirits But as I said as to its Volatile salt what need I insist upon its Effects When 10. It s Inflammability after it is reduced to an Extract and dried puts it out of all Question And that 11. An Oil may be separated from the Volatile Salt tho' not without Trouble because that as is requisite to compleat it in the highest degree Seventhly The Oily Parts and Volatile Salt are very intimately and strictly combin'd as fairly appears 1. By the Difficulty to separate them 2. By the Redness of the Tincture as in Bloud c. for when Oily or Sulphureous Particles are loose therein they make either a white Colour as the Rosin does in the Drops that fall out of the Incisions in the Heads of the Poppies which are Milk white or leave the Volatile Spirit perspicuous as in a sort of artificial Sal. Volatile-Oleosum that is sold at the Apothecaries Shops in London 3. Because it imparts its Tincture which depends upon both to all Menstruums 4. Because it imparts its Vertue which depends upon both to all Menstruums 5. Because it imparts its Specifick Smell which depends upon both to all Menstruumt 6. Because it imparts its Specifick hot and biting Taste which depend upon both the Oily and Volatile Particles to all Menstruums 7. Because it will hold its Vertue many years which it could not if the Volatile Salt and Oily Parts were not very strictly combined 8. Because that notwithstanding the Digestion at Stomach it has held its Specifick Vertue Smell and Taste after it has been in it 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 18 or more Hours as appear'd by its Operating so long and afteward its being Vomited up with the same Taste and Smell that it had at first than which there cannot be a greater Argument 9. Because it has been carried off by Stools which had its Specifick Smell after many Hours remaining in the Stomach 10. Because its Operation in general lasts long Charas mentions one that it Operated with for about 30 Hours and Wedelius another whom Opium caused to Vomit constantly about 18 Hours after it was taken 11. Because it has its Effects upon the Venereal Membranes after it has passed the Digestion at Stomach the Effects of the Choler and Succus Pancreatus in the Duodenum been strained through the Coats of the Intestines into the Lacteals and through the Glandules of the Mesentery mixed and circulated with the Bloud c. 12. Because after all that it has its Effect upon the Skin by causing an Itching therein 13. Because it not only causes Acrimonious Sweats but such as evidently smell thereof
to disparage the Performance as mean and obvious like that of the Circulation of the Bloud or America when found out did not the newness of the Thing the baffled Endeavours of all Mankind and the seeming Impossibility of ever finding it out which was almost agreed upon speak in its behalf Consider that nothing can be plain and easie but what is true and consequently nothing valuable but what is so what 's true Knowledge but the Knowledge of Things as they really are And when a Thing is known as really as it is it must be plain and never so till then for to take a Thing to be what it is not is all Darkness Errour Puzzle Confusion and Vanity as all Discourses of Opium have hitherto been It is no Wonder then that the Cause of the Operation of Opium grew more and more obscure while they stated the Cold Quality of very hot Opium the Belching up of Vulcano's of Fumes from the Stomach to the Head which have no Existence their acting as a Poison of the Animal Spirits their fixing and coagulating them their clogging them by Adherence or clouding them their wedging themselves among the Animal Spirits none knows how and thereby disabling them their stuffing the Pores of the Brain or compressing it and thereby hindering the Generation of Animal Spirits to be the Causes of the Noble and Pleasant Operation of Opium without any Foundation in Nature or the least Evidence of Sense or Reason but vain Phantastical Imaginations form'd in the Chimera-Forges of their Wanton Brains while they endeavour'd Right or Wrong to appear considerable Folks by doing nothing to the Purpose in a kind of pretty plausible and imposing manner thereby stuffing the unwary World with wrong and vain Conceptions and impertinent Prejudices which are the greatest Obstacles of Knowledge I would fain know which of those Hypothesises can tollerably solve 1 in 10 of the Phenomena's that I have enumerated or indeed any one Phenomenon truly mechanically and demonstratively yet are those Whims the glorious Productions of Thousands of years Studies and solicitous Disquisitions tho' every one that took Opium actually felt the true Cause of its Operation viz. The pleasing Delight that it occasioned by affecting the Membranes and Animal Spirits after the manner that I have at large set forth Good God! what blund'ring Groper is Mankind Who daily felt the Cause it ne're could find Tho' Thousands sought it with an eager Mind CHAP. XXIV Of Opium separated from its noxious Part or Rosin and whether it is a Panacea c. THus far have I spoken of Crude Opium jointly with its Rosin or noxious Part now I will consider it separated from it and shew how to do it Galen says That it is very difficult to find an excellent Remedy without a noxious Quality And it is as difficult to find any Thing so noxious as not to afford a good Medicament which you see in Vipers Scorpions Mercury c. All or most Physicians unanimously agree That Opium has such a noxious Quality that causes Vomitings Hiccoughs Distresses Anxieties Convulsions chiefly at or about the Region of the Stomach and that if it were freed from it it would be the noblest of Medicaments Who can otherwise imagine seeing it is so excellent and universal a Remedy as it is now used in the World without such an excellent Preparation thereof wherein the noxious Principle is separated from it Of which Paracelsus says That whoever shall enjoy it will be a Professor of no less Knowledge than Apollo Machaon or Podalyrius tho' he was the greatest Master of Arcanas Panaceas c. yet does he confess That a Preparation of Opium stood him in stead and perform'd his Business when all his great Medicaments fail'd him and that it will dissolve Diseases as Fire doeâ— Snow or uses Words to the same Effect Helmont being in a kind of Rapture upon Consideration of its Excellency bursts out into this Exclamation Happy is the Sick Man whose Physician knows how to separate the deadly or noxious Part from Opium Platerus aâ—firm'd That he could with a Preparation of Opium preserve the broken Wheel of Life Etmuller says That Opium may 〈◊〉 be esteem'd a general Remedy and the main End of his Tract De parvis Morborum Initiis is to shew how Volatiles more especially Salia-Volatilia-Oleosa as that of Opium may in small Quantities alter us and cure our Diseases It were endless to tell you the Eulogies of the Learned concerning such a Preparation of Opium which they generall conclude to be a most noble Panacea therefore many and very solicitous have been the Disquisitions of the Ingenious and Industrious to find out this heroick generous and most glorious Medicament I am fully satisfied that the pure Sal-Volatile-Oleosum of Opium duely separated from its noxious Rosin Dross c. is the very Thing some of the Reasons that convince me are as followeth viz. 1. Because Opium has no other Principle in it that signifies any Thing as to its laudable and noble Effects but its Sal Volatile Oleosum as has been shewn 2. Because the Sal Volatile-Oleosum of Opium produces all its good Effects 3. Because the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum duely separated from its Rosin and other Principles produces no ill Effect in a moderate Dose This added to what has been Discoursed at large of the Principles of Opium is I think sufficient to satisfie any Man that the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum of Opium so separated is the great Panacea that is sought for However because we are upon the greatest Thing in Physick as may be well inferr'd from what has been already said and that the World has been under great Fears Iealousies and Blindness concerning this Matter and the Use of Opium it will be well worth our While to give all imaginable Satisfaction in this Case therefore I will First Lay down all the requisite Qualifications of a Compleat Panacea as far as I can collect out of the most Eminent Authors and my own Consideration thereof Secondly I will particularly enquire as to each of the Qualifications whether the Sal Volatile-Oleosum of Opium duely separated from every other Principle of Opium is furnished therewith Thirdly I will shew you how duely to separate its Dross Rosin c. so as to leave a pure sincere Sal-Volatile-Oleosum of Opium for Use. The requisite Qualifications of a Panacea are these viz. 1. That it should highly please our Sensation at Stomach because the Stomach is contrived and appointed by God and Nature as the Touchstone to try a Sentinel truely to inform and a Critical Iudge to determine what is or is not agreeable to our Nature in general and therefore as has been shewn endued with a wonderful sagacity and nicety of Sensation for that End It follows then that a Panacea should be very pleasing and agreeable to the Stomach and therefore very cordial 2. That it should be highly pleasing to the sensitive Soul which is the Principle of all Motion Action
nothing more sure than that it has such an Effect if the Dose be large enough and that most of the Eastern Nations use it for that end with infallible Effect III. The Time should be 5 or 6 hours before the Effect is expected or at Bed-time to cause its Effects towards the Morning particularly in the Case of exciting to Venery IV. The Regimen As to Diet it must be Nourishing Warming Comforting and Titillating with realishing and high Sauces Oisters Anchovy Caviare Cockles Ketchup Mango's Garlick Onions Leeks Bears Garlick Rocket Sives Shelot Ginger Aromaticks Roâ—ts of Satyrion Feaverfew Goats-beard Silver-weed Skirrets Parsnips and Artichoaks The Use of Ambergrise Musk and Civet is commended but good Stomach-Wines and thâ— like are certainly of Use Sine Baccho friget Venus But it is certain That Camphire and sulphureous Things unfermented as Oils Rosins and fat Things oppose Titillation as do also slimy mucilaginous and cooling Things CHAP. XXXIX Of the Use of the Panacea of Opium c. to cause Watching I Have shewn how Opiates cause Watching in some Persons by reason of the over-agitating and actuating the Spirits and Titillating by its Volatile Salt yet do they by causing Pleasure and Relaxation support the Spirits while the extraordinary Ovation of them hinders Sleep Therefore it is of Use to such as it causes Watching to when 't is requisite for them to watch about any Business Labour Iourneys c. I. The Form may be either Solid or Liquid II. The Dose moderate III. The Vehicle should be Acids or other Liquids with Volatile Salts IV. The Time may be at any Hour when wanted V. The Regimen quite contrary to that of Sleep and Relaxation viz. to use voluntary Motion c. CHAP. XL. Of the Alterative Use of the Panacea of Opium YOU see the mighty Extent and general Use of the Panacea of Opium as a Pleaser of Sensation which takes up the Nine last Chapters to mention the Heads of its Performances without descending into all particulars because their Number is indefinite How universal then must its Use be when we add thereto its Effects as a consummate Alterative which 1. Invigorates Nature by comfoâ—ting the sublimest Principles thereof viz. the sensitive Soul and Spirits that are the Original of all Motion and Action 2. Furnishes them with an indefatigable Euphory in the great Business of our Preservation 3. Puts the best Means into the Hands of invigorated Nature for that End that is most agreeable Principles even more powerful and of a greater Energy than our own which must as agreeable and exalted Menstruums do resolve all Humours congregating the good and homogeneous and separating the effete and heterogeneous Parts which it 4. Discusses and dissipates by its brisk and active Volatile Salt and at last 5. conveys out of the Body by a liberal Perspiration the most natural universal and copious Way of Evacuation All which being considered it is I think manifest that it must excel all other Panaceas 1. Because it takes away the Grievance or Form of Diseases upon the very first Administration thereof whereas other Medicaments do that but gradually as they alter or subdue the Matter 2. Because it highly comforts Nature or the sensitive Soul and Spirits from the very Commencement of the Cure and through the whole Process thereof if duly repeated which other Medicaments do only by insensible Degrees as they gain upon the Diseases 3. Because it procures Sleep the sweet and chief Refreshment of and first Cure in Nature so that I cannot see what can be desired in a Medicament that it is not accomplished with whereas other Panaceas are deficient or at least come very short of ours in these extraordinary Qualifications which seem to make it absolutely compleat and consummate 4. Because it from the very first composes all Perturbations and enormous Motions of the sensitive Soul or Spiriâ—s which Helmont attributes to the Archaeus placing all Diseases therein and therefore says Ort. Imag. Mâ—rb Sect. 12. Universale quoddam arcanum consopotivum sedativum Archaei est adhibendum that is An universal Remedy that appeases the Archaeus should be used And what appeases or composes it more than or as much as Opiates Therefore I cannot wonder that paracelsus should declare that it served his Purpose when all his Arcanas sail'd or that Helmont should be in a Rapture upon the Apprehension of the Excellency of Opium if the noxious Quality were separated from it tho' he had a very wrong Notion of its Operation as appears Potest Medicam Sect. 4. where he says that Opium Archaeum abigit fugat that is Opium chases and puts the Archaeus to flight which on the contrary it highly pleases and comforts It is endless and a Kind of Impertinence to descend into Particulars in the Use of a Panacea Therefore having shown how it operates by iâ—vigorating Nature causing Euphory Ease Sleep resolving all Humours as a general Menstruum or Alkahest congregating the good separating discussing and carrying off the bad Particles c. it remains only that I show you how to use it as to Form Dose c. leaving the Administration thereof in particular Cases to Physicians therein concern'd I. The Form that I mainly approve of to alter is the Liquid because the solid is in some Measure tho' not much impair'd by the Evaporation to the due Consistence and does not consist of the finest Parts as the liquid does II. The Dose may be at first about 20 Drops adding a Drop to every Dose till the Distemper is in good measure abated then let the same Number of Drops be continued till the Person is well and afterward abated by a Drop every Day till you come to ten or less or to such an inconsiderable Dose that you can find no Effect at all Note That tho' I am cautious in the Dosing till trusty Experience gives more Assurance yet do I believe that no Inconvenience will be found by far greater Doses if by any unless very excessive as 1 or 2 Gallons of Wine is in respéct of a Pint which in such Doses may be and is injurious Such as have Pain to be taken off must use it as is directed in the Chapter of its Use to take away Pain gradually encreasing so as to keep it off and when the Cure is in great Measure perform'd must continue and decrease as is aforesaid the like is to be said as to Fluxes c. III. The Vehicle may be in general plain Water or rather altered and made bitter by an Infusion of the Ingredients of the bitter Decoction or Agrimony Wood-sage Bean Trefoil or the like good bitter Things that are known by Experience to cause a good Digestion In particular Cases the Vehicle may be appropriated to the Disease yet always so ordering it that it may be stomachiâ—al IV. The Time should generally be in the Morning unless Sleep at Nights is to be procured thereby if so you must order Things as in the
by Titillation upon the Account of the Volatile Salt which appears by its exciting to Venery at the same time as all those Volatiles do 16. It s causing Vomitings as it often does is an undoubted sign of its Volatile Salt for all Vegetable Vomits are such upon that Account unless it be such as may move Vomiting meerly by their being loathed or nauseated which only cause some particular Persons to Vomit but such as are constant Vomitories are so upon the Account of their Volatile salt as Asaerabocea Groundsil Foxâ—loves Squills c. given in a sufficient Quantity 17. It s lively Effects as Courage c. prove the same 18. All Authors that have been Curious do agree that Opium abounds with Volatile Salt as Helmont Lemery Le Febure Wedelius and indeed every one that ever I read tho' most of them attribute its Effects to a Sulphur which makes their Testimony of its Volatile Salt the stronger as being forced to confess it against their Hypothesises 19. After its Fermentation with Leaven in a Sand Heat for 14 days it affords a Volatile Salt in good Quantity but mixt with Oil which is separated from it by Dissolution in Water Filtring c. 20. It s Spirit ferments with Acids therefore is Volatile Lastly to Pin up all if you either Chymically Analyse it by Fire or set it to Crystalize after it is evaporated to a due Condition so to do it affords a great Quantity of Volatile Salt Therefore it is past all manner of doubt for which End I have the longer and more particularly insisted upon this Point that it is highly impregnated with Volatile Salt But as I said in the last Chapter it is not enough for it to have Volatile Salt but it must be such as exceeds our own or other Animals in Activity Briskness c. by Reason of Quantity or Quality or both that it may tickle up excite and cause a fine and agreeable Ovation or glowing in our Spirits which as was shewn is very pleasant as in the Case of Sem. Viril especially when agitated by Warmth Frications or such Actuating Causes Secondly It manifestly appears That the Volatile Salt of Opium exceeds ours in Activity Briskness c. 1. By its exulcerating or blistering Quality especially if it be very good Opium 2. By its Psilothrick Quality to cause the Hair to shed 3. By its irritating to Venery in so eminent a Degree as Cantharides Bees Pismire c. do and even beyond the ordinary Course of Sem. Virile which is most saturated with Volatile Salt of any Part of the Animal as appears by its Dissolution like Opium in Watery Menstruums its rank smell its titillating to Venery its Weight c. which is much the same with that of Opium both sinking in Water c. 4. By its great Irritations to make Water like Cantharides Bees Pismire Millepedes c. when it is taken in a good Quantity or often 5. By its causing Vomitings in a very severe manner which it would not do without a very poinant Volatile Salt 6. By its causing such violent Itchings in the Skin especially if taken in any Quantity after it has past all Digestions and Concoctions And 7. By its causing acrimonious Sweats after it has past those Digestions and Concoctions 8. By its causing a very pleasant Sensation at Stomach far above any Flesh Iellies or any Animal Nutriment 9. By its offending the Eyes so much by its Acrimony as Mustard Onions Horse Radish c. do 10. By its very pungent and acrimonious Taste above all Flesh or Fish 11. By its very rank and vehement Scent equal to if not exceeding that of Semen Virile 12. By its Chymical Analysis whereby it affords a very acrimonious Volatile Salt in great plenty which Helmont Wedelius and others do confirm Therefore it is also past doubt That the Volatile Salt of Opium is more active acrimonious and titillating than those in our Membranes or in Sem. Virile it self But seeing it is not Volatile Salt alone as was shewn which agrees only with one of the active Principles of our Membranes and may be and is of it self too acrimonious and rude for the Membranes without its being sweetned up and smooth'd into a more gentle and pleasing Agreeableness by Oily Parts we must see whether it is not also Oily or Sulphureous and consequently a Sal-Volatile-Oleosum agreeing in both the active Principles of our Membranes that it may thereby be the more delectable gentle and agreeable Thirdly It is very obvious and evident That Opium is Sulphureous 1. Because the Juice of the Poppy whereof it is made is of it self when it drops out of the Incisions Milk-white which colour in Liquids especially the Juice of Plants proceeds from Sulphureous Particles mixt with Water or Phlegm as Milk Emulsions Chyle Cinnamon Water and the Tinctures of all Sulphureous Things dropt into Water do evince 2. Because it is inflammable for nothing is so but what is Sulphureous 3. Because Opium will soften with a dry Warmth which all and only Sulphureous Things will do as all Rosins Tallows Pitches Turpentines Oils and such Sulphureous Things 4. Because it is very bitter and that Oleose Particles are always as Dr. Grew and Sylvius truely say one Ingredient of a bitter Taste 5. It s tawny colour does also as was said according to Dr. Grew argue much Sulphur 6. It s hot Taste proves the same for a proper hot Taste is from Sulphur as the biting or pungent is from Volatile Salt 7. Because of its pungent and strong Smell which denotes Sulphur 8. It s being so dissolvable as it is in Spirit of Wine Brandy and other Sulphureous Menstruums proves the same 9. It s dissolving Quality argues that it has the same Principles with our Skin and Flesh which are Oleose as well as Salino-volatile and that nothing is a compleat Dissolver but such as have both because Agreeableness in Principles being the Basis of Dissolution as you see in Menstruums and the Things therein dissolv'd there is no good kind or compleat Dissolvent of our Flesh c. but what participates of both because otherwise there would be a Disagreement in one Respect 10. It appears by Autopsie upon the Chymical Analysis of Opium c. that it has a very considerable Quantity of Sulphur 11. So if you only dissolve it in Water you 'll find much Sulphureous Substance undissolved at the bottom 12. All or most of the Modern Authors attribute its Operation to Sulphur agreeing that it is well impregnated therewith Therefore Opium consists very much as to its active Principles of a Sal-Volatile-Sulphureum but still this does not compleat a most agreeable Sal-Volatile-Oleosum 1. Because it may be a Sal-Volatile-Resinosum and yet be a Sal-Volatile-Sulphureum 2. If it be a Sal-Volatile-Oleosum the Oil and the Volatile Salt may be so disjoin'd as not to conspire and co-operate to please the Membranes but act separately as Oil and Volatile Salt given out of divers
hitherto but meet groundless and phantastick Imaginations Objection Some may say for the Folly of the World is great Why should not an Extract out of Spirit of Wine be good For since Wine corrects it much more should Spirit of Wine do it by its more active Sulphureous Spirit Answer So it will if you pour it upon it in the Stomach or a Digesting Pot for then it will much contribute to its Division Digestion and taking off its Viscidity as Spirit of Wine does in any Vessel wherein you pour it upon Rosin but it is quite another Matter when reduced and rounited into the Form of an Extract again and all the Spirit of Wine evaporated or otherwise separated from it for then the Resinous Parts are in Statu quo of Coalescence and want to be separated by Wine or Spirit of Wine Lixivials Yolk of an Egg c. as much as ever Obj. It may be said That the Rosin of Opium is but as other Rosins therefore why should it offend so much in the Case of Opium Ans. For Three very manifest Reasons 1. That it is a Rosin of a peculiar Clamminess and Viscidity 2. That it has Acrimony in 't as appears by its Purging Quality if it be given in any Quantity and that the Stomach dissolves it as was shewn 3. That it is join'd with the pungent Particles of the Volatile Salt of the Opium which when it sticks to the Stomach it holds to it tearing it too long and continually with those Points upon the same Part which must cause Distress and Vomitings in Weak Stomachs that cannot digest it and that sometimes to no Purpose whereupon follows Convulsions Hiccoughs c. and all Endeavours falling an Yielding or Succumbency followed by Faintings Syncopes Leipothymies c. and sometimes Death it self for it must be a most grievous Thing to be so continually stung in the same Part of the most sensile Membrane of the Stomach without Remedy or Redress If some have died of a little Gum Ammoniacum or Sagapenum sticking to the Intestinum Rectum or Colon which are the Sink of the Body and fitted for and used to bear all Faeces and Trash much more must the nice and exquisitely disposed Membrane at Stomach be grieved by such pointed Rosin as that of Opium sticking to some Part thereof besides that the Stomach does peculiarly hate and loath that any Thing how gentle soever should stay too long in it which creates frequent and sad Disturbances in such whose Stomachs are relaxed as 't is also in the Case of Opium and cannot in due time discharge themselves of the grieving Matter Therefore such as are mostly troubled with those dismal Symptoms after Resinous Opium are People that have fine Textures and ill Digestions with whom it must and does deal for a good while as a Pleaser of the Stomach till the indigestible Rosin that is stuck to it does therefore and because it holds the Points of the Volatile Salt so tediously and importunately to one Parâ— grievously teaz and urge the Stomach to Vomit c. which it does in some sooner in others later according to their respective Disposition of Stomach Hence it is that it operates pleasingly in some for several Hours before it excites a Nausea c. viz. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 and more Hours and in such as have a sturdy Texture and strong Digestion operates only pleasingly all the time because their Sensâ—tion is not so nice and that they gradually digest the Rosin which if the Opium was given in a large Dose does as Rosins dissolved are apt to do especially if they have any Acrimony as this has turn into a Purger which brings down Ordure that smells of the Opium and so the Danger is over How common is it that Vomitories being much subdued in some Stomach turn to be Purgers Thus it happens with Dogs that have a robust Texture and strong Digestion but such Resinous Opium deals severely with Cats and commonly kills them You may see from the Premises why it causes ill Symptoms oftner in Women and Children than in Men and in fine textur'd Men than the robust and in such as have weak Digestions rather than in them that have strong why it causes all the Symptoms of pleasing Sensation at first and the ill Effects afterward why some have no ill Effect after it even in a large Quantity unless you 'll call Purging an ill Effect why such as Purge after a great Dose escape the Danger as Dogs c. why their Vomits especially the first smell c. of the Opium tho' the Vomiting happens after many Hours why the Vomitings are so very tedious and severe viz. because of the stubborn Adherence of the Rosin to the Stomach why it operates so long a time in some in comparison of others viz. by staying so long at Stomach 1. All which seem to me a good Argument That such as dye with Opium dye while it is at Stomach and consequently because of the Rosin which must needs be fatal in great Doses seeing it is sometimes so very grievous in Doses of a Grain or Two that bring People even to Death's Door with Vomitings Distresses Syncopes c. yea and has kill'd some even in that small Quantity as I am inform'd 2. Some evidently dye while it is at Stomach because they dye soon after they Vomited up somewhat that smelled of it tho' possibly the Rosin still stuck to it 3. Because others evidently dye of the Vomiting and its plain Effects at Stomach 4. Because they commonly dye with a Hiâ—eough 5. Men dye of it within the usual time that it stays at Stomach which is sometimes 20 Hours for certain whatever more it may be when large Doses are taken and to me it seems an Argument of its killing at Stomach when they dye after 20 Hours because if it did not stick at Stomach all that time the Operation must have been over or at least much declined and consequently the Height of the Danger past 6. I cannot find that any have died of Opium when the Rosin was separated from it tho' I do not dâ—ny but that it may kill then as an immoderate Quantity of Wine has done But this I can tell that one did at Mr. Banks's the Chymist in Walbrook in the City of London drink as Mr. Banks inform'd me a Pint and a Half of such a Liquid Preparation of Opium that had the Rosin separated from it that had the Power of 3 Ounces of Opium in it and it never harmed nor discomposed him but that he Vomited about an Hour after it was taken whether he did so by Reason of the Opium or because the Person was Crop-sick as they call it by Reason he had drank much Wine before or both I cannot determine Now I hope that my inquisitive Reader is fully satisfied 1. That Opium does not act by a Cold Quality nor by the Means of Fumes nor any how
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