noxious Rosin and all Filth and Dross of the Opium 2. It must be kept entire without weakening or any way altering it or adding a new Quality thereto Therefore 1. Opium must not be torrefied according to the Common Practice 1. Because the finest and most volatile Part which is the very best is thereby lost 2. Because the resinous and earthy Parts which are not spent that way grow more in Proportion to the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum so that torrefying cannot be allow'd unless preserving the Bad and destroying the Good be allowable The vain and ostentatious Pretence of destroying I know not what narcotick Sulphur which is a Nick-name given by Ignorance to the best Parts of Opium is most insufferable stuff 3. Because all Empyreùm which renders it very nauseous can hardly be avoided in torresying it but suppose it were What need is there otherwise so to damnifie it as is aforesaid Obj. It is found to be more innocent after such Torrefaction Ans. I grant that it happens so sometimes but it must be meerly by Accident either 1. Because it meets with a strong Digestion at Stomach Or 2. By the Custom of poudering it which is always directed and done after the Torrefaction by which means the resinous Parts being divided and severed become less liable to a Coalescence at Stomach and consequently less offensive and more subduable Especially 3. When it is mixed as generally it is with other things that keep the Parts of the Rosin from Coalescence and leave them more conquerable by the Digestion as the Ancients found by Experience who therefore did generally if not always mix it in a small quantity with many other things in great quantity in the form of Electuaries as in Venice-Treacle Mithridate c. though nothing in them corrected the Opium otherwise than by dividing and segregating its Parts This indeed is like that of divide impera or interlining suspected Soldiers with trusty or friendly ones to prevent a mischievous Conspiracy But how much better is it to have no Enemy to contest with by a due and compleat separation of the Rosin from the Opium Otherwise you must be obliged to good Accidents if ever torrefied Opium becomes safe because all the noxious Rosin is left in it Therefore if after Torrefaction you will give it in a Mass without poudering it and mixing it with other things you 'll find its ill Effects to be as bad if not worse than ever as you will also if you afterward extract it out of Spirit of Wine reducing it into the Form of Pills by which means the severed Parts of the poudered Rosin do again coalesce into a lumpish Condition which renders it worse than crude Opium as Wedelius my self and others do testifie because the Opium being somewhat weakened and all the Rosin remaining the Dose of the Opium and consequently of its Rosin must be increased As suppose 8 Grains of crude Opium has 2 of Rosin 2 of other Dross 2 of Phlegm and 2 of Sal-Volatile-Oleosum and that 2 Grains of the crude Opium containing half a Grain of the Sal-Volotile-Oleosum was the Dose then if in torrefying it one Grain of the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum be lost and another of the Phlegm there will remain only 6 Grains of the Opium with the Virtue of one Grain of the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum in it therefore 3 Grains of it must be now used to have half a Grain of the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum which 3 Grains will contain half the Rosin of the whole Mass that is one Grain whereas there was but half a Grain thereof in the 2 Grains of crude Opium Therefore torrefied Opium is in it self much worse than crude Opium And it is yet worse if after Torrefication you make an Extract of it in Spirit of Wine for then the Dâ—oss and Phlegm being separated from the 6 Grains nothing will remain in the Extract but the resinous Part with less of the Virtue of the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum which is not taken up so greedily as the Rosin is by the Spirit of Wine besides that some of this Volatile Part may be lost and that the Rosin is now more compacted as not having as much as the drossie earthy or watry Parts to sever and keep its noxious Particles at a distance to render them as was shewn more subduable and digestible at Stomach See what Pains the inconsiderate World does take and exceedingly hoast of to render Opium by Torrefaction Extraction in Spirit of Wine c. at least twice as nozious as crude Opium without accounting how far the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum that remains is impair'd by the Fire and Spirit of Wine It is therefore no Wonder that Wedelius declares That he found more Mischief by such Extracts out of Spirit of Wine than any other Preparation of Opium It is plain then II. That we must not extract it out of Spirit of Wine or any such sulphureous Menstruum 1. Because more apt to extract the Rosin than the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum 2. Because the Rosin will be more compacted 3. Because the Spirit of Wine may in some measure alter it III. We must not extract Opium first out of Water and afterward out of Spirit of Wine and then mix them together and evaporate them to an Extract For this is as was said wisely taking care to add the Poison to the Panacea or Rosin extracted by the Spirit of Wine to the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum extracted by the Water besides the Impair and Loss made of the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum by the Spirit of Wine and the Evaporation how gentle soever it be Here it will be seasonable to note That there is a general great Fault committed by Preparers of Medicaments especially such as pretend to most Curiosity therein in endeavouring right or wrong to have all the Principles of the Plant c. join'd together in their Medicaments however noxious or contrary to the Purpose as you see in the Instance just now mentioned whereas they had much better do as the great Helmont says Pharm Dispens Modern 12. Saâ—guinem a cruore Parenâ—hymale Plantarum distinguere separare discant Tyrones si quicquam laude dignum per simplicia egisse meditentur That is Let Beginners learn to distinguish and separate the true Bloud of Plants from their Cruor or dead Gore and Parenchyma if they think to do any thing Praise-worthy by Simples You 'll find this to be very pat in the true Preparation of the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum whose Ruby-colour makes it look like Bloud while the Rosin Earth and Dross make the Appearance of a dull and dead Cruor or Gore If they took a Tincture of Opium in Spirit of Wine and used it so it would not be so bad for then the resinous Particles are disseminated and not so liable to Coalescence at Stomach but so great is the Stupidity that they take care by reducing it into the Form of an Extract to combine them and make them as noxious as is possible and then they think them worthy to be boasted of as their Nostrums
good humour'd of which he is seldom capable and utterly incapable of all or most of the other brisk Effects as Euphory Promptitude to Venus Exertion of Courage c. it was either passed by as an ordinary Thing of Course and so not heeded or else imputed to Refreshment by Sleep Ease from Pain or some Amendment as to the Disease or indeed to any Thing rather than Dispiriting and Stupifying Opium that is so far in all Opinion from exciting the Spirits that all affirm conclude and agree that it diminishes or disables them The like is to be said of any of the lively Effects in case they happen and are observ'd Tho' I do not see how they can so at least as any Stander by will refer it to Opium besides that as to some of the brisk Effects especially that of Venery greater Doses are requisite to render it any thing remarkable than are used in these Western Parts and that Modesty would much hinder the discovery of this Effect Is it not therefore very manifest that I had great cause to suspect that both Ancient and Modern Physicians consider'd things by halves since they did not take the most genuine Properties into their Consideration and that they laid their Foundation upon the most contrary Effects to them It follows then That the general Supposition of all the Learned can no more solve the true Properties of Opium in any Probability than giving the Reason why Fire hardens Clay can explain why it softens Wax The Reason did I say I should have said than giving the wrong Reason why it hardens Clay shews how it softens Wax for it will appear in the following Chapters that they gave no right Reason for any Effect of Opium even those they ever allow'd to be its Effects nor laid any true Foundation to explain the least meanest and plainest Effect thereof forasmuch as all their Suppositions are so false that there never were any such Things as they lay down to explain the Effects of Opium viz. 1. No such Thing as a Cold Quality in Opium 2. No such Things as Fumes c. flying from Opium to the Brain while it is at Stomach 3. No such Thing as diminishing or disabling the Animal Spirits by Opium any way whatsoever Of which in their Order in the following Chapters CHAP. IX It is proved That Opium has no Cold Quality to diminish or disable the Spirits thereby HAving shewn just Causes of my Suspicion of that Universal Foundation of Opium's Diminishing or Disabling the Spirits I will now proceed to a more strict Examination thereof beginning with the Opinion of the Ancients who affirm'd That Opium diminished or disabled the Spirits by an extream Cold Quality I confess that much may be done towards the diminishing or disabling the Spirits by Opium if it had such a cold Quality as the Ancients attributed to it for then it must be such a Coldness as the coldest Things either actual or potential bore no Proportion to for Ice Snow c. bear no Proportion to it in causing the same Effects by a cold Quality It was the manner of the Ancients implicitly to believe and subscribe to what their great Authors and Masters in Physick or Philosophy taught them whom they adored as infallible Gods as soon as their Mortality proved the contrary which was as absurd as asserting Tha Opium which is one of the hotest Things that Vegetables afford is extream cold blessed be God for our Light in Religion and Liberty in Philosophy Therefore some such admir'd Authors or great Masters in Physick having asserted that Opium acted by an extream cold Quality all did implicitly subscribe to it The Devil whom they worship'd could not tho' a Deceiver from the Beginning impose more upon their Faith than in causing them for I cannot think but it was some such Evil Power to believe that Opium was cold against all the Evidence of Sense and Experience he might have as well told them that Hell Fire had all the Properties of common culinary Fire and yet nothing more refreshing by its cold Quality for as many of our Senses as can take notice of Heat and Cold do plainly inform us that it is very hot in it self and Effects For 1. It s Taste is very bitter rank vehemently hot burning and biting all which Qualities are infallible Signs of great Heat and the better the Opium is the more intense are those Qualities Nay it is observed that its very Virtue is strictly combined to or consisting in those Qualities especially Bitterness which if lost the Virtue is gone as is commonly observed and easily observable It was a wise Fetch of Amatus Lusitanus in Defence of its Cold Quality to attribute all its Bitterness to Glaucium that was mixt therewith whereas Glaucium always gives a yellow Tincture to Water and Opium a red but the Opium that gave no yellow Tincture was bitter also yea that was most bitter that gave the reddest Tincture How comes Theban Opium and indeed all other Opium to be bitter before any thing is mixt with it How inadvertently absurd People will be to defend Absurdities it is pretty to see how they will expose themselves to defend a false Opinion 2. It s Smell which is very rank strong hot and such as Things highly impregnated with Volatile Salt and Sulphur the Two hottest Principles in Nature do afford It is from Volatile Salt that Cantharides Pismire Spear-Wort Crows-foot c. are so very hot as to blister or exulcerate and are not all hot Spirits such upon the account of their Sulphur as Spirits of Wine Brandy c. 3. The best and strongest Opium will also exulcerate as all Authors agree which only Fire or such Things as have the Particles of Fire lodged in them as Lixiviates c. or the hottest Things in Nature will do as Cantharides Spear-Wort c. It is 4. For the like Reason a Psilothrick or Causer of Hair to fall which only Lime Orpâ—ment and the hottest Things do cause 5. It is inflammable which only Sulphurecus Things are 6. It causes a Sense of a vehement Heat at Stomach tho' taken but in the Quantity of a Drachm 7. It causes Driness of the Mouth and Thirst tho' taken but in the Quantity of 3 Grains which nothing does but hot Things 8. It discusses and all Discussers are hot for it is by Heat that they do discuss as Spirit of Wine Cummin-Seed Volatile Salts and all Hot Spirits 9. It soon Operates and in a small quantity which is an infallible Proof of the Activity of its Parts which argues Heat not Cold. 10. It causes a gay pleasant and merry Humour which only Wine and hot Liquors c. do and one Grain of Opium will cause them as much as several Glasses of Wine which argues that its Heat is much greater 11. I would fain know how or see any Instance of any Cold Things raising the Spirits causing Courage Magnanimity enabling People to Labour Iourney
which gave the Occasion as you may remember to the Hypothesis of its Operating by Fumes rising out of the Stomach because they could not think of any other Means by which it might affect the Head Brain Animal Spirits Nerves c. while it was at Stomach but by the Way of Fumes or Vapours It is therefore past all doubt That Opium produces its common Effects while it is at Stomach and before it arrives at the Blood and therefore does not Operate as an Alterative thereof Secondly Because a Grain of Opium which Operates very remarkably bears as Etmuller well observes so small a Proportion to the Bloud that it cannot produce such great and notable Effects as an Alterative thereof for a Grain of Opium to 20 Pound of Blood which an ordinary Man has in his Body is but as 1 to 115200 or if 16 Oucnes be allow'd to the Pound as 1 to 153600. But it is no Wonder if a Grain should affect the Membrane at Stomach since the 1000 part of a Grain of the Vomitory Particles of Crocus Metallorum or Regulus of Antimony does affect it so eminently as many other Things will in a very small Quantity whereas the altering of the Blood to any observable degree requires the Use of Alteratives in great Quantity for several Weeks Which confirms the former Conclusion That Opium does not Operate as an Alterative as to its common and usual Effects II. Opium does not Operate by grievous Sensation or Irritation as Vomits Purgers Errhines Salivators or Apophlegmatizers c. do First Because it manifestly causes a very agreeable pleasant and even charming Sensation Secondly Because it takes away grievous Sensation or Pain thereby stopping Vomiting Purging and all other-Effects of grievous Sensation by Acrimony c. As for the Vomiting that Opium sometimes causes it is only as shall be shewn by its Resinous Parts sticking to the Coat of the Stomach which being separated from it Opium has no such Effect tho' all its good Effects remain So its Purging which happens most rarely and only when a great Quantity is given to Men of strong Digestion it is only from its Rosin digested and resolved in strong Stomachs Hence it is that Dogs and such as have canine Appetites do generally Purge after a great Quantity of Crude or Rosinous Opium whereas such as is not Rosinous causes no such Effect But of these Matters more to your Satisfaction hereafter Thirdly Because it causes all Effects that are quite contrary to those of grievous Sensation It causing an Ovation of the Sensitive Soul and Spirits Pain or grievous Sensation a Depression of Spirits It causing Euphory and Pain Weariness For what tires more than Pain or labouring in Pain It causing good Humour Pain Peevishness Fretfulness and ill Humour Opium causing Relaxation of all Parts Pain Contraction That causing free Perspiration this checking it That causing Sleep this hindering it That causing Contentation Acquiescence this Discontent and Uneasiness That composing this discomposing the Spirits Bloud c. That causing Fluxes by Irritation c. this moderating or stopping them That opening the Pores Pain constringing them Opium preventing the Shaking Fits in Agues Pain bringing them on That causing a large and slow Pulse this a quick hard and narrow Pulse That causing an Efflorescence of the Skin this Paleness That pleasant this unpleasant Dreams That stills Hiccoughs this causes them That takes off Contractions Convulsions c. this causes them To be short Opium causes all the Effects of pleasant Sensation and takes off all the Effects of grievous Sensation What can be a more evident Proof of its acting by causing a pleasant Sensation It were endless to mention all the Proofs that may be made to the same Purpose from Pleasers and Displeasers of Sensation Therefore we fairly conclude That Opium does not Operate by causing a grievoui Sensation and there being no other Way left by which it may Operate It must Operate by causing a pleasant Sensation which is the true and plain Reason why as has been shewn it takes off Pain and causes all Effects quite contrary to that of grievous Sensation Irritations by Acrimony c. which are most eminent upon the most sensible Parts as the Stomach Intestines Venereal Membranes Skin c. as you may observe where the Effects of Opium are enumerated Now gentle Reader consider That Contraries are the true Cure of Contraries What can then cure Pain and all its Effects better than Pleasure 'T is very strange then that Millions for many Ages finding Opium cure or take off Pain and all its Effects above all Things should not attribute its so doing to its causing a pleasant Sensation which is the direct contrary to Pain especially since every Man that took Opium felt an actual Pleasure upon taking thereof pleasant Dreams a pleasant Humour c. It may be said What if it be granted that Opium Operates by a pleasing Sensation which I will Thank none for that have Feeling at Stomach or Reason at Brain how is it possible that such pleasant Sensation should cause and explicate all the various strange wonderful mysterious and very often seemingly contradictory Phenomena's and Effects of Opium Answer As easily as ever I explain'd any Thing in Nature especially if my Tract of Animal Mechanism were published but it is my Misfortune that it is not however it shall not be the Readers tho' it will put me to a great Trouble To evade which is none of my Intention by those Words but rather to bespeak the Reader 's Patience while I am premising some necessary Praecognita requisite to be known before I enter upon the Explication of the wonderful and seemingly inexplicable Effects of Opium I therefore desire the Reader 's Leave to premise some Things of the Nature of Sensation and sensitive Pleasure in order to his more clear and ready Understanding my Explication of this Mysterious and Momentous Matter look'd upon as so dark and abstâ—use a Business to this day that some have not only yielded it up as a Thing hidden from Mankind but have earnestly and seriously argued that it acted absolutely by an occult Quality reserved in a special manner as is the Nature of Spirits from our Knowledge That it has been so hitherto I think none can deny as the Circulation of the Bloud was for Thousands of years tho' the very Motion was seen by Millions so as the Cause of the Operation of Opium has been felt by a far greater number it therefore will if I fail not in explaining it appear so clear that it will be much wondered at like that of the Circulation of the Bloud why so obvious a Thing was not found by every one that used Opium But whatever Opium is God's Methods are unsearchable and often his Wise Providence bestows good Gifts upon the Unworthy that his free Goodness may appear To whom be all Glory Praise and Thanksgiving for ever and ever Amen Note That while I am upon the
truth is That God and Nature have given us our Senses for that end and present Refection in Cases of Faintness Depression of Spirits And what more proper to convey Comfort to us than what is sensible of it 2. It is another thing to add by way of Nutrition to our Spirits which are insensible Things and therefore never properly comforted any more than a Plant that is nourished as well as they But the sensitive Soul being pleased must needs conceive Satisfaction Comfort Ioy c. How he can be pleased when sensible of nothing I know not nor how he can be comforted without being first pleased nor how pleased but by Sensation 3. The Essence of Animal Comfort does not consist in having many Spirits for one in most grievous Pain and Misery by which he is much discomforted cast down depressed in Spirit c. may have great plenty of Spirits and one that has not half as many highly comforted by pleasing Objects of Sense good News c. 4. If we staid for Comfort by a Meal of Meat c. till it added to our Spirits we might stay long enough nay if we staid for Comfort till we found it by that Addition we should never find it for we cannot in that case find what we do not feel We possibly after two or three days eating and drinking may find our selves stronger but after all suppose us in very great misery at the same time Where 's the Comfort of it when the Spirits are otherwise depressed by Pain ill News c. 5. Hunger is a grievous Sensation at Stomach which is cured and we comforted by causing a pleasant Sensation by Meat Wine c. instead thereof and not by adding Spirits which is a great Mistake It is true indeed that we are comforted but it is most manifestly by pleasing the exquisite Sensation at Stomach which God has placed there for that End Hence it is that all Cordials must be pleasing to the Stomach or else they are no Cordials and that Wine and all such Things as please the Stomach are apt to take away much of the Sharpness of Hunger for a time at least 6. How should Wine which has a great Acidity in it and so very good for Digestion cure a canine Appetite which is a grievous Sensation but by causing a pleasant one in its room by which means the grievous Sensation is taken off For Pleasure and Grievance or Displeasure which are Contraries cannot be in the same Subject at one time Thus it is that Opium takes off Hunger canine Appetite c. But of this hereafter 7. How should a Quart of Wine drank in a minute or two have all the comfortable Effects of Wine in a quarter of an hour while it is at Stomach if it were to stay for this Comfort till it added Spirits to ours since the matter of Effluvia or Fumes passing into the Rloud is disproved 8. Why should our Comfort be so great while it is at Stomach and none by that time it is got into the Bloud but that the Stomach being very sensile the Spirits of the Wine do highly please by their Agreeableness thereunto It matters not whether it had Spirits or no so it caused a pleasing Sensation for a Draught of Water in a high Fever and when we are very faint with Thirst very much comforts us without any Spirits as does a Venison-Pasty a hungry Person by agreeable Sensation taking off the grievous Sensation called Hunger and all its consequent Faintness c. before it can add any Spirits by Nutrition 9. What need we seek any farther Do not we find a pleasing Sensation at Stomach when we are comforted with any thing and the Comfort to bear a Proportion to the Pleasure 10. Are not we prompt blithe gay and brave while the Wine is at Stomach And very often fit for nothing dull heavy mopish c. by that time it is got into the Bloud Therefore we may safely conclude That the Spirits of the Wine do comfort us by causing a pleasing Sensation and not by adding its Spirits to ours according to the settled Sentiment of the World that is not yet arrived to the Learning or Knowledge why the most common Cordial comforts them What Spirits has a Grain of Opium while at Stomach to add to ours or can it add if it had them Yet no Wine comforts us as much as Opium because it pleases us so much as was and will be yet much more fully shewn Note That besides what was said of the Grievousness of the three Contractions to tiâ—e the animal or sensitive Soul he is much deprest and cast down upon the Perception of Grievances as Hunger Pain c. Because they 1. Affect him with Grief and Displeasure and consequently with Discomfort Anxiety c. because of the very Dolour 2. With Care and Solicitude how to be rid of it 3. With the Toil of Defensive Contraction to endeavour it All which causes Melancholy Depression of Spirits Pusillanimity Perturbations Frets Discomposure Dissatisfaction Anxiety Solicitude Peevishness Discomposure Discomforts Listlesness c. as you see in such as are Hungry or in Pain to which if you add the Fatigue and Effects of the Defensive Contraction and the Intentive as far as it is exercised for Self-preservation in this Case you may observing what has been said easily solve all the Phenomena's of grievous Sensation and as easily conclude what must be the Phenomena's and Effects of pleasant Sensation by the Rules of Contraries viz. Satisfaction good Humour Ease Comfort Ovation of Spirits Relaxation c. of which we are going to speak CHAP. XIV Of the Nature of Sensitive Pleasure and its Effects upon the Animal as far as it concerns our present Purpose SEnsitive Pleasure is a Complacency of the sensitive Soul resulting from the Agreeableness of the Object to the Organ of Sensation Thus are we pleased with what is agreeable to the Eye Ear Tongue Stomach c. And what is agreeable to those Organs is agreeable to the Animal in general 1. Because God has made and appointed them especially the sensile Membrane at Stomach to be as it were the Touchstone of what is agreeable to the Animal 2. Because the Membranes or Organs are of the same active Principles with the Animal's Body in general otherwise they would not be fit Tasters Triers or Touchstones of what is good or bad for the Body in general Now the active Principles of the Membranes or Organs are Volatile Salt and oily Parts or a Sal Volatile Oleosum which is predominant in them and all the Parts of the Body therefore such Things as have a Volatile Salt join'd with some oily Parts must be in a special manner agreeable and pleasing to the Membranes for simile fimili gaudeat Hence it is That what abound in Volatile Salt as Snails Earthworms and Things of that kind are such fine Anodynes and so pleasing to the Membranes c. That the Seed of Animals
the Cause of those Ill Effects in that they happen at Stomach or from it by consent since Opium has nothing in it that can offend the Stomach but the Rosin of which it was shewn in Chap. 14. how very offensive it is to the Stomach by its Indigestibleness and sticking to it but even intolerable if also arm'd with pungent Particles such as Volatile Salts have with which Opium abounds 5. It has been never observed that any Preparation of Opium that was separated from the Râ—sinous Parts did ever cause any such ill Effects But 6. It has been often observed That if Crude Opium or a Resinous Preparation thereof was given alone in the Form of Pills or any solid Form that it was very apt to cause those Effects Wedeâ— That he never observed those Mischiefs but after Preparations thereof in the Form of Pills and it follows from what he has said before that it was either Crude Opium or that horrid Extract out of Spirit of Wine both which are Resinous Note That since the very Form that it is given in doth so much alter the Case it follows that it is not poisonous in it self as such 7. It is observed That Crude Opium Extracts in Spirit of Wine and such Resinous Preparations stay very long at Stomach viz. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 nay sometimes 18 or 20 Hours as Charas himself intimates in reference to a Gentleman that took half a Drachm of his Extract 2 or 3 times a Week That he Vomited if he took a Clyster before 20 Hours were expired after the taking of it That certainly argues that it or a great part thereof was still at Stomach which stay is a most grievous Thing to the Stomach when it is beyond the usual time that Things are digested in it Now such a stay can be attributed to nothing but the Rosin sticking to the Coat of the Stomach for that Preparation of Charas had nothing in it but what was dissolved in Water which is therefore always dissolvable at Stomach and the Rosin extracted out of the Spirit of Wine therefore it was indissolvable and viscid Rosin that caused so long a stay tho' that Gentleman did by strength of Digestion conquer it at last and that without Vomiting unless he as was said took a Clyster within the 20 Hours It s long stay at Stomach is manifest also in that after 20 Hours it purged him and not before which Purging as shall be shewn hereafter and has been in some measure hinted happens by the Dissolution of the Rosin by a strong Digestion and therefore it happens only when Resinous Preparations are given in good Quantity to Men that have such a Digestion or a Canine Appetite as an Experienced Person in the Matter of Opium informed me and I since observed to be very true 8. It must be somewhat in Opium that is indigestible and sticking to the Stomach or else it could not cause Vomiting so long as it does that is 12 14 16 or more Hours whereas other Vomits do generally operate but for 2 or 3 Hours at sarthest and Opium has nothing in it indigestible and sticking but its Rosin 9. It is to be noted That when Opium is prepared join'd or given with such Things as destroy or prevent the sticking of its Rosin to the Stomach and help its Dissolution Digestion or slipping out of the Stomach it causes no such ill Effects tho' Crude Opium or a Resinous Preparation be given Thus if you prepare it by Lixivials which alter the nature of the Rosin by as it were Soapifying it and thereby take away its sticking Quality and rendring it as Soap is dissolvable slippery and passable at Stomach it causes no such Disturbances Hence it is that Lixivials are found to be such true Correctors of Opium tho' the Reason has not been considered as will appear hereafter and that the Sapo Tartare makes Matthew's or Starkey's Pill and the Pilulae pacificâ— so safe and free from ill Effects as also Salt of Tartar does Libavius'â— and Langelott's famous Preparations Of which expect more when I come to speak of the Preparation of Opium in Chap. 26. So 10. If you subdue Opium as you do Rosins and Turpontines with the Yolk of an Egg before you give it it becomes safe because you by that means dissolve its Rosin and prevent its adhering to the Coat of the Stomach and render it digestible and passable which is a most certain sign that its Rosin causes those ill Effects 11. It is for the same Reason that Opium finely powdered and mixed with other Things that keep its Resinous Parts from a Coalescence as in Venice Treacle c. that it is not so apt to cause those evil Effects This I doubt not made the Ancients who had no better Way give it in Electuaries finely divided among other Things which they did so frequently that all Electuaries came to be call'd Opiates This upon Experience I suppose made Galen say That Opium was not safe alone but mix'd with other Things it became a good Medionment 12. Wedelius says That it seldom causes ill Effects when given in a fine Powder with other Things yet is it the same in Substance and to all Intents but that the Resinous Parts being segregated and scattered become more subduable and less liable to Coalescence whereas if it be given alone in the Form of a Pill all the Rosin falls together upon one Part of the Somach and there sticks Therefore Crude or Resinous Opium should never be given alone in the Form of a Pill 13. The Blundering Ancients giving Wine to correct as they thought the cold Quality of Opium found by Experience that old generous Wine taken pretty freely after Opium did very much prevent those ill Effects but it could not be by correcting the cold Quality of Opium which it has not nor indeed for any imaginable Reason but that being a Sulphureous Menstruum it helped the Dissolution and Digestion of the Rosin and the more for being old as all know because more spirituous defecated and vigorous whereas had it not been for that Reason Wine must have rather increased its Effects than otherwise as being an Opiate 14. It is for the same Reason that a Tincture of Opium in Spirit of Wine is found to be much safer than the Extract made out of it tho' the Substance is the same because that in the Tincture the Particles of the Rosin are finely divided and scattered and so subduable and not like to stick to the Coat of the Stomach 15. Opium in Clysters has kill'd People by slicking to the Intestinum rectum whereas it has nothing in it as is apparent from the Premises that can hurt by sticking to them but its Resinous Parts much more then may it grieve the more exquisitely sensile Stomach by the same means From what is said it will be obvious how duely to prepare and correct Opium tho' there has been no true Conception thereof
have spent Months in preparing the Sapo tartareus to correct Opium when they might with the hundredth part of the Trouble and fortieth part of the Time wholly have taken away the pernicious Part by aqueous Menstruums which they only pretend to correct by the Sapo tartareus tho' I allow it for the Reasons aforesaid to be a good Corrector yet cannot it equal the total separation of the pernicious Parts I am of Opinion upon my best Thoughts and some Experience That intimately mixing and subduing Opium with good white Soap may for the Reasons aforesaid prove a good and ready Corrector or Preventer of the Adhesion of the resinous Parts of Opium to the Stomach much conduce to its Dissolution or Digestion therein and nimble slipping out of it and thereby prevent all the ill Effects of Opium which it causes by the Adhesion and Indigestibleness of its Rosin Of the Second Sort of Preparations of Opium wherein its Rosin remains wholly unaltered in its Nature yet becomes safe by dividing it c. This is mainly if not altogether done by a fine and through Division of the resinous Parts of Opium and keeping them afterwards from a Coalescence in and Adhesion to the Stomach by which means they become digestible or at least passable without Offence This may be done 1. By Torrefaction till the Opium is very friable and then finely poudering it and mixing it with such things as are of good Consistence c. to keep the Parts of Opium from a Coalescence as in Venice Treacle Mithridate Diascordium the Philoniums c. This was the Way and Method that the Ancients used which caused Galen to say That Opium alone that is undivided and unmix'd with other things to prevent its Coalescence c. was dangerous but mixt with other things was salutiferous which they found by Experience not knowing the Cause but attributing the Safety thereof to something among the many Ingredients as a Corrector of the Opium Hence it was that they put small Quantities thereof into Electuaries made of many and much other things that kept the Particles asunder which they did so commonly that at last all Electuaries were call'd Opiates Thus we had those Compositions above named which are safely used for the Reasons aforesaid not that any thing therein corrects I know not what poisonous or narcotick Quality in Opium but that the other Ingredients divide its Rosin and afterward keep its Particles from Coalescence and Adhesion 2. Dissolution of Opium in Spirit of Wine or such sulphureous Spirits which finely divide the Rosin and using the bare Tincture before the resinous Particles are again compacted as in Extracts c. may be of use if duly administred But here a Caution is to be used That you take it not in or drink any aqueous or phlegmatick Liquid with it or before or after it in two or three hours which if you do the resinous Particles will be precipitated thereby and so stick to the bottom tom of the Stomach causing thereby the usual ill Effects of Vomiting Anxieties c. Therefore it should be given only in a spirituous Liquid Note also That if you give a Solution thereof in any Lixivium you take Care not to dilate it by any Means by aqueous Liquids in Two Hours before or after you take it for then there being but little Lixivial Salt in proportion to the Liquid the resinous Parts are let go and precipitated to the Bottom of the Stomach as in the Case of the Spirit of Wine so dilated Of which I have seen a very convincing Instance for one that had an Esteem of Lixivials in this Case not only according to Helmont and the Common Cry to correct Opium but also to extract its Vertue the more effectually made a Tincture of Opium in Water lixiviated with Salt of Wormwood whereof he took the Quantity that he had seen me give of my Liquid Panacea in a Coffee-Dish full of Water which precipitating the Rosin in the Stomach caused him to Vomit in about an Hour after and continued so to do for about 15 Hours By which you plainly see that the great Secret of Lixivials to correct Opium lies meerly in its Division of the Rosin thereof as in the Case of Spirit of Wine and poudering it and afterward keeping its Particles asunder during its Stay at Stomach which the Sapo tartareus does and probably other Soap may do very well for the several Reasons aforesaid 3. Dissolution of Opium in the Yolk of a rear new laid Egg by pounding the Dose that you intend to take with a little Quantity of the Yolk till both be thoroughly mixed and then taking it in the remaining Part of the Yolk By which Means you not only finely divide the resinous Parts of the Opium while the Yolk of the Egg intimately mixes with them as it does with other Rosins and Turpentines but send along with it into the Stomach what is digestible in it self and more and more divides and separates the resinous Parts and highly contributes to their final Dissolution and Digestion so that I doubt not but you 'll find this new ready and agreeable Means as good if not better all Things considered than the former and even equal to the Sapo tartareus By what is said tho' short you may because it is the clear Truth of Things Judge of the Goodness of all Preparations of Opium And 1. That resinous Things should not be added to Opium because such like its own Rosin renders it more indigestible and apt to stick at Stomach Hence it is that the Styrax Pill having resinous Things in it and crude Opium does so often cause dismal Effects tho forsooth much esteem'd for the Lungs Coughs Defluxions c. for having such Balsamick resinous Things as Styrax and Olibanum in it whereas the Benefit is from the Opium Had Dr. Bates known the Cause of the Mischiefs of Opium he would never have put Benjamin in his Pacifick Pill 2. That all Preparations made of Extracts in Spirit of Wine are to be rejected such Extracts being much worse than Crude Opium and Experimentally found to be so therefore our common London Laudanum being made of Opium prepared in Spirit of Wine is no commendable Preparation tho' so much used and cried up which also Experience proves in that it sometimes causes the ill Effects of Opium when given alone in a good Dose You 'll find more of these Matters when you come to Chap. 29. which consists of general Rules and Cautions concerning the Use of Opium therefore tho' I may add some Useful Observations I put an end to this Matter at present for that Reason and because what is to be truly done in the Preparation of Opium is very evident from what is said since the Cause of the ill Effects of Opium is now certainly known to be its Rosin to the Separation or due Alteration of which so as to cause it to pass the Stomach without Adhesion or Offence by
Darkness of the Eyes seeing Things double various Colours before the Eyes Loss of Feeling Ease from Pain c. Deadness of the Eyes to the View Dilatation of the Pupilla Efflorescence of the Skin Laxity of the Lower Iaw Intumescence and Laxity of the Lips Faltring of the Tongue Sardonick Laughter Laxity and Weakness of all Parts a general Ineptitude to Motion Failure in making Water going to Stool and in all Things that require Strength Contraction Motion c. Difficulty of Breathing a wide and slow Pulse a Condition in general very like that of Drunkenness which also proceeds from Relaxation Secondly When you are satisfied that Relaxation is the Cause use all Means to procure a due Contraction of all Parts which is to be done 1. By removing the Cause of the Relaxation 2. By using all good Means for Contraction First therefore give a brisk quick and strong Vomit both to discharge the Opiate and cause Contraction of Parts by a grievous Sensation Proportion it to the Deadness Stâ—pidity or Sleepiness of the Person so as to give it of twice the ordinary Strength of Vomits in Case there is great Danger from those Symptoms and that they are of a high Nature After the Person has Vomited 3 or 4 Times or so often as that you may judge the Stomach well cleared of the Opiate give Half an Ounce of Cream of Tartar finely poudered in thin Broth Whey Water Small Beer or any convenient Liquid which will correct the Opiate if any remains at Stomach turn the Vomit to a Purger to clear the Intestines also and contribute much to the Contraction of Parts which you must always have in your Thoughts as the ruling Intention in this Case Therefore Secondly You must use Contracters all the Time the chief of which are Cold grievous Sensation or Pain Terrour Fear Voluntary Motion and Acids which last cannot be so well used during the Vomiting lest they stop it Therefore especially if the Person be very Stupid keep him very Cold for he will hardly feel it nor take Cold because the Relaxation and the Insensibleness of Grievance by Cold c. keeps the Pores open let him be if possible in some Motion as Walking Hewing Sawing Knocking Tugging c. the more violent it is the better because it causes more Contraction and Agitation to prevent Sopors To force him to Motion if need be Pricking Pinching or Whipping him about the Legs c. will be of good Use because grievous Sensation adds defensive Contraction which is the greatest sort to that of the intentive Contraction by voluntary Motion These Means failing he should be exposed stark naked to the coldest Air and in desperate Cases thrown suddenly at unawares into cold Water by which Means you cause Terrour Surprise and Cold which are the highest and most forcible Contracters to conspire to the Contraction of Parts Hence it is that Drunken People who are so from Relaxation become Sober as in a moment by that Means All the time but during the Vomiting let him use cold Acids in great Plenty and very manifestly acid for they will not only contribute to Contraction but very much correct the Opiate To this End Iuice of Oranges or Lemmons Verjuice or Water acidulated to a good degree by Verjuice Vinegar Iuice of Lemmons Spirit of Vitriol Sulphur or the like will be very proper Where you have not the Convenience to plunge them into cold Water as is directed dashing or pumping very cold Water or Water with a Fourth Part of Vinegar upon their naked Bodies will be of great Use especially if surprisingly done to cause the more Terrour and Concern These Things may be done more or lâ—ss as Cause may require which must be left to the Discretion of the present Physician or Friends and Standers by in Case there be no Physician I only Caution that Contracters should not be used too sparingly and that you should never cease to advance in the Use of them till you perceive their good Effect and then to continue them as occasion requires Note That the Case may well happen that the Rosin may stick at Stomach and yet no Signs or Symptoms appear but those of Relaxation by Reason that the Feeling at Stomach may thereby be disabled to take any notice of it To be sure of this you have no other Means because the Symptoms and Effects of grievous Sensation cannot appear where it is not for the aforesaid Reason but to examine whether the Opiate was a resinous one as crude Opium Extract out of Spirit of Wine or the like for then you may conclude especially if they were given in a massy solid Form as that of Pills c. without severing the Particles of the Rosin by other Things as the Yolk of an Egg c. that the Rosin may in all Probability stick at Stomach tho' its Symptoms do not appear for the aforesaid Reason In such a Case the best Advice that I can give is externally to use all Contracting Means as is directed and internally the Means prescribed for Dissolution of the Rosin for you 'll thereby answer both Intentions Failure of making Water often happens in these Cases which you may generally help by only clapping the Scrotum to the cold Chamber Pot or into cold Water and if that will not do put some Vinegar into the Water and that failing he must be stript and cold Water pumpt or dashed upon the Region of the Bladder III. To Cure the ill Effects of a long and lavish Use of Opium These Effects as you may easily observe if you take a View of them where they are enumerated in Chap. 6. are either 1. From an over-much and habitual Relaxation of Parts as Weakness a Moapish Disposition Diminution of Appetite Weakness of Digestion Dropsies Weakness of Memory c. Or 2. From Acrimony as frequent Irritations to make Water Priapisms Erections of the Penis fruitleâ— Inclinations to Venery c. In this Case as in that of old Drunkards which is much the same there is no good to be done till the habitual Cause is removed viz. the Taking of Opium which suddenly to leave off is as was shewn very dangerous Therefore in order to leave it off safely 1. You must stop your Hands and not increase the Dose that is taken by which Means it will come gradually to have little or no Effect 2. When you find that it is come to that pass your Work is half done then only lessen it 100th Part every Day till you come to take none at all 3. If during this retrograde Course you find any Faintness drink a Glass of good Stomach-Wine toties quoties as Gentian or Centary Wine or the like made by Infusion in Claret or if you want such a Glass of the Claret it self which Things will excite the Spirits and help Digestion 4. When you have quite ended the Taking of Opium continue to Use such Wines when you are faint and every Morning take in a Glass of
Gentian Wine Two Drams of the Chalybeate Wine described in the London Dispensatory increasing about a Scruple every Day till you come to Half an Ounce which take for Two Months at least afterward decreasing as you encreased till you come to One Drachm and so give over But if you find Oâ—osion you may continue that Course longer or as long as your Physician thinks fit After all you may use a Glass of Claret when faint but be sure to be moderate and not run from one Excess to another As for the Acrimony of Bloud that is more during the Taking of Opium and will soon after gradually wear off especially by the Course directed if not Camphire is the adequate Remedy of which with equal Parts of White Rosin and q. s. of Mucâ—lage of Gum. Tragac. you may make Pills of â— Grains weight taking 4 of them every Night at Bed-time in a rear Yolk of an Egg as long as it is necessary for Camphire by its fine Sulphur corrects the volatile Acrimony of Cantharides Opium c. and so allays Titillation to Venery c. as is observ'd IV. The ill Effects of a sudden leaving off of Opium as Anxieties Distresses Depressions of Spirits which as was said are very dangerous are remedied no other way but either 1. By returning to the Use of Opium which is a most certain Cure and afterward if you please give over the Use of it after the manner that I directed which you 'll find to be safe nor can I advise you to trust any other Method of leaving it off unless it be 2. By substituting Wine instead of Opium which is not quite so safe or certain your best Method of using it is to drink a good Glass of it so often as to keep the Comfort thereof at Stomach continually that so it may answer the more permanent Effect of Opium and keep you from a faint Condition but seeing also that this Course is not convenient to be continued long you must gradually lessen the Dose of this as you are directed to do that of Opium till you come to take none or at least a moderate and wholesom Quantity Note That if such as used to take Opium are even almost expiring for want of it you must to prevent imminent Death give a Liquid Preparation thereof to the value of what the Person was used to take in a Cordial Vehicle as Spirit of Wine Brandy or the like because such hot Spirituous Vehicles do as has been shewn immediately give some Comfort by actuating and warming our Spirits till the Opium comes to Operate which will not be long because it is in a Liquid Form if you find the Person sink notwithstanding he may be kept up by repeating the Brandy or Cordial without any Opium in it till the Opiate operates which will certainly by God's Help set him right in case it does but begin to operate before he is dead See The Philos. Transact for Iune Iuly August 1696. Note That it is a very false Imagination that Authors have of the Turks Capacity by Nature Climate or the like to take more Opium or in greater Quantity than we may but that they make more Use of it and by that means come to take 2 or 3 Drams a day for they begin with such small Quantities as we commonly giveÌ„ till by a long Custom of taking it they come to take the said Quantities which is but small in Comparison of what several English People that have been used to it do or have taken as I could Name several to you if I had not Reasons to the contrary however I am at Liberty to tell you the Quantities tho' I must forbear naming the Persons some have daily taken 2 3 4 5 6 Drams nay I have heard of some that have taken an Ounce a Day and of One that took Two Ounces whereas the Learned and Curious Dr. Edward Smith could find none about Smyrna who took above 3 Drams a Day All this is most agreeable to Reason and the whole Current of my Discourse viz. That it can be better born in cold than hot Weather and consequently in cold than hot Climates by firm Fleshed Persons than such as have soft and flaccid Flesh as the Southern People have in Comparison of the Northern and such as inhabit cold Countreys Therefore you may be sure that such as Enquire into the Cause why the Turks and other Eastern People can take greater Quantities than we can seek for the Reasons of Things before they know the Fact nay when the Fact is quite contrary to what they build upon We may as well expect Edifying Discourses from them that Enquire why Fire is cold Water dry and the like as from such as suppose Things contrary to true and sensible Experience CHAP. XXIX Some general Rules Cautions c concerning the Use of Opium THo' there is hardly any Rule Caution or Thing worthy of Observation concerning the Use of Opium but what is implied or easily inferable from what has been said nor now that the true Nature of Opium is discovered can there be such Fears and Iealoufies which multiply Cautions concerning the Administration thereof for every one may now easily see wherein its Danger and Benefit lies yet because a Chapter of Rules and Cautions may be expected as being usual and to have a single View of such as lie more scatter'd and not so readily found in the Body of the Book I will to introduce the Use of Opium with more Clearness and perfect Security give you a Collection of general Rules and Cautions concerning its Use whereof some are mentioned and most inferable from the Premises I. As to its Substance 1. It should be always given freed from its Resinous Parts if you can get such a Preparation 2. It is also neat and convenient that it should be freed from all its Earth and Dress 3. Never give Opium but either so prepared or with its Rosin so subdued segregated or altered as I have shown in the safe Preparations thereof Iâ— follows that 4. Crude Opium and Extracts made in sulphureous Spirits are utterly to be rejected 5. Never give it mix'd or join'd with resinous Things as has been intimated 6. Never mix or join it with other Opiates 1. Because none of them are so good 2. Because they are not so well known 3. Because it makes the Dose more uncertain 4. Because those other Opiates are used unprepared 7. Pil. e Styrace because made of resinous Opium join'd with resinous Things as Styrax calam and Olibanum is an insufferable Preparation tho' commended and therefore has frequent ill Effects to my Knowledge 8. Pil. â— Cynoglossâ is such another having two Opiates in it besides Opium extracted out of Spirit of Wine which is far worse than crude Opium tho' by the way of Eminence call'd Opium prepared in our Dispensatory Styrax calam and Olibanum which are resinous 9. Laudan Lond. is also an ill Preparation as having the
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
of Wine-Drinkers You may easily perceive by what has been said Why our Opium hath so much Filth in it Why it tastes sometimes of an Empyreum or Burning in not stirring it well while it is boiling into a Consistence and not giving it only a gentle Heat when it begins to thicken gradually lessening the Fire or letting it conveniently decay and go out of it self which is a very good Way for such as have not other Conveniences for as the Matter thickens the Heat declines and so becomes safe from a Taste of Burning if the Fire be duly proportion'd But all this Trouble is avoided by inspissating by the Heat of the Sun which is used in some Countries Note That the Poppy of which Opium is made in all Turky Egypt Thebes c. is the great White Poppy which grows very freely in those Parts and as I am inform'd without any manuring of the Ground in some Places certain it is that they now have whole Fields of that White Poppy out of which they make the Opium as is aforesaid by pounding pressing boiling c. CHAP. II. Of the Election or Choice of Opium ALL Opium being made in ancient Times by the Milky Drops that fell out of the Incisions mention'd in the last Chapter which being a natural and simple way made no difference in the Opium but what Nature it self did all their Knowledge of the best Opium consisted in distinguishing the Theban from other Opium which was not naturally so good 1. Theban Opium was of a lighter Reddish Yellow than other sorts therefore some call'd it White Opium not that it was abjolutely white but only relatively such in comparison with other kinds of Opium as we say White Rosin in respect of other Rosin thô it is not white but only lighter coloured than other Rosins 2. Theban Opium was most hot bitter and biting in taste from whence you may infer that the Opium which has those qualities in the highest degree is the best 3. It smelled rankly and vehemently of the Poppy which gives you another good sign to judge of Opium 4. It burnt with a clearer Flame than any other 5. Some say that it was weightier than other sorts Notwithstanding all which Differences they did in time find ways to adulterate it which were these 1. They adulterated it with Juice of Glauciam or Apple of Love This was discernable by the Yellow Tincture that it gave to Water and other Menstruums whereas the Theban and all true Opium gives a Red Tincture 2. It was counterfeited with resinous Things This Cheat was discoverable by its not being uniform nor so dissolvable in Water as good Opium 3. It was mix'd with Juice of Lactuca Sylvestris or Wild Endive leav'd Lettuce This made it of a duller colour and not to smell so perfectly and rankly of the Poppy 4. It was sometimes mix'd with the Milky Iuice of Spurge which being hot bitter and biting was hardly discernable but by its purging and disturbing quality and somewhat less and different You may be sure that this and all the other Mixtures lessen'd its Vertue as an Opiate if considered in the same quantity because they must take up room in the Mass but Lactuca Sylvestris being of the nature of Opium made the loss of its Vertue less discernable It is true that we have none of the Opium that was gathered by the milky Drops out of the Incisions and therefore what is said doth not much concern us as to that sort however these Observations will enlighten us as to the Opium that we now have Of which I cannot find that there is much Adulteration used because I suppose that it is now grown considerably cheaper by reason of the vast quantities that is made with so much ease that it is not worth while to counterfeit it there being now great Fields of Poppy in Turky so that our business will be rather to distinguish the Sort than the Adulteration thô this shall not pass unregarded as far as it may concern us There are two sorts brought over to us one from Persia and the East-Indies the other from Turky as from Lesser Asia or Natolia Smyrna Aleppo c. I. That which is brought from East-India Persia Surat c. is as I am inform'd made of the Leaves and Stems of the Poppy and is 1. More full of Filth within it for the outside is not so much to be regarded because of Accidents 2. It is not so uniform smooth and supple but harsh and rugged 3. It is not so readily dissolvable in Water 4. The Indian is brought over in larger Pieces 5. It is not brought so wrapt in Leaves as the Turky Opium is Bontius says that they make it of the Stems and Leaves if so it must be much worse than the Turky Opium that is made of the Heads and Leaves II. Among those sorts that are brought out of Turky and indeed any sorts of Opium 1. That is best that is most bitter hot and biting 2. The lighter whiter and clearer its Flame is when it burns the better it is 3. The more uniform even smooth tough yielding and complying it is to be wrought or brought to any form the better it is 4. The more it gives upon or against moist Weather or in a moist Air of any kind and the better speedier freer and more perfectly it dissolves in Water the better it is 5. The redder the Tincture is that it gives in Water Spirit of Wine or any Menstruum the better it is and 't is never good if it gives only a yellow Tincture But Note That even the best Opium if you take but a very slight Tincture thereof will appear yellowish especially in a white Vessel Therefore my meaning is that the redder Tincture Opium causes in Water quantity for quantity the better it is 6. It should have no taste or smell of an Empyreum or Burning for that gives it a nauseous taste and in some measure signifies a loss of its Vertue by burning thô this may be inconsiderable 7. The less Filth it has on the inside the better it is 8. The more it sparkles when cut and afterward breath'd upon three or four times the truer is the Opium for those sparkling Particles are its noble Volatile Salt or Sal. Volatile-oleosum and not its resinous Parts as Wedelcus and others affirm 1. Because when the Rosin and Volatile Salt are separated that sparkling follows the Volatile Parts and not the Rosin wherein they do not appear in the least 2. Because I find that they are the Parts that are most apt to dissolve in Water which the Rosin is not 3. Because they are much altered by a warm and moist Breath which the resinous Part is not 4. How could that Opium be the best as 't is found to be that has most of them if it were the Rosin which is the worst Part of Opium But 't is highly consonant to Experience that they should be the Volatile or
best Parts of Opium which is so much the better the more it abounds with them 9. If it yields any other Tincture than Red it is not right and the duller or paler the Red is the worse or weaker it is 10. The best is heavier in proportion to its Bulk which you may soon experiment thus Weigh an Ounce of each in the Air then weigh them just as they are in the Brass Scales in Water and the heavier will out-weigh the other in Water for the heavier any thing is the less Water takes from its Weight in proportion to its Bulk this is an infallible and most ready way to know the Weight of any thing in proportion to its Bulk Note That my Discourse is most particularly concerning the best sort of Crude Turky Opium that is the best that we have in common Use and that its Effects and not those of any Preparation thereof are set down in the following Chapters CHAP III. The Effects of Opium used externally OPIUM used externally has two sorts of Effects upon a Humane Body 1. As an Opiate to cause Sleep take away Pain c. 2. As an Alterative of the Parts it is applied to I. As an Opiate It is of very uncertain and uneven Effects when applied externally for sometimes it causes Sleep takes away Pain but it often fails therefore it is generally much better safer more certain and effectual to use it internally I do scarce know the case wherein 't is better to use it externally than internally unless it be to smell to in some cases But of these Things more particularly when we come to the Use of Opium in Curing Preventing or Paliating Diseases for here we only lay down Effects in order to a Disquisition of the Cause of the Operation of Opium to which its internal Effects will mainly contribute however it may be very useful to that end to lay down its alterative Effects for thereby we shall in good measure know the Prin ciples by which it operates II. It s external Effects as an Alterative are these viz. 1. It incides resolves and discusses 2. It relaxes and mollifies 3. It maturates and suppurates 4. It exulcerates or causes Blisters if it be very strong and applied to Persons of a fine Texture where the Skin is tender but this Effect belongs more properly to the Maslack or true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that drops from the Incisions made in the Heads of the Poppies especially the Theban which affords a very powerful Juice Hence you may observe that the more it exulcerates or blisters the better is the Opium vice versâ 5. It is a Psilotherick for it prevents Hair to grow and causes the shedding thereof 6. It is hurtful to the Eyes and Ears 7. It excites Itchings applied in a moderate manner to the Skin 8. It excites Venery applied to the Perinaeum CHAP. IV. The Effects of Opium used Internally in a moderate Dose 1. THE moderate Dose in ordinary Use to produce the following Effects is from one to three Grains more or less according to the Circumstance Condition Case Constitution Age c of the Person who takes it 2. It operates generally in a short time after it is in the Stomach that is in about half an Hour more or less if taken in a liquid Form and in about an Hour more or less if in a solid Form drinking a Draught of Water or some Liquor after it otherwise it may be sometimes near an Hour and a half before it has its full Effect But the time of its Operation has a considerable Latitude according to the Disposition of the Stomack and other Circumstances as the Vehicle it is taken in c. The constant Effects of Opium used internally in a moderate Dose 1. It causes a most agreeable pleasant and charming Sensation about the Region of the Stomach which if one lies or sits still diffuses it self in a kind of indefinite manner seizing one not unlike the gentle sweet Deliquium that we find upon our entrance into a most agreeable Slumber which upon yielding to it generally ends in Sleep But if the Person keeps himself in Action Discourse or Business it seems especially when given in a Mornning after a moderate Rest at Night like a most delicious and extraordinary Refreshment of the Spirits upon very good News or any other great cause of Ioy as the sight of a dearly beloved Person c. thought to have been lost at Sea or the like causing such a pleasant Ovation of the Spirits Serenity c. as we find after a competent Measure of generous Wine ad Hilaritatem as Men use to say It is indeed so unexpressibly fine and sweet a Pleasure that it is very difficult for me to describe or any to conceive it but such as actually feel it for 't is as if a Good Genius possessed or informed a Man therefore People do commonly call it a heavenly Condition as if no worldly Pleasure was to be compar'd with it Helmontianus would doubtless express it by the Archeus in his very best Humour It has been compar'd not without good cause to a permanent gentle Degree of that Pleasure which Modesty forbids the naming of and 't is well worth a Remark that both are Pleasures of the same Sense viz. that of Feeling for it cannot be a Pleasure of any other Sense since it is internal 2. It causes a brisk gay and good Humour Nor do I doubt but it has this Effect upon sleeping Persons as far as their Condition is capable of observing it for you shall have them often tell of pleasant Dreams after it when they remember them and speak of any See Bauchin and the Authors mentioned below under the 4th Effect of Opium 3. It causes Promptitude Serenity Alacrity and Expediteness in Dispatching and Managing of Business To which end and that of a good and gay Humour which are near of kind it is commonly taken in the Morning in the Eastern Countries with most certain Effect The truth of which Wedelius is forced to confess though quite contrary to his Hypothesis of Opium's fixing and coagulating the Spirits giving an instance of a certain serene Person who when she had any Affair of great moment to dispatch did before-hand take Opium with great advantage for she thereby found her self every way better disposed for Business and more enabled to bear the Fatigue thereof Which is the Substance of what he writes in Latin Many other Authors confirm the Truth of these Effects but above all the constant Experience of the Eastern Nations puts it out of all doubt 4. It causes Assurance Ovation of the Spirits Courage Contempt of Danger and Magnanimity much after the manner that generous Wine does instead of which the Turks c. use Opium before Engagements desperate Attacks c. as is most notorious to make them Courageous which it certainly does For your satisfaction as to this and other Effects of Opium not so commonly observed
with us for Reasons given in Chap. VIII See Bellonius l. 3. c. 15. p. 179. Erastus Disp. de Sapor p. 6â— Georg. Andreae Itenerar Ind. l. 2. c. 9. p. 12. Camerar Oper. Subcis l. 1. c. 93. p. 437. Erastus Disp. de Narcot Oberndorf Historians also add That when the Great Turk makes a considerable War the Soldiers buy up all or most of the Opium which may be worth a Merchant's Observation for it thereupon grows dear and is much cheaper in times of Peace 5. It prevents and takes away Grief Fear Anxieties Peevishness Freâ—fulness c. These are necessary Consequences of the former Effects 6. It causes Euphory or easie undergoing of all Labour Iourneys c. and that far beyond all Wines and hot Cordials or Spirits therefore it is very much used in Turky and the Eastern Countries in laborious Undertakings great Iourneys c. which Men perform by the help of Opium after a prodigious and almost incredible manner But the Matter of Fact is so common and usual that there is no place of doubt besides that some who tried it among us have found it so 7. It lulls sooths and as it were charms the Mind with Satisfaction Acquiescence Contentation Equanimity c. How should it fail to cause these Effects since it causes all the former gay pleasant and brave Humours Dr. Willis and others having no true Experience or Knowledge of Opium imagined that it caused Courage Bravery Equanimity c. by stupifying the Senses Brain c. making People inadvertent dull and inapprehensive which is a great Mistake and a groundless Conceit for it is a most certain Truth which millions can affirm that it produces those Effects by an Ovation and Pleasure of the sensitive Soul and Spirits as generous Wine does before Men are suddled or overcome with it How else could they at the same time be more serene and apt for the Management of any Business and neat Dispatch of Affairs as it is most certain they are These fundamental Mistakes about Opium have been as you 'll find hereafter one great cause why its Operations have puzzled and quite baffled all Enquirers 8. It quiets allays and composes all Perturbations and Commotions of the Spirits or sensitive Soul Bloud Humours c. as in Hysterical Cases Diary Fevers that proceed from Passions as Anger Grief Terrours c. from violent Motion Labour Heat Iourneys Convulsions c. or from Pain and stops Bleedings that proceed from such Commotions 9. It causes a Relaxation of all the sensible Parts of the Body as the Membranous and Nervous This is notorious by its Effects as causing Perspiration Sweat Relaxation of Sphincters Vilatation of the Pupil of the Eye Relaxation of the Cornea and all other Effects of Relaxation as you 'll find more particularly hereafter 10. It causes Indolence or exemption from Pain as all know and allow and that when Sleep does not intervene 11. It stops moderates cures or paliates all Fluxes excepting those by the Pores or such as depend as that does upon Relaxation as when Sphincters are weak or paralytical but these last are unnatural Accidents 12. It mightily promotes insensible Perspiration 13. It prevents Shiverings in Ague-Fits and such-like Cases if given in due time and quantity which shall be shown in the Curative Part. 14. It prevents and cures Colds 15. It causes a larger and slower Pulse supposing no accidental Cause to the contrary 16. It causes Driness in the Mouth 17. It has most Effect in warm and moist Weather 18. It has more Effect upon lax and fine textured Persons as Women Children c. therefore Women seldom use it in Turky and the other Eastern Countries where it is commonly used by the Men. 19. It causes an Efflorescence of the Skin barring Accidents of Cold c. 20. It is observed by all that it mainly affects the Genus Nervosum and animal Spirits and not the Bloud and Humors 21. It increases Seed in some measure 22. It causes a great promptitude to Venery Erections c. especially if the Dose be larger than ordinary which I would have Men believe without experimenting it not that I fear to be confuted but lest any should injure themselves by too great a Dose This is one great Cause if not the chief why the Infidels of Turky and the Eastern Nations especially where Poligamy is allow'd as among the Turks c. use Opium so much it never â—ailing to produce this Effect in hale and healthy People if the Dose be sufficient as is too notorious in all or most Countries from Greece to Iapan inclusively who use Opium for that end But as to the Truth of this Effect of Opium not only Authors and all the People of those Eastern Nations but several Merchants Factors and Travellers now living in London can attest That it is used for that purpose in those Countries with Effect yea some in our own Nation that use Opium in large Doses can attest the same upon Experience in their own Bodies Those who desire to be satisfied may also read Ioh. Iacob Saar his Itinerar Ind. p. 11. Olearius's â—tinerar Persio l. 5. c. 15. 18. B. D. D. Sacks Tom. 11. Epher German Obs. 69. p. 126. Bauchin p. 450. Cardanus Scaliger Nich. Monordei Fogâ—lius de Turcarum Nepenthe Bellonius and others whose Words I do not repeat partly for Modesty's partly for Brevity's sake It does I confess look like a Riddle that a most relaxing and stupifying Medicament which takes away much of the Sense of Feeling and consequently Irritations to Venery as one would think should notwithstanding irritate thereunto cause Erections c. however it is most certain tho' a seeming Contradiction of which sort you have many more among the Effects of Opium Usual and frequent tho' not constant Effects of Opium used internally in a moderate Dose 1. Sleep which is so far from being a constant Effect of Opium that it will in me and many other Persons prevent Sleeping even when otherwise inclin'd to it 2. Pleasant Dreams 3. Stopping of Vomitings 4. Stilling the Hiccough 5. Taking off Convulsions and Contractions 6. Causing Meat to stay long at Stomach 7. Moderation and prevention of Hunger 8. Sweat 9. The Flowing of the Menses tho' not observed by vulgar Physicians 10. The Flowing of the Lochia which is as little observed 11. Voiding of the Stone 12. Delivery of Women 13. Deadness of the Eyes as you see in Drunkenness 14. Dilatation of the Pupil 15. Growth of the Breasts Penis and Increase of Milk 16. Veneral Dreams 17. Nocturnal Pollutions 18. Itchings in the Skin 19. Much Urine 20. Nausea 21. Swimmings in the Head 22. Watching 23. A kind of dubious State between sleeping and waking 24. It stops Hemorrhages in many cases Many more Instances of this kind might be given of its frequent and usual Effects in Diseases but it would be endless and needless since we have mentioned the Prime General and Fundamental Effects upon which
all such do depend and that the particular Enumeration of its Effects in Diseases belongs to its curative and paliative Virtue which will be handled hereafter The rare Effects of Opium taken in a moderate Dose 1. Temporary Palsies as of the Bladder and sometimes of other Parts tho' very rarely 2. Faltring of the Tongue 3. Loosness of the lower Iaw as in the Drowsie Drunkards c. 4. Prevention of Sweat in such as sweat too much for want of Perspiration 5. Abortion 6. Prevention of Abortion in some Cases 7. Intumescence of the Lips 8. Curing of the Dropsie of which Dr. Willis gives an Instance 9. Curing of Stupors of some sorts as those from Colds c. 10. Anxieties and Distresses 11. Vomitings and Hiccoughs 12. Convulsions 13. Syncopes Leipothimies and Faintings 14. Death tho' very rarely and that in very weak People 15. Purging 16. Raising and reviving some Persons that are just expiring 17. A long stay thereof at Stomach sometimes 18. Stoppage of Urine 19. It sometimes proves dangerous after Hemorrhages and large Evacuations 1. Note That the first Class of Effects being the most constant are the most proper genuine and principal Effects upon which all other Effects depend unless they are accidental It must therefore be that these should best guide us in the Disquisition of the Cause of the Operation of Opium 2. Note That the second Class tho' not so constant are natural Effects of Opium and will be also good Guide for the same purpose 3. Note That there is but little notice to be taken of the rare Effects for that purpose because most accidental The Effects of the going off or declination of the Operation of Opium taken internally in a moderate Dose 1. A general return of all the Diseases and Disasters that Opium paliated during its Operation unless it happens that some are cured thereby which iâ— they be is generally by the Benefit of Sweat or insensible Perspiration as Colds Pain from Wind or Humours that should have passed by the Pores as in Coughs Tooth-ach c. from Construction of the Pores or by composing the Fury of the Spirits or Bloud which it very often yea generally cures with one single Dose But of these things more in the Curative Part. 2. Sweat tho' not constantly 3. Frequent making of Water sometimes 4. A Loosness sometimes even when there was none before the giving of the Opium 5. Diseases seeming worse than before the taking of it 6. A melancholy and sad Depression of Spirits 7. A narrow Pulse 8. Itching of the Skin CHAP. V. The Effects of Opium taken in an Excessive Quantity 1. A Heat at Stomach 2. A sense of Weight at Stomach sometimes 3. Gaity of Humour at first Aâ— after Drinking a great Quantity of Wine in a short time 4. Sardonick Laughter afterward As after Drinking a great Quantity of Wine in a short time 5. Laxity and Debility of all Parts As after Drinking a great Quantity of Wine in a short time 6. Alienation of the Mind As after Drinking a great Quantity of Wine in a short time 7. Loss of Memory As after Drinking a great Quantity of Wine in a short time 8. Darkness of the Eyes As after Drinking a great Quantity of Wine in a short time 9. Laxity of the Cornea As after Drinking a great Quantity of Wine in a short time 10. Appearance of divers Colours As after Drinking a great Quantity of Wine in a short time 11. Deadness of the Eyes to the View As after Drinking a great Quantity of Wine in a short time 12. Faltring of the Tongue As after Drinking a great Quantity of Wine in a short time 13. A Sopor As after Drinking a great Quantity of Wine in a short time 14. A slow and wide Pulse As after Drinking a great Quantity of Wine in a short time 15. A high Colour As after Drinking a great Quantity of Wine in a short time 16. Looseness of the Iaw and Lips As after Drinking a great Quantity of Wine in a short time 17. Intumescence of the Lips As after Drinking a great Quantity of Wine in a short time 18. Difficulty of Breathing As after Drinking a great Quantity of Wine in a short time 19. Fury and Madness As after Drinking a great Quantity of Wine in a short time 20. Venereal Fury 21. Priapisms 22. Violent Itchings 23. Nausea's 24. Swimmings in the Head 25. Vertigo's 26. Vomitings 27. Hiccoughs 28. A turbulent Pulse 29. Convulsions and Cold Sweats 30. Faintings and Leipothymies 31. Cold Breath 32. Death Such as escape it generally have 33. Plentiful Purging 34. Sweats that smell of the Opium 35. Violent Itchings in the Skin 1. Note That all these Effects do not happen to all but some to one and some to others 2. That these Effects are greater or less according to the Dose Constitution of the Person and other Circumstances 3. That they are most endanger'd thereby that have a Lax and fine Texture and a weak Digestion 4. That a Looseness upon it is a good sign 5. That it affects some by making them Furious as Wine does and others Stupid Generally the Furious are most safe from danger of Death But of these Things more hereafter by God's Help CHAP. VI. The Effects of a long and lavish Use of Crude Opium 1. RElaxation and Weakness of all Parts 2. Inhability or Listlesness to do any thing exept it be while the Opium Operates 3. Inhability or Listlesness to get up in the Morning 4. A dull moapish and heavy Disposition as in old Drunkards except it be during the Operation of Opium 5. Diminution of Appetite As is observable in old Drunkards 6. Weakness of Digestion As is observable in old Drunkards 7. Dropsies As is observable in old Drunkards 8. Decay of Parts As is observable in old Drunkards 9. Weakness of Memory As is observable in old Drunkards 10. Stooping in the Back As is observable in old Drunkards 11. Early Decrepiteness As is observable in old Drunkards 12. Shortness of Life As is observable in old Drunkards 13. Acrimony of Blood 14. Inclinations to Venery 15. Frequent Inclinations to make Water 16. Priapisms and frequent Erections 17. Nocturnal Pollutions The Effects of sudden Leaving off the Use of Opium after a long and lavish Use thereof 1. Great and even intolerable Distresses Anxieties and Depressions of Spirits which in few days commonly end in a most miserable Death attended with strange Agonies unless Men return to the Use of Opium which soon raises them again and certainly restores them if it has time to operate before they die which it soon does in a liquid Form Or if they have not Opium or will not take it they must use Wine very plentifully and often as a substitute to the Opium tho' it doth not perform half as well as Opium 2. A return of all Diseases Pains and Disasters that were palliated by the taking of Opium 3. Dangerous Loosenesses 4. Death follows the leaving it off after
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
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
c. as Wine hot Liquors and Opium do 12. Opium does very much open the Pores and cause Perspiration c. which only Heat as that in Baths Bagnios Hot Houses and Hot Things do but Cold shuts the Pores as all know Therefore 13. Opium cures and prevents Colds which is another Argument of its Heat 14. It is a great Aphrodisiack or Exciter to Venery which Cold Things chill but Hot Things as Cantharides Bees Pismires Onions Garlick Leeks Rocket Squills Horse Radish Sem. Human. c. do promote 15. Nothing causes Indolence given internally but Wine Hot Liquors c. as I can think of and Opium causes it much after the same manner as Wine does first causing Mirth and Iollity and upon increase of Quantity very considerable Indolence It is true that Cold will externally cause a Stupor if it be intense so as to constringe the Parts and exclude the Spirits but otherwise it makes the Feeling more nice as all know by Experience because every little Hurt affects us more when we are cold than hot But this is not the Case of relaxing Opium which is used internally to take away Pain as Wine c. 16. Nothing takes away the Effects of Opium or Drunkeness better than cold Things internally and externally as acids dipping in Cold Water c. 17. Opium relaxes all Parts which Heat does and Cold constringes as was intimated 18. Wedelius confesses tho' it makes against what he says that he never observed a Soporose Distemper where there was not a Preternatural Heat Opiolog Lib. 1. Sect. 1. Cap. 12. P. 46. 19. If it causes Sleep by its cold Quality then all Things that are cold would do it proportionably Cucumers Purslane c. would be so great Hypnoticks that we should not be able to eat a Drachm of them but that they would cause a great Sopor but there is no such thing and hot Things are much more apt to cause Sleep or a Sopor as Wine hot Spirits Onions Garlick and such like 20. Opium causes a Redness or Efflorescence of the Skin making it sensibly warmer as Heat Wine and Strong Liquors do 21. It causes also an Itching of the Skin which only hot Things do 22. Half a Drachm of Opium in Clysters has caused a violent Heat in the Guts 23. It stops Diarrheas or Loosenesses which Cold causes 24. It stops Defluxions Coughs c. which Cold causes 25. To pin up all its predominant Principles appear by Autopsie upon its Chymical Analysis to be Volatile Salt and Sulphur Besides this Opinion of the Coldness of Opium is very much exploded and indeed it is so apparently false and absurd that I should not have thought it worth while to argue against it but that it lay so in my way that regularly I could not well avoid it without Breach of Order and Method I might have added that it resolves attenuates c. but it is needless to say any more It is very false and erroneous that it stops Fluxes by incrassating and binding which are accounted cold Qualities if so how should it stop them when Pounds of Incrassatives and Binders have failed tho' the Opium was given only in the Quantity of a Grain or Two How should it stop or moderate Fluxes even while it is yet at Stomach as it most certainly does It bears as Etmuller well observes no Proportion to the Bloud and Humours to have any Effect that may be remarkable upon them for a Grain is but as 1 to 115200 to the Blood of him that has 20 Pound of Blood which an ordinary Man has Besides How can Altenuatives Resolvers and Discussers incrassate or bind But more especially How can so great a Relaxer of Parts be a Constringer thereof That is perfect Contradiction And how can a meer Sal Volatile Oleosum in which all its Vertue lies as will plainly appear thicken and bind The Truth is that it stops Fluxes as Sleep doth by taking away the sense of the Irritation of Humours which solicite the Parts to contract and so to extrude and squeese them out it promotes Perspiration by relaxing the Pores as Sleep doth it also seems to thicken Rheum as Sleep doth because it causing Sleep or at least taking away a sense of the Irritation of the Rheum is thereby suffered to stay till it thickens by the Heat of the Body the Irritation also at Windpipe being less because the Flux of the Rheum is moderated for the Reason aforesaid But of these Things more fully when we come to explain the Cause or Causes of the Effects of Opium CHAP. X. It is proved That Opium sends no Fumes c. from the Stomach to the Head Brain c. and therefore that it does not diminish or disable the Spirits c. by that means THO' the Opinion of the Cold of Opium is much exploded that of Fumes Vapours or Aura's arising from the Opium at Stomach and mounting up to the Brain c. is as much received and embraced I know none but such as think it absolutely necessary considering that it is most certain and allow'd by all observing Men That Opium produces all or most of its Effects while it is at Stomach That the Genus Nervâ—sum is mostly concerned in its Operation and that as was said there is no Operation or Action but by Contact So that the Moderns acquiescing in the Necessity of its operating that way because they could conceive no other which is no Proof but a Defect of their Conception look upon it as invincible and uncontrolable Eviâ—ence oâ— its operating by Detachments of Fumes or 〈◊〉 sent up to the Brain from the Stomach which appear'd so undeniably conclusive that neither the want of a sensible Passage nor any other Inconvenience signified any thing with them to the contrary therefore it became an established Foundation by common Consent only they differ'd as was shewn in the manner how those Fumes produced the Effects of Opium And well they might seeing there is no such thing nor possibility if they were of ever explicating the various Effects of Opium by that means as will manifestly appear I confess that if Opium operated by such Fumes passing from the Stomach to the Brain c. it would be easie to conceive how it should diminish or disable nay utterly ruine the animal Spirits and indeed impossible rationally to conceive how they could do otherwise But then the enlivening invigorating and encouraging Effects of Opium which are its constant and most genuine Off spring would lie upon our hands without any possibility of giving an account thereof for certainly dull heavy unnatural undigested and cloudy Fumes or Vapours could not advantage the animal Spirits cause a Triumph or Ovation thereof at their access Courage Serenity Promptitude Magnanimity Euphory Inclination to Venery c. which we are most obliged to regard as being its most natural and proper Effects This Opinion of the Moderns does presume or suppose for they prove nothing First That Fumes
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
any regular Thinker without my Help but all are not such and the Prejudices general and inveterate and of some thousands of Years standing having continued through all Ages to this day and I would fain quite put out this false Light that like Will of the Wisp has brought many a Man into the Pit of Destruction or Grave while Physicians were guided thereby Therefore it being no slight Work to undeceive many and a very good Work if possible to undeceive all I will left what I have said be not sufficient to that end add somewhat more to the same purpose though I doubt some will not be convinced till I shew them how Things while at Stomach may cause all the Effects of Opium by a sensible Operation without the Help of Fumes Vapours Effluvia's Aura or any any such thing which have been the Asylum of the short-sighted that could see no other Means and therefore as was said concluded Things must be as they thought presuming that nothing could be that they did not see A special Inference and a very improving one which must cause People never to seek for any thing For why should they that think there is nothing but what they see look any farther To proceed then 14. It is agreed on all hands as I take it That the Animal Spirits are not generated till there is an Appulse of the Bloud at the Brain Can it therefore be imagined That Indulgent and Wise Nature should contrive a speedier Way to destroy diminish or disable the Spirits by Fumes and Vapours out of the Stomach than to generate them These are not the Ways of Equal Nature which destroyâ— and generates by the same Road so that if Animal Spirits are generated by the Bloud they are diminished by some Defect therein as want of Matter in the Bloud for that purpose the Bloud not arriving at the Brain and the like Note That I spoke in the last Paragraph of diminishing or destroying not bare disabling the Spirits for the Spirits or sensitive Soul may be depressed or disabled for some time and excited or elevated by other means than that of the Bloud as by Pleasure or Displeasure Ioy or Grief c. Thus good News or the Pleasure of any of the Senses enliven invigorate or elevate the Spirits or sensitive Soul in a moment this is the way that God has provided for us upon sudden Exigencies Deliquiums Lepothymies c. and thus Cordials work so speedily as you 'll find hereafter so may there be a sudden Depression of the Spirits as by ill News Pain c. which if you 'll be pleased to remember will much illustrate Things hereafter 15. The ordinary Strainers of the Body are so ordered that they will not admit Particles of another Figure especially if larger than the proper Particles much more should it be so with the Principal Strainer of the whole Body I mean the Brain both for its safety and of the whole which depends upon the Animal Spirits that are strained or separated from the Bloud in the Brain therefore the Particles of Opium which are esteem'd gross by all however are more so than the most tenuious Animal Spirits cannot enter into the Pores of the Brain to diminish or disable the Animal Spirits in case its Fume arrived there 16. It was never the Method of Nature to send Things crude unprepared and undigested into the inmost and principal Recesses and Parts of the Body without passing gradually by the several Digestions Concoctions Changes Percolations Circulations c. preparatory thereunto therefore it will not permit crude and indigested Fumes any access to the Brain till they have as it were performed their Quarentine elsewhere nor will Nature which always acts consentaneous to it self provide any Passage for such rude and crude Foreigners and Strangers to ravage the principal Part of an Animal 17. They cannot pass by the Arteries which carry nothing out of the Stomach but all into it or towards it and that with a violent Motion which opposes any thing that would pass that way 18. Nor by the Veins which carry nothing into the Brain but if they enter'd the Veins at Stomach they must thence pass into the Right Ventricle of the Heart where being rarefied by Heat they must take up much room and sadly discompose the Motion of the Bloud and also enter this principal Part in a crude condition tho' much better able to bear them than the Brain then must they pass into the Lungs where you may be sure they will be so saucy as to take up the uppermost Room and how they will be brought down again into the Left Ventricle of the Heart which they must vouchsase to do before they can get into the Brain none can tell There then must they stick and cause an Asthma unless the Man has the good Luck to be rid of these Rovâ—rs by â—thing and then Joy be with them as there wiâ— be when they are gone they are lost and never arrive at the Brain And if it could be conceived that they condescended to come down from the Lungs contrary to their Levity which is not to be thought what Pranks must they play in 〈◊〉 Left Ventricle of the Heart and what at 〈◊〉 considering it cannot bear the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 has been shewn whereas in this Case there must be a continual Stream thereof and consequently a discontinuance of the Bloud and its Motion See then how little Thought they must have that assert it is convey'd with the Bloud either to the Veins or Arteries 19. Nor by the Lympheducts for then they must contrary to their natural Levity descend into the Receptaculum Chyli and out of the Subclavials into the Right Ventricle of the Heart and afterward run all that wild Risque mentioned in the last Paragraph which was shewn to be impossible 20. Nor by the Nerves for then they must either run up in the Road of the Animal Spirits or in some By-way If they passed by the Road of the Spirits then must the Spirits be stopp'd for that time which is no short one and we suffer a Paralysis of the Stomach all that time or be much disturbed and interrupted then should we have Convulsions or at least some degree of a Paralâ—sis of the Stomach And if they passed by some By-way or Road besides that of the Animal Spirits then must it be a full or an empty one if full that Humour as suppose a Succus Nutricius for once must be disturbed and discontinued as the Animal Spirits were shown to be and if empty it would follow that Nature had void and useless Ducts which none ever had the Folly or Confidence to assert or that Nature contrived them for that purpose which is as has been shown directly against its Methods and Advantage But after all whither would you have them march in this By-Road for they could not mix or communicate as good Luck is with the Spirits and if they did it is
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
of it and what is to be said thereof more at large hereafter I say then that hot spirituous Cordials for such indeed all proper Cordials are as Brandy Dr. Stephens's Water and such-like having sulphureous Particles so prepared and disposed towards Heat or Fire that they are as it were in Potentia proxima or next Disposition thereto are mighty apt to contract a Heat as you find by Spirit of Wine or Brandy kept the least time in a warm Place or to come closer to the matter in your Mouth wherein being actuated by its Heat they will as in an instant grow so hot and active that you can hardly bear them because Particles of Heat which penetrate any Metal Glass c. immediately as soon as applied thereto will much more easily and sooner penetrate our soft Parts at Mouth or the Crusta Carnosa at Stomach and so reach the most sensile Coat thereof pleasing comforting and exciting the Spiritus insitos as in a moment by their spirituous Heat which we actually feel and sensibly find to please and comfort the Stomach But if some Purging Tincture had been put into the Cordial or Brandy this would not have soaked through the Crusta Carnosa under some time and consequently not operated till it had This may be most manifestly illustrated by some hot Brandy or indeed any hot Liquid put into a porous Dish set upon one's Hand which presently warms it but if the Liquid be tinged with any thing that Tincture will not reach the Hand till the Liquor which is its Vehicle soaks through which may be in an Hour more or less according to the Porosity of the Wood which Tincture is to be compared to the Purgative at Stomach Hence it follows That all Cordials should be a spirituous Liquid if intended for sudden Refreshment which Experience has taught and be given actually warm'd if a very nimble Comfort be required tho' the great Heat of the Stomach above that of the Mouth will generally be sufficient Thus may the Stomach be pleased and comforted grieved and purged with the same Draught but Gracious Providence has given the start to the Cordial which immediately comforts us as a Heater 30. If Opium operated by such Fumes it would at least in a liquid Form begin its Operation as soon as it is at Stomach for it would begin to send up Fumes as soon as it began to be warm which is presently and be at a very considerable Height of fuming and consequently of Operation in one minute which is about the space of seventy ordinary Pulses but we do not find it begin to operate in that Form under twenty thirty or forty Minutes which is much about the time that a more agreeable and not nauseated Vomitive or Purger begin to affect the sensile Coat of the Stomach and give intimation of their so doing All which and the Sense of Pleasure that we actually then seel at Stomach makes it probable that it operates by affecting the Stomach pleasantly and comfortably after the manner of generous Wine as Purgers and Vomatives do by affecting it grievously all of them except the Wine that pleases and comforts sooner because of its Particles of Heat gain'd by Fermentation operating much in the same time because they take like leisure to soak through the Crusta Carnosa to the sensile Coat of the Stomach 31. All sensitive Pleasure Comfort c. are received by the Senses and though any Part were some way benefited that has no Sense no Comfort would be perceived without Perception none could say that he is comforted What fitter Part is there to be pleased and comforted by Sensation than the Stomach which has such exquisite Sense that it can discern the vomitory Particles in Infusion of the Grocus or Regulus of Antimony which no Sensation but that at Stomach can discern and so small that a thousand Vomitories made thereof by Infusion do not sensibly diminish the Grocus or Regulus as to Weight or Bulk nor can I conceive where any sensible Comfort can be perceiv'd by a spoonful of Cordial but at Stomach where it actually is and upon whose Coats it immediately insists Is it not there that we feel the Comfortâ— and where should we find it but there What would the Effluviums of a Spoonful signifie if mix'd with 100000 times as much insenâ—ile Bloud and what Part besides the Stomach that the Bloud touches can be sensible of it So that if Effluviums were granted 't is thither they must return to cause any considerable Pleasure or Comfort But what need any Reâ—urn of the inconsiderable Effluvia when the main Body of the Cordial yea all lies upon the Stomach already I must forbear running into the Business of other Chapters having been tedious enough upon the Subject of this and the rather because it was so general and so rooted an Opinion in the Minds of Men in all Ages and in all Sects of Physicians and Natural Philosophers that I could not say too much to endeavour to free the World from the Slavery of such an Imposition and the innumerable ill Consequences of such a fundamental and overgrown Errour Which certainly must have been long since exploded if ingenious Men had first thought and then spoke freely but the Truth is there were many and great Causes to the contrary as those intimated in the last Paragraph and the mighty Usefulness and ready Officiousness of that Opinion of Fumes to answer for all the more obscure and latent Causes of the Maladies and Disasters of the Brain and Genus Nervosum If any enquired or called for the Cause of a Vertigo the Physician answered Fumes of Epilepsies it was answered Fumes of Scotomies it was Fumes of Head-achs Megrims Coma's Caros Lethargies c. it was Fumes of Hysterick Fits Convulsions Spasms Cramps c. it was Fumes nay they answered as Causes to all Distillations Catarrhs Epiphora's or weeping Eyes and all even ordinary Tears all which they said were only these Fumes turn'd into Water by the Coldness of the Brain as they are in a Still or Alembick so hot Fumes accounted for Phrensies Deliriums Ravings c. So that however other Heads were the Physician 's was stuff'd therewith and all Meteors of the Microcosm's Upper Region whether hot or cold were as those in the Macrocosm formed out of Fumes as he imagined Thus you see all the Opinions and Hypothesises that have been concerning the Operation of Opium to be most absurd and directly contrary to all Sense Reason and Experience CHAP. XI Opium does not diminish or disable the Spirits by any means whatsoever HAving sufficiently demonstrated that Opium cannot diminish or disable the Spirits by the cold Quality of the Ancients or Fumes of the Moderns and that neither of them have as much as any Being I shall now add that Opium does not diminish or disable the Spirits by any other means whatsoever I would not be mistaken when I say That Opium does not diminish or disable
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
of Man because of its ill Effects lavishly used Therefore none can argue from that that Opium diminishes or disables the Spirits any more than Wine or Bread does a Surfeit of which is most dangerous Omnis Repletio mala Panis vero pessima corruptio optimi est pessima That is All Repletion is bad but that of Bread is the worst and the Corruption of the best is the worst The short is this Wine and Opium agree in all their Effects saving such as are Consequences of their different Accidents as the Quantity of Wine that must be used to cause the same Effects with a little Opium and Wine having been fermented and Opium as may be shewn having some crude and viscid Rosin in it which sometimes sticks to the Crusta carnosa c. of the Stomach whence it happens that Wine loads one more heats more and is more troublesome upon those Accounts and that Opium offends the Stomach oftner even in a moderate Dose causing Vomitings Hiccoughs Anxieties Distresses at Stomach Deliquiums c. because of the indigestible Rosin sticking to the sides of the most sensile Stomach as I shall farther prove hereafter by God's Help shewing very easie Ways and Means to separate that Rosin and so make it as safe and less troublesome as it is more effectual than Wine Opium cannot diminish or disable the Spirits because as has been proved it sends no Part Fume or Effluvium to the Brain or Animal Spirits to cause such bad Effects while it is at Stomach yet does it produce them while it is there for as the Vaporarians themselves and indeed all Men allow there can be no Destruction without contact Sanctorius doth well and truely observe by the Help of his Staticks that nothing causes liberal Perspiration but it raises the Spirits it is most certain that nothing in Nature opeâ—s the Pores and causes Perspiration more than Opium Therefore nothing should according to his Observation elevate the Spirits more and indeed nothing does as appears by all that has been said and will yet more plainly appear Loss of Memory by Opium as some argue is not so much a Loss of Spirits as Lanity of the Brain for People in Drink do not want Spirits but there is a great Relaxation of the Brain and its Membranes and of the whole Ienus 〈◊〉 which Relaxation causes a soft loose and labile Brain that like Liquid Things retains no Impression besides that I shall God willing shew you hereafter that Impressions cannot be so well made upon the sensitive Soul by the Animal Spirits upon Relaxations of the Sensible Parts as in Sleep c. for a very plain Mechanical Reason to be shewn in due time Thus have I by the Assistance of its Maker who best knows it cleared Opium from the false Aspersions of an extreme Cold Quality and Parcotick Fumes both which were commonly call'd Venemous fatal and by all the ill Names imaginable but as good Luck is they abused nothing because 't is manifest that there is no such Thing nor has it any Quality by which it diminishes or disables the Spirits as is most evident from the Premises so that all that has been said of Opium by way of Hypothesis to explain its Effects depending upon its diminishing or disabling the Spirits by a Cold Quality or Fumes is come to nothing I wish it had been as innocent CHAP. XII Shews what must be the true Cause of the Operation of Opium ALL the general Foundations upon which Authors either Ancient or Modern erected their several Hypothesises concerning the Operation of Opium having as manifestly appears no real Existence What Enchanted Castles in the Air or vain Phantasms must their Structures be And how like deluded Wizzards must they appear while they seem'd to take high Flights and glorious Prospects of Causes that had no Reality Thus am I left utterly distitute of either Foundation or Model unless I find out that and frame this which I hope may be easily done because the cloudy Supposition of Vapours having vanished away there now remains but Two Ways by which an Internal Medicament can Operate viz. 1. As an Alterative of the Blood c. Or 2. As affecting the Sense of Feeling either grievously as Vomits Purgers c. Or pleasingly as Cordials generous Wines titillating Amphrodisiacks comfortable Warmth Anodynes and such like that please the Nerves and Membranes which way of Operating is too little observ'd by Physicians tho' they take great Notice of the Operation of Things by grievous Sensation as Irritatives to Vomit Purge Salivate c. by their Acrimony whereas the Pleasers of Sensation which must as Contraries have contrary Operations are little regarded or thought of 1. Opium does not Operate as an Alterative of the Bloud c. First Because it Operates while it is at Stomach or at least before it arrives at the Bloud which manifestly appears several Ways as 1. Because it often Operates in a Liquid Form in few Minutes and very commonly in a Quarter of an Hour in which time it must be at Stomach or at least far from arriving at the Bloud 2. Because it has been very often Vomited up after it has Operated and produced its usual Effects for 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 and sometimes more Hours as evidently appear'd by the Smell Colour Taste c. of what was Vomited and by its Operation ceasing after such Vomiting of which common Experience and Authors do inform us See Helmont Ius Duumvir 62. where he tells of Opium Operating at Night and Vomited up next Morning 3. It s bare causing Vomiting after it has Operated for a good while is of it self tho' its Taste Smell c. did not discover it an infallible Argument of its Operating while it is at Stomach for 't is against all Reason to imagine that Things should irritate it to Vomit after they are gone into the Bloud and not do it while they are in the Stomach it self as all Vomitories do The Reasons why it stays so long at Stomach are 1. It s Indigestibleness which plainly appears by Stools Urine and Sweat smelling of it when taken in any considerable Quantity all the Coctions Digestions Circulations c. that it passes in the Body signifying very little to it which its causing Itchings in the Skin and affecting the Venereal Membranes after its passing the Bloud do also argue 2. The clamminess of its resinous Parts sticking to the Stomach cause as I shall plainly prove hereafter its long stay in it for if the Rosin be separate from it 't will not then make such a long stay at Stomach as I have often Experienced 4. We actually feel it causing a sense of Pleasure at Stomach during its Operation therefore it is then in it 5. It has been carried off by Stool after it has produced its usual Effects Therefore it Operated before it arrived at the Bloud 6. All Observers do allow that Opium Operates while it is at Stomach
Preparatory Discourse about Sensation Pleasure c. in the following Chapters you may sometimes wonder what I would be at because you may not perceive the Drift yet do they require your Attention as being the Foundation of all that is to follow which you 'll plainly perceive afterward when I hope you 'll have good Satisfaction for your patient and attentive Perusal of the Two following Chapters CHAP XIII Of the Oeconomy of Sensation as far at least as it concerns our present Purpose WHEN I had written this Tract thus far I judged it best first to publish that of Animal Mechanism because it contained those Principles that would explain the Matter of Opium therefore laying this aside I applied my self to that But a New Art rightly to Spell Write and Sweeten all Languages that I since call'd Phonography coming into my Mind and thinking it might be very useful and likely to lie for ever in Darkness as it had always been unless I undertook the Drudgery I set my self to it which taking up more Time than I imagined has to this day hindred the finishing of that Tract of Animal Mechanism which I now much want as was intimated Therefore because I resolv'd to publish this that was so long since promised I am now forced for want of that Book to premise here some Things concerning the Oeconomy of Sensation and the Nature of sensitive Pleasure in order to explicate the Effects of Opium which might have been spared if that of Animal Mechanism had been published Considering that Opium must as was shewn operate by pleasing the Sense of Feeling it will be requisite to consider 1. The Oeconomy of Sensation as far as it concerns the present Purpose for which this Chapter is design'd 2. The Nature of sensitive Pleasure and its Effects upon the sensitive Soul and Body which is to be the Subject of the following Chapter Five Things mainly concern the Oeconomy of Sensation 1. The Object 2. The external Medium 3. The Organs of Sensation 4. The Animal Spirits or internal Medium 5. The sensitive Soul 1. The Object is the Thing perceiv'd by any of the Senses as Light by the Eye Sound or tremulous Motion of the Air by the Ear Odour by the Nose Tastes by the Tongue Opium by the Feeling or as Helmont calls it the Gustus or Taste at Stomach 2. The External Medium of Sensation is that which receives Impressions from the Object and conveys them to the Organs of Sensation Thus the Air conveys Sound or tremulous Motion to the Ear Light to the Eye and Odour to the Nose 3. The Organs are the Parts of the Body that God has fram'd to receive those Impressions and communicate them to the Animal Spirits or Internal Medium Thus the Eye is the Organ to receive the Impression of Light the Ear that of Sound c. And the Membranes in all Parts of the Body are the Organs that receive Impressions from Objects in the case of Feeling which is our main Concern 4. The Internal Medium is the Animal Spirits that receive the Impressions from the Organs and convey them to the Sensitive Soul 5. The Sensitive Soul which perceives those Impressions convey'd to him by the Animal Spirits which Perception is Sensation I. The Part Office or Business of the Object in the Matter of Sensation is to make a sufficient Impression either upon the External Medium or Air as in the case of Hearing c. or immediately upon the Organ or Membrane as in Feeling c. Therefore if there be no Impression of Light Sound or tremulous Motion Odours Relishing Particles c. there can be no Perception or if the Inpressions thereof be weak and faint the Perception or Sensation must be accordingly or if it be so inconsiderable that it cannot at all affect the sensitive Soul then is there no Perception thereof For 1. Sensitive Perception is not infinite because there are Degrees of Light Sound c. that cannot be perceiv'd tho' they must be very small and inconsiderable Thus the Light of a Candle at so great a distance that it can hardly be perceived is some Degree of Light and makes its Reflection proportionably from a Wall Tree c. yet cannot that reflected Light from the Wall or Tree be perceived so the smallest Things cannot be perceived Yet GOD has in His Wisdom and Goodness so ordered it that 2. Sensitive Perception is of excessively small Things Thus the Sound of a Pin's Head falling into a Brass Caldron is heard at some distance the hundreth part of a Grain of very hot and biting Things are sensibly tasted the thousandth part of a Grain of Ambergrise Musk c. very sensibly smelt the Light of an exceeding small Spark struck out between Steel and Flint is perceived at a great distance And Light in general consists of such tenuioâ—s Particles if material that none ever could take any estimate of their Bulk So the Feeling at Stomach takes very eminent and remarkable notice of as was said the Vomitery Particles of Crocus Metallorum or Regulus of Antimony which are so small that a thousand Vomits thereof does not sensibly diminish the Crocus or Regulus either in weight or bulk Therefore it is no Wonder if a Grain of Opium should affect the Feeling so sensibly as it does especially at Stomach tho' it cannot make any considerable Alteration of the Bloud 3. That whatever affects or makes impression upon the Organs of Sensation is in the same moment perceived by the sensitive Soul So that it is no Wonder that a Grain of Opium operates in so short a time that is as soon as a Tincture thereof insinuates it self through the Crusta Carnosa to the sensile Coat of the Stomach whereas it must take a very long time if it operated as an Alterative of the Bloud Now Note 1. That there is no way for any thing to operate upon the sensitive Soul in so small a Quanty as Opium operates or in so short a Time as by affecting the most exquisitely disposed Membrane at Stomach 2. That the speedy Way that God has contrived for our Refreshment Comfort raising of our depressed Spirits upon any sudden Occasion as in DeliÌ„quiums Faintings Syncopes Leipothymies c. is by the Senses especially that most exquisite Sensation at Stomach because Refreshment by Nourishment and Alteration cannot be perform'd but in a long time wherein we might in many Cases perish before we could be relieved thereby Thus a pleasing and therefore comfortable Odour excites the Spirits in a moment the sight of a beloved Mistress or dear Friend raises us immediately when we are most cast down as does also sweet Melody and an aggreeable or pleasant Sensation at Stomach as of Wine Cordials hot Spirits c. I hope none will say That Musick the sight of a Bag of Money c. send Effâ—uvia's for that end yet are great Comforters II. The Part Office or Business of the External Medium in the
as appears by several Places or Passages of the Premises and in the waking more than in such as are asleep 6. It is manifest that they are elastick by their springing into a Limb held up or down and that with such Force as to cause a great Pain after they have been excluded from it by some Accident as leaning or pressing too hard upon a Nerve c. for neither Levity nor Gravity can do so especially both up and down as was said nor is there any Propulsory Engine for them as is for the Blond therefore it must be from their springiness 7. They could not cause brisk and smart tremulous motions in the Body if they were not elastick for such cannot be conceived by any means without it but there are several brisk and smart tremulous motions caused by the Animal Spirits as in the Shiverings of Ague Fits Frights Cold Surprizes sudden or exquisite Pain Tremors of the Hands Head c. in Old Age in some Convâ— c. Therefore the Animal Spirits that cause them are elastick 8. Muscles have no springiness of themselves when the Animal Spirits are excluded from them as in Palsies c. but all Muscles in their Exertion are very springy insomuch that if you hold any of them back or restrain them from their motion and again suddenly leave them at liberty during the Exertion they or any Part moved by them will spring out very violently as in Flipping an Arm held back c. But nothing proves this Matter better than the Tongue in forming the Sound of the Letter R for in that Case the Tongue after it is put in Tension and Exertion being suddenly hit against the Inside or Gums of the Upper Teeth does thereupon as Springy Bodies used to do fall into a tremulous motion or jarring that causes the snarling sound of R which nothing but springy Matter can do 9. Were they not springy they could never convey the tremulous motion of sound to the sensitive Soul and indeed over all the Systeme of the Nerves by which is caused as may be proved that Motion of Consent call'd Dancing and the Fingers c. to move and keep Time with the Musick even when it or the Finger are not as much as thought of because the Animal Spirits have the same Capacity with the Air to receive and convey it by Reason of their springiness and greater by Reason of their more forcible Compression by the Vigilative Contraction super added to the Compression of the Air under which they are as well as the Air it self as plain Reason tells us for that which Compresses the whole Body must needs Compress the Animal Spirits The Experiments of the Air-Pump do confirm the same 10. There can be no doubt but the Animal Spirits are nourish'd or sustain'd by the Air if they be not Air therefore they are elastick What needs any more Arguments when several of the former are Demonstrative And that 11. All Physicians and Phylosophers that I know of do allow that the Animal Spirits are elastick Secondly It is requisite as was said of the External Medium that they should be compressed to render them fit to convey Impressions and that they are compressed is evident as was before intimated 1. By the Atmosphere 2. By the Vigilative Contraction which makes them much more disposed to convey Impressions than the External Medium besides that very often Two other Contradictions that are shewn in the remaining Part of this Chapter are added thereto and that the Animal Spirits are wholly contained in Pipes to prevent their Expansion and that of the narrowest sizes that can well be imagined but the Air or External Medium is at large in the Atmosphere so that all the Impressions made upon the Animal Spirits are very tightly closely and smartly convey'd nor have they but a little Way to pass that is the length of the Animal at most which also may be some Advantage to small Creatures But in Sleep the Vigilative Contraction being lost and the Animal Spirits thereupon expanded all Impulses must needs be carried very faintly both because the Organs or Membranes are indisposed by Relaxation and the Animal Spirits by Expansion upon that Relaxation for want of due Compression to fit them Thus have you after many vain Enquiries the true Mechanical Cause of the Difference of Sensation Sleeping and Waking and the plain Reason why our Motions are so feeble in Sleep viz. Because the Animal Spirits have lost much of their Force Springiness c. for want of due Compression by Reason of the Relaxation of all the Vessels that include the Spirits Thirdly It is in some Measure requisite that the Animal Spirits should have an Homogeneous Continuity as was shewn by the Analogy of the External Medium which does not convey Impressions as well in the Heat of the Day as in the Night or after Sunset because its Parts are more discontinued and disgregated by the Particles of Heat Fumes c. in the Day Time nay if Things be discontinued they never carry Impressions so well tho' placed contiguously afterward Thus a long Tree that conveys sounds so exactly from one end to the other while all is continued and in one Piece will not convey the sound so well if it be cut into many Pieces tho' they are afterward put close one to the other As to this Matter of Continuity in the Animal Spirits seeing it does not much concern us and that People in a State of Health are supposed to have it and that it is not our Business here to enter upon the Consideration of Nervous Distempers I need not use any more Words about it but that if it any Way happens to be discontinued as either by the Penury thereof that they do not quite fill all Parts of their Vessels or any Matter intercepting their Parts or that the Vessels should be so relaxed or widen'd that the Animal Spirits cannot so well fill them up c. such Causes must destroy or lessen Sensation tho' the bare mixing of Fumes with them would not considering the shortness of the Way that Impressions are carried in Animals much alter the Case as you find Fumes in the Air do not much hinder sound at the distance of a Yard or Two wherein it is insensible to common Observers at least so that if some Fumes from a Grain or Two of Opium did mingle with the Animal Spirits it would not cause a sensible difference of Feeling in the short space of the length of an Animal But I have proved That no such Fume from the Opium mixes with them therefore need say no more of this Matter V. The Office or Business of the sensitive Soul in the Oeconomy of Sensation being to perceive the Impressions conveyed to him by the Animal Spirits that he may if he finds them disagreeable bestir himself in Defence of the Animal First It is requisite he should attend to all Impressions offer'd him by the Animal Spirits otherwise
which have been in some measure enumerated in the Case of Natural Sleep in this Chapter viz. Satisfaction Composure of Frets and Commotions as of diary Fevers hysterick Fits c. Perspiration quieting of Vomitings Hiccoughs c. lessening of Feeling and consequently a stop and moderation of all Fluxes that depend upon Irritation of Humours as Diarrhea's Dysenteries Catarrhs Vomitings Driness of the Mouth as in Sleep for want of the Contraction to squeeze the Spittle out of the Glandules into the Mouth Nocturnal Pollutions c. But of the Nature and Effects of Pleasure you 'll find more in the next Chapter Besides the Vigilative and Defensive Contractions which seem to be Things of course upon Waking and Grievances the sensitive Soul has a Contraction at Will as that of the Pupilla when an Animal is intent upon Seeing of the Tympan when intent upon Hearing of the Musoles of the Legs when intent upon Walking and so of all the Muscles of the Body which I call Intentivâ— Contraction that he can perform either along with or without the other Contractions or without any great degree thereof as when one is considerably relaxed with the Pleasure of Wine very good News c. nay sometimes even in Sleep as is manifest by the Noctamâ—uli or such as walk in their Sleep and such as speak strike c. while asleep And as the Defensive Contraction does all it can in our Defence without the Direction of the Will as in Vomiting Sneezing Purging c. upon sensible Irritation so this Intentive Contraction does all it can to the same Purpose by the Direction and Dictates thereof Note That inâ—ensile growing Things that do not move as Trees c. have none of these Contractions but what happens by Cold and Compression of the Atmosphere which are sufficient it seems for Nutrition but not for Sense and Motion it follows That in compleat Syncopes when the sensitive Soul gives over all Contractions that we are much in the state of a Plant. All those three Contractions viz. the Vigilative Defensive and Intentive do because they promote Motion and cause it more or less as you find the Vigilative causes much more of it than Sleep and the Defensive more than that c. spend the Spirits cause Weariness c. The Vigilative Contraction does of it self without any considerable Grievance or Labour that is without the Denfensive or Intentive Contraction tire the sensitive Soul in about 16 Hours Hence it is that the idlest Person that is most free from Care Trouble or Pain cannot well hold out without the Recruit of Sleep any longer The Defensive Contraction or that of Grievances being added to the Vigilative Contraction the Spirits are faster spent and the Person tired proportionably sooner according as the Grievance is more or less and consequently the Endeavours of the sensitive Soul to be rid thereof To both which Contractions viz. the Vigilative and Defensive if you add the Intentive or Labour then are you sooner and more tired than by only those two former Contractions for this last Case is labouring in Pain or under a Grievance which notoriously tires Man or Beast sooner than ordinary The direct contrary to which is sleeping soundly and sweetly without Trouble Pain or Dreams for a dreaming Condition has too much of the vigilative Contraction in it to be pure Relaxation and Recruit Now according as these Contractions are or are not added one to another we are sooner or later before we are tired speaking generally and not considering Custom and Habit which concerns us not You see that all the three Contractions conourring do soon and sadly tire us that no two of them tire us as much as the three together that iâ— neither the Vigilative and Defensive without the Intentive nor the Vigilative and Intentive without the Defensive and the Vigilative alone least of all Yet allowance must be made for the Intensness of the Defensive and Intentive for either of these two being very intense may tire as much as both in a moderate degree Thus a Man may be tired with violent Labour in four Hours tho' not in Pain as much as one that moderately labours in some small Pain for the same time Observe That we recruit in eight Hours generally speaking as much by relaxation in Sleep as we spend by vigilative Contraction in sixteen I take the Reason of that to be That Relaxation widening all the Passages of the Body the Nutriment is admitted into them more fully and freely as the Bloud is into the Skin in Sleep and all Relaxations which cause an Efflorescence thereof in those Cases Hence it is that we are so much recruited and nourished in Sleep that Children grow more than others proportionably that Relaxers cause the Breasts c. to grow Note What a mighty Restaurative Relaxation is By its help for eight Hours in twenty four we can watch all and labour most of the other sixteen all the days of our Life It follows That if we could any way half relax the vigilative Contraction while we Labour take a Iourney or the like that we might perform prodigiously without being â—ired Hence it is That because Pleasure as has been intimated relaxes as Grievances contract of which you may expect farther Proof in the next Chapter that such as work or travel pleasantly diverted all the time are tired very little or nothing in a long time and that some will dance whole Nightâ— with sweet Musick and agreeable beloved Company without being so much tired as they would be if they us'd the same Motions for a quarter of the time without either of the pleasant Diversions The like is to be said of any other Pleasure as drinking a good Glass of generous Wine every half hour or so often as to continue the sense of its Pleasure at Stomach all the time they labour or travel for 't is a vulgar Errour tho' the universal Sentiment of Mankind both Learned and Unlearned That Wine Cordials c. do comfort elevate and excite the Spirits as 't is call'd by adding their Spirits to or joining them with ours whereas it is only by causing a pleasant Sensation particularly at Stomach For which Paradox I am obliged tho' in great haste to come to the Explication of Opium to give my Reasons which are as follows viz. 1. It cannot be imagined how a sensitive Creature as such can conceive any Comfort or be sensible thereof but by Sensation To say he is comforted and not sensible of the Comfort is a Contradiction for Comfort as such belongs to a perceiving Being and an Animal as such perceives nothing but by the Senses and therefore there can be no Comfort but by pleasant Sensation nay as such it is his Comfort So Musick pleasant Sights Odours and agreeable Objects of all the Senses are comfortable because pleasant I hope that none will say That Musick Sights good News c. which highly comfort have any Spirits to add to ours The
be well removed This proves how useful Removals may be and how convenient in Plague Time it would be to remove to the Wind-side of a Town or City that is tainted according as the Wind changes and how convenient Winds are to convey away the Effluviams and good Stomachick Cordials that are warm and pleasant to fortifie the Stomach and open the Pores which all Things that cause a sense of Pleasure do as Wine Spirits c. to which if some good Preparation of Opium were added it would be most convenient How many Stories have we of Persons well fill'd with Wine who wonderfully escaped Infection I pray God this Hint may be improv'd to the Preservation of Mankind Therefore I add that much may be in a good Quantity of Wine in this Case 1. Because Quod intus est prohibet alienum that is What is within hinders ingress of another Thing 2. Because the Perspiration will be the greater both upon the Account of the greater opening of the Pores by the Pleasure of the Wine and the greater Quantity of Matter to be perspired carry off the venemous Particles 3. Because the Sensitive Soul is thereby much comforted refreshed and invigorated but I would have the Wine so used as to keep a continual Warmth Pleasure and Comfort at Stomach which is the main Cause of all the good I think a Glass every Hour after taking 2 or 3 at first may hit the Mark best the Reason of which will appear hereafter Thirdly The Stomach 's exquisite Disposition to Sensation above all other Organs and Membranes appears by this viz. That the Offences of the other Organs of Sensation even by their proper Objects do often affect the Stomach more than those very Senses or Organs themselves For Instance If we smell a great Stench the Stomach is often more offended thereat than the Nose as is manifest from the Vomitings Faintings and Deliquiums that are caused by the Stomach upon that Account so the bare Seeing Feeling and Tasting of a nasty Thing do cause Nauseas c. at Stomach yea the very naming of such Things has much offended it and caused such Effects which may be thought very strange considering that there pass no Effluvias from the sound of Words but the Reason will appear in the following Paragraph Fourthly All Passions Commotions and Perturbations that happen in the Body do often affect the Stomach and sometimes so grievously as to cause Nauseas Vomitings great Anxieties at Stomach Faintings c. Thus Fear Terrour Surprizes Anger Grief Pain in other Parts c. causing some Motion in the Animal more than ordinary of which the Stomach being sensible do cause the aforesaid Disturbances Therefore it is no Wonder if the Hearing one mention a Nasty Thing which causes an Abhorrence and the Motions consequent thereunto should as was said in the precedent Paragraph cause the nice Stomach to be offended It is most manifest from the Premises that no Organ or Membrane can compare with the Stomach as to its exquisite Disposition for Sensation it follows then That Grievances or Pleasure at Stomach must have the greater Effects 1. Because the Intenseness of either will be proportionable to the Sensation 2. Because the Powers of the Animal that are to defend it which are Contractions are affected according to the Sensation and that it is there most requisite sensibly to affect them 3. Because what affects the Stomach influences the whole Animal more than the Sensation of any other Part. 4. Because of the considerable Stay that Things make at Stomach to cause Grievance or Pleasure whereas that of Pleasure is generally very momentary in other Cases 5. Because being within the Body we carry our Pleasure or Grievance with us as a Vade Mecum wherever we go and therefore 6. It is a Pleasure c. that cannot so well be taken away from us as that of the Tongue Ear Nose Eye c. may by removing the Objects and therefore it remains with us in our very Sleep as far as we are capable of Sensation at that Time causing pleasant Dreams c. and so agreeably entertaining us Sleeping or Waking when the Pleasure of all the other Senses fails us Which will appear farther hereafter The Pleasure at Stomach excells even that of Venery if not in Intenseness yet in several other Respects viz. 1. Because of its duration that of Venus being momentary but that of Wine at Stomach lasts a good while and that of Opium many hours 't is therefore that the Effects of these Two are more remarkable and taken notice of 2. Because that at Stomach may be continued as long as we please by a new supply of Wine Opium Cordials c. 3. Because it may be excited when and as often as we please if we have those Cordials at Hand 4. Because it is not attended with any Expence of Strength Depression of Spirits c. as that of Venery but the quite contrary viz. with more Vigour Elevation of the Spirits c. one being by Emission and the other upon Admission of what is agreeable It is for the several Reasons contain'd in the Premises that the Effects of Grievance as Hunger c. or Pleasure are more considerable and remarkable at Stomach and that Things agreeable thereto have by way of Eminence gain'd the Name of Cordials That Wine Spirits Opium c. do cause a more permanent and notable Gaity Pleasantness Good Humour Serenity Promptitude Ovation of the Spirits or Sensitive Soul Bravery Courage Magnanimity Euphory or easie undergoing of Business Relaxation with all its Effects as Deadness of the Eye Dilatation of the Papilla Perspiration c. which are hardly noted in other short Pleasures unless it be in that eminent tho' short one of Venus which is a Pleasure of the same sense of Feeling as that of Opium and Wine are Therefore pleasing the Stomach is one of the greatest Things to be regarded in the Practice of Physick to Comfort Satisfie or Compose the Spirits by which Means I have often performed such Cures that neither I nor I suppose any other could otherwise perform namely Dejections of Appetite Untowardness at Stomach c. when all the ordinary and usual Means have failed by asking them what they mostly desired or long'd for and letting them have it or if they could not tell of any Thing that they long'd for I have mentioned to them all the Relishing Things that I could think of and such as were grateful to the Stomach till they fasten'd upon somewhat that they liked or fancied and then being given them it generally had the desired Success The Stomach is grieved for it will concern us to know how because Opium causes Vomiting c. generally speaking 1. By Things hard of Digestion as heavy Bread Mushroms Rosins and such like 2. By Things acrimonious or pungent as Vomitories of Asarabacca Groundsil Squills c. which abound with Volatile salt 3. By Things that stick to the Stomach which
Grievance causes Contraction as has been manifestly shewn 2. Because it causes a liberal Perspiration which is a certain Effect of Relaxation as the Want of it is of Constriction and that it causes Perspiration is most certain by Statick Experiments and Demonstrations Sanctorius Sect. 7. Aph. 19. c. 3. Because the Pleasure of Wine and the Venereal Act manifestly loosens all the Limbs as Sleep does 4. Because that in those Pleasures as also upon the sight of a Beloved Mistress c. the Eyes look deadish by reason of the Laxity of the Cornea and that the Pupilla is dilated 5. The Skin as has been intimated looks Florid which made the Ancients say That the Bloud and Spirits came outward to meet the good and agreeable Things 6. Because all Pleasure that is consistent with lying or sitting still in a silent quiet manner inclines us to sleep as Musick pleasant Frication of the Head Back or any itching Part sweet and acceptable O lours a Thing of very acceptable taste held in the Mouth Wine Meats Venus the pleasant sound of the fall of Waters Whistling Winds Rocking Undulating in Hammocks c. 7. Because in Coition it relaxes the Neck of the Womb to admit the Animal Elixir Vitae of which we have most evident Proof and some eminent Instances that I forbear the Relation of out of Modesty 8. Pleasure causes a large and wide Pulse as Relaxation always does 9. A Loss or great Diminution of Sensation as in the Venereal Act. which if it were of continuance would exactly imitate Opium in its Effects upon Drinking Wine c. the Effects of which being of greater duration and by taking somewhat into the Stomach as Opium is are very like that of Opium 10. Intense Pleasure Ioy c. do frequently cause Ecstasies Syncopes Leipothymies which are only great Relaxations as has been shewn 11. You see that the Pleasure of Wine causes Faltring of the Tongue which is the Effect of Relaxation as in Sleep Palsies c. and relaxes the whole Body 12. Wine also prevents Lassitude as all pleasant Diversions do and causes all the Effâ—cts of Relaxation as taking away Pain causing a Deadness of the Eyes Dilatation of the Pupilla Floridity of the Skin Perspiration Diminution of Sensation Mirth good Humour Sleep c. Nâ—te That Pleasure being generally from External Objects and also short slight and transitory is the true Reason of the great Penury of Things that bear any compleat Analogy to Opium in its great Effects which made it seem more amazing and confound People whereas all the Difference is nothing but its causing an internal intense and permanent Pleasure All Pleasures have the same Effects but that they are short slight fading external inconsiderable intermitting interrupted by some grievous Objects Thoughts Passions as Fear Care Solicitude Melancholy c. but the Pleasure of Opium we carry within us continually whether we will or no waking and sleeping without any intermission or interruption and that in a high degree for many hours Doubtless that of Venus if iâ— were half as lasting would be as dangerous as that of a great Dose of Opium or Wine drank in a vast Quantity which is in a manner as dangerous as Opium and for the same Reason viz. by over-dosing a great Relaxer by the Pleasure it causes The Causes why the Pleasure of the Venereal Act as a large Dose of Wine Opium c. take away Pain are 1. Because the Sensitive Soul cannot attend to Two Things at once therefore when a Sense of Pleasure is introduced there cannot be at the same time a Sense of Pain which tho' not noted in short transient and desultory Pleasures as almost all are besides that of Wine and Opium yet the more permanent do exact our Notice and Attention because they exclude Pain for so considerable a time that they amaze us 2. Because the Sensitive Soul attends more willingly to Pleasure than to Pain so that Pleasure engrosses his Attention as was intimated 3. Because Pleasure and Pain or Displeasure are Contraries and cannot co-exist in the same Subject or Sensitive Soul therefore when Pleasure affects it Pain cannot 4. Because Relaxation which is the Mechanical and main Reason gives such Liberty to the Animal Spirits to expand that they become unfit for want of Compressure to convey any Impressions smartly which is requisite to cause a sense of Pain that is caused by a smart Impression To which you may add That 5. Pleasure and Relaxation where they continue as in the Case of Wine and Opium do highly improve one another because they mutually cause one another for Pleasure causes Relaxation and Relaxation as you sind in a sweet Slâ—mber c. Pleasure so that permanent Pleasure must highly advance Relaxation which takes away Pain by preventing all smartness of Impression by the now yielding Nature of the expanded Animal Spirits which are as Air in a Gut half full or a Rowl of Carded Cotten or Wooll fit only to carry a gentle or no Impression to the farther End thereof So that upon the giving of Opium when the Pâ—in does once begin to diminish it is not long afterward before it goes quite off for if the Pleasure does but take off one in ten of the Pain it is a sign that it will be an easie matter for it that is upon the Improvement for the Reasons aforesaid to overcome one in nine and yet much easier to overcome one in eight and so on Therefore it is a certain sign that you have given enough to take away the Pain if it once sensibly decreases and consequently all Physicians should then not give any more Opium tho' the Pain is not yet quite off For if the Relaxation caused by Pleasant Sensation was of force enough to overcome the greater Contraction by the greater Pain which opposed it more strongly it will suffice to overcome the less This intimates and 't is Experienc'd that Doses must be proportioned to the Pain for tho' a few Glasses of Wine may take off the sense of a small Pain more must be drank to take off a greater and so of Opium because the Contraction by Pain resists the Relaxation by Pleasure Having shewn how Sleep and Pleasure take away Pain by Relaxation permitting the Animal Spirits to expand and grow unsit to carry Impressions smartly and that therefore Sleep stops or moderates all Fluxes that depend upon Irritation of the sensile Parts to cause them to Contract and squeese out the Humours that cause the Flux while the same Relaxation opens the Pores and so lets out the Fumes of the Body which only like Smoak in a Chimney require an open Passage by reason of their Levity which carries them off it plainly appears how Pleasure that takes away the sense of Pain or Irritations by the like Relaxation must stop the first sort of Fluxes that require the Irritations to contract the Parts and promote that of Perspiration as in Sleep which requires
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
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
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
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
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
only in those Membranes but also in the more exquisitely disposed Membranes for Sensation at Stomach and soon after all over the Body 5. It prevents and takes away Grief Fear Anxieties Peevishness Fretfulness c. for the aforesaid Reasons which cause a blith gay and good Humour Promptitude Courage c. for it is impossible to be gay and good Humour'd Serene Chearful Courageous and Magnanimous and at the same Time Sorrowful Fearful Peevish Fretful c. If the bare Sense of an ordinary Meal of Meat at Stomach which causes but a slow Pleasure in comparison with Opium takes off the Peevishness Fretfulness c. that the grievous Sensation of Hunger causes how much more must the intense and charming Pleasure caused by Opium that is so agreeable even far beyond Wine it self as has been set forth take away all ill Humours Fretfulness Peevishness c. Obj. But it may be said That Sleepiness which depends also upon Relaxation as the Effects of Pleasure do causes a Peevish Fretful Humour as is commonly observed Ans. It is so far otherwise in the Case of Opium that it is quite contrary for 1. The Sleepy are not Peevish unless you put them by some Means out of the Pleasure of enjoying Sleep or Relaxation for if you let them alone they will not trouble you with Peevishness nor any ill Humour but it is the calling them from their relaxed Condition to the grievous Task of Contractions that vexes them so that it is the Want of continuing under the Relaxation that frets them and the more because the Fatigue and Tedium of Contraction did put them upon the Relief of Sleep of which if disappointed they are much vexed But in the Case of Opium you cannot so easily rob them of their Pleasure which they carry continually within them in an uninterrupted manner unless some very grievous Thing happens which causes more defensive Contraction than the Opium causes Relaxation tho' even this also is generally soon overcome by the Pleasure continually inviting the Relaxation and promoting it whereas the Interruptions thereof are transitory but at the worst it is but taking more Opium and the Work is done for I observe that the Dose of Opium must be sufficient to introduce such a Sense of Pleasure as causes a Relaxation of the Contraction caused by the Grievance Hence it is certain that a greater Pain requires a larger Dose of Opium as has been intimated 6. All know that Pleasant Diversions as Musick Pleasant Iests and Stories fine Sights c. do cause Euphory and an easie undergoing of Iourneys Labour c. Therefore if such interrupted transient and slight Pleasures do it so much it will be easily granted me that a continual and more intense Pleasure that is always present without any Interruption or Intermission as that of Opium must cause a more eminent and permanent Euphory proportioned to the Pleasure which causing Relaxation prevents the Fatigue or Lassitude that is caused only by Contractions either Vigilative Dâ—fensive or Intentive as I have proved So that I do not conceive how the Noctambuli or such as Walk in their Sleep can ever be tired if they Travelled ever so far if they could Eat and Drink because the Relaxation of the Sleep recruits them as much as they spend of Spirits c. so Persons that cause such Relaxation by Opium and so repeat it as to maintain the Relaxation can hardly be weary which is the true plain and Mechanical Reason why the Turks and other Eastern People do by the Help of Opium perform prodigious Iourneys without being tired which may therefore in Allusion to the Noctambuli be call'd Opiambuli or Opambuli as being a kind of Artificial Noctambuli because they are much relax'd by the Pleasure that Opium causes as the other are by Sleep Qui Laetitiâ aâ—iciuntur says Sanctorius nuâ—lam in Itinere Defatigationem sentiunt That is The Merry are not Weary as the Saying is because Mirth being pleasant causes Relaxation as Opium does in some measure Note That as to all the foregoing serene and brisk Effects a full and liberal Perspiration which it also causes as will be shewn contributes much thereto a posteriori for as Fire burns slowly and dully if the Smoak does by any means return upon it and very serene if not so it is with the Flame of Life if clouded with or clear'd from Vapours by Perspiration Sanctor Sect. 7. Aph. 17. Mâ—lancholia superatur liberâ Perspiratione Aph. 30. 31. Edulia aperientia Gaudium movent That is Such as open the Pores and cause Perspiration cause Ioy or Mirth 7. It lulls sooths and as it were charms the Mind with Consent and Acquiescence for the several Reasons couched in the Premises and because the fine continual and charming Pleasure of Opium such as some Glasses of generous Wine causes must needs have such an Effect 8. It quiets allays and composes all Perturbations and Commotions of the sensitive Soul Spirits c. 1. Because it so lulls sooths and charms the sensitive Soul as is aforesaid who is the Original of all Motions in the Animal 2. Because all Motions are by the Relaxation proportionably abated as was demonstrated Thus Opium takes off Hysterick Fits Fevers from Commotions of the Spirits convulsions Stops Hemerrhages or Bleeding c. 9. It causes a Relaxation of all the sensile Parts of the Body by Reason of the great and continual Pleasure that it causes and how Pleasure causes Relaxation I have shewn in Chap. 14. 10. It causes Indolence or Exemption from Pain by causing so high and lasting a Pleasure 1. Because that Pleasure takes up the Attention of the sensitive Soul who delights in 't 2. Because a sense of Pleasure and Pain cannot be at the same Time in the same Subject being they are Contraries 3. Because the Membranes being relaxed and the Animal Spirits expanded the Impressions of Pain cannot be carried to the sensitive Soul because they cannot convey Impressions smartly being thus relaxed and expanded as has been demonstrated by the Comparison of a Gut half full of Air c. and all Impressions of Pain must be smart or else they are not Impressions of Pain for gentle Impressions are such as belong to Oils smooth and soft Things or when the Animal Spirits can hardly carry any Impressions but gently as in Sleep and other Relaxations as that upon Pleasure c. which is our Case Note That it will cause Indolence without causing Sleep because Sleep requires Relaxation and Quiet of the Spirits but Indolence requires only Relaxation as was shewn which always follows the charming Pleasure of Opium 11. It stops moderates or palliates most Fluxes and promotes Perspiration because the Relaxation takes away the sense of the Irritation of Humours which causes a Contraction to squeese them out and that the same Relaxation opens the Pores to let the Fâ—mes out which pass by their own Levity upon the opening of the Pores Nihil magis says Sanctorius
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
the Pleasure yet was neither discovered for many Thousands of years especially considering also that in the Case of Opium Thousands of Ingenious Men have diligently enquired after the Cause of its Operation who made no farther step in 't than to state Things that have not as much as Existence viz. a Cold Quality and 〈◊〉 flying from the Stomach to the Head to be the Cause thereof Therefore it is plain That neither is he that Planteth any Thing neither he that Watereth but GOD that giveth the Increase of Knowledge and of other Things To whom be all Glory CHAP. XX. The Explication of the Effects of the Declination of the Operation of Opium in a Moderate Dose 1. A General Return of all Diseases and Disasters when the Operation of Opium is over because it does not as was shewn operate as an Alterative but a pleasing Diverter of the sensitive Soul for some Time during which it causes a general Relaxation of all the sensile Parts whereby the Animal Spirits being expanded grow unsit to convey Impressions smartly which is requisite to cause a sense of Pain c. as has been often said But it cures several Distempers viz. such as pleasing and comforting the sensitive Soul composing the Spirits Relaxation Perspiration Sweat c. can quite take away Of which more particularly when we come to speak of the Use of Opium in Cure 2. Sweat happens in the Declination of its Operation as Sir Theodore Mayern my self and others have observed because that now all the Parâ—s contracting which by their Relaxation suspended all Humours during its Operation do Mechanically squeese out the congested Humours there being less Room in the Body as was said of Sweat upon awaking by the Return of the Vigilative Contraction after Relaxation during the Sleep which is to be compared to the Relaxation during the Operation of Opium and the Return of the Contraction when 't is ended besides that both upon the Going off of the Operation and Awaking the Motion of the Heart growing more vigorous as it does upon Motion by the Intentive Contraction does more powerfully propell the Humours out at the Pores as happens in Sweat upon Motion 3. Frequent making of Water happens partly by the Titillation of the Volatile Salt as by Cantharides c. that is now separated from the Bloud partly by the Contraction of the whole Body squeesing it out at the Kidneys as when People are Cold they make more Water for that Reason 4. A Looseness may and does happen sometimes from the like Contraction squeesing out the Humours that were suspended during the Relaxation by the Opium which is common for such Contractions to cause as by Cold Terrour c. and because Sensation grows more nice and irritable by the Humours by Reason of the Contraction which is the more for the Grievance of failing of the Pleasure of Opium Therefore 5. Diseases Pains c. seem worse upon the Return of the Grievances because of the great Ease they had during the Operation of the Opium Contraria inter se magis elucescunt and it is particularly observed of Pleasure That it leaves Men worse then it found them Thus a Man is worse more sad c. Post Coitum more Melancholy after all sorts of Pleasure insomuch that it is grown to a Proverb viz. After Merry comes Sorry or After Mirth comes Sorrow as also Minus gaudebis minus dolebis Therefore 6. Melaneholy does often if not always happen in some degree after its Operation is ended 1. Because of the Return of the Contractions or Toil of the sensitive Soul 2. Because as was said the Sense of Pleasure newly lost aggravates the Sorrow as has been shewn after Coition c. 7. The Pulse is narrow because the Contraction returns with Melancholy and Return of Disasters improve when that so happens as it generally does 8. Itching of the Skin happens about this time because that now the Volatile Salt which causes Tuillation is arrived as far as the Skin upon its march out of the Body CHAP. XXI The Explication of the Effects of Opium in an Excessive Dose THE Cause of most of these Effects will be evident from the Explication of the former because the Difference is only in the Quantity of the Opium therefore I am often necessitated to speak much the same as I have done before You cannot expect any good Effects from its Excess any more than you have from Wine tho the best of Cordials next to the Sal. Volatile Oleosum of Opium but rather less because Opium is join'd to a pernicious Rosin which you may be sure will be very grievous to the Stomach in great Quantities if it was so in little The Evil Effects in this Case do mainly proceed either from too much Relaxation as in Drunkenness or from the Rosin at Stomach 1. A Heat at Stomach is caused by the intense Heat of the Opium in a great Quantity it being sensibly a very hot Thing 2. The Sense of Weight at Stomach is caused by the great Relaxation that it causes which renders the Stomach proportionably weak and unable to endeavour its own Relief so that the Rosin c. lie heavy upon 't Thus we find a great Heaviness at Stomach when any Thing grieves it that it cannot reject or discharge 3. Gaity of Humour is caused at first as by the Pleasure of a great Quantity of Wine by its pleasing Agreeableness to the Membrane at Stomach till the Relaxation grows enormous as by a great Dose of Wine suddenly drank to which it is very like in all its Effects except such as proceed from the Rosin sticking at Stomach which Wine has not 4. Sardonick Laughter is caused as you see in Drunken People when they are disabled by the great Relaxation that they cannot well Express themselves by the failing Tongue they endeavour it by a silly kind of fained or made Laughter as they call it while the pleasing Titillation at Stomach much inclines them to Mirth if they knew how to manage and carry it on 5. Laxity and consequently Debility of all Parts is caused by the extraordinary Relaxation of them by a continual and permanent sense of Pleasure which happens considerably in the Momentary Pleasure of Venus much more in this continual and lasting Pleasure when a great Dose makes it intense as in Drunkenness 6. Alienation of the Mind is caused as in Drunkenness by an over Relaxation of the Brain and its Membranes 7. Loss of Memory happens by the same Means as in Drunkenness So 8. Darkness of Eyes is caused by a Relaxation of the Coats and Membranes of the Eyes but mainly by the Expansion of the Animal Spirits by that Relaxation which as in Sleep renders them unfit to convey the Impressions of Light c. 9. Laxity of the Cornea is from the same Relaxation 10. Appearance of various Colours happens by as was said the unevenness of the Cornea c. when so relaxed whereas when 't is duely
and frequent Erections are and must be from the same Cause 17. Nocturnal Pollutions are necessary Consequences of the Relaxation and the Titillation caused by those Volatile Salts as was said CHAP. XXIII The Explication of the Effects of Leaving off Opium after a long and lavish Use thereof I. GReat and even intolerable Distresses Anxieties and Depressions of Spirits do happen 1. Because the sensitive Soul who is so much comforted diverted and supported by the habitual and dearly beloved Pleasure that Opium causes being suddenly deprived thereof by which it was mainly sustain'd is exceedingly disappointed and cast down 2. Because he now labours under the sore Burthen of the Three Contractions so that every Thing seems and is really more grievous â—o him for now it acts as one in Pain or Grief and every Thing affects him more smartly proportionable to the Compression caused thereby of the Animal Spirits unless he returns to the Pleasure of Opium which elevates it again Or uses generous Wine as its substitute tho' it does not equal it either in the Intenseness or Duration of the Pleasure unless repeated as I have some where directed once in Half an Hour or an Hour in a moderate manner which causes a continuance of the Pleasure tho' it cannot equal the Intenseness of that of Opium which therefore has the greater Effects II. A Return of all Diseases Pains and Disasters must happen generally because the Opium takes them off by a bare Diversion of the Sense thereof by Pleasure III. Dangerous Loosenesses happen sometimes because the Sensation grows more grievous for as the pleasant Sensation caused by Opium takes away the Perception of the Irritation of Humours so the Grievance of Losing that Pleasure causing Contraction makes all Sensation smarter and consequently more irritating so that the Humours have thereby more of the Effect of Purgers which operate as all agree by Irritation Besides that the Humours before detain'd and suspended by Relaxation as in Sleep are now therefore pour'd down in greater Quantity by the advanced Contraction squeesing them out as the Return of the Vigilative Contraction after Sleep causes Men to be more apt to go to Stool upon awaking or getting up in the morning which may be well compared in some measure to Purging after Leaving off the Use of Opium since it relaxes as Sleep does and that for a much longer Time by a continued Use thereof IV. Death commonly follows for all the Reasons aforesaid especially the great and intolerable Distresses of Soul that they are under unless Opium be used which soon sets them right or Wine its Substitute so frequently used as to continue its Cordial Pleasure at Stomach Nothing now remains but to take a short Review to see whether I have explain'd all the amazing Contradictions that seem to be in the Effects of Opium for tho' it is really done yet may it not so well appear as when set one against the other It would be Tautology to repeat all the Reasons therefore I shall only mention them in the close Order I at first enumerated them that you may see that they are all explicated in the former Discourse You may well remember that I have shewn 1. How it causes Sleeping and Watching in divers Persons 2. How it causes and prevents Sweat 3. How it relaxes and stops Loosenesses even by relaxing 4. How it stops Fluxes and promotes Sweat and Perspiration 5. How it stupifies the Sense of Feeling yet irritates it 6. How it causes Stupidity if you sit or lie still otherwise Promptitude in Business 7. How it causes Cloudiness and Serenity That if one lies still and dozes This if he keeps in Action That by an excessive and lavish Use thereof which causes Moapishness This by a temperate occasional taking thereof especially in the Morning upon Iourneys c. 8. How it excites the Spirits yet quiets and composes them in Hysterick Fits Diary Fevers from Pain Commotions c. 9. How that it is very hot and takes of Fevers 10. How tho' it is hot and bitter yet it lessens Appetite and Hunger which is a grievous Sensation by causing a pleasant one 11. How it sometimes stops Urine by relaxing the Bladder suspending Humours c. and promotes it by its tickling Volatile Salt as Cantharides Bees Ants c. do 12. How it relaxes and thereby weakens as in Sleep c. yet enables to perform Labour Iourneys c. with great Euphory by divertive Pleasure 13. How it causes and prevents Abortion That by over-relaxing This by allaying Pains Terrours c. that might cause it 14. How it stops Vomiting by taking off Irritations c. and causes it by the Adherence of its indigestible and viscid Rosin 15. How it stops Purging and sometimes causes it by the Dissolution of its Rosin by a strong Digestion fixed Salts c. when its Quantity is considerable which makes it happen but rarely 16. How tho' acrimonious it takes away the sense of Acrimony 17. How it causes Madness and cures it by composing the Spirits c. 18. How it causes Palsies by relaxing the Parts and making them susceptible of Humours causing ill Digestion c. And may cure them as Dr. Willis gives an Instance by opening the Pores 19. How it causes Palsies and cures Stupors c. that proceed from Cold and Contracting Causes 20. How it causes Driness in the Mouth yet by taking off Fevers often cures it 21. How it takes off Hiccoughs and causes them as it does Vomiting and for the same Causes 22. How it stanches Bloud by quieting its motion yet promotes the Menses and Lochia by relaxing opening and widening the Vessels and Pores 23. How it stops critical motions that depend upon Irritation and Contraction and promotes such as depend upon opening the Pores 24. How it revives People that are at the Point of Death for want of Opium or by violent Contractions and Convulsions and is fatal to other weak Persons 25. How it causes Convulsions by its grieving Rosin and cures them by quieting and composing the Spirits by pleasing them 26. How it causes Contraction by the grievous Sensation that its Rosin causes and Relaxation by the pleasant Sensation that its Sal-Volatile Oleosum causes by That it causes many ill Effects not here named and by This it cures them for how can such contrary Causes according as one or the other prevails not cause contrary and seemingly contradictory Effects at divers Times and in divers Persons 27. How it relaxes yet causes the Tension Rigidity and Erection of the Penis Priapisms c. by its Titillation Thus have you all even the most mysterious and seemingly Contradictory Effects of Opium explain'd and reconcil'd and that so easily that if there were no other Proof of the Truth of my Foundation it is sufficient to convince any Man of its Validity considering the Vastness of the Number and Perplexity of the Nature of those Effects that are all with such Facility explain'd is able even
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
Principles of Motion by which all ill Matter is effectively subdued when they act with Alacrity and Vigour they being the Principal Agents and we Physicians but as was said Ministers or as Handmaids to offer or hand good Matter Medicaments or Instruments to those Principal Agents of Nature and that this Sal-Volatile-Oleosum of Opium is the most proper Matter or Medicament we can put into Nature's Hands so invigorated appears manifestly in that 5. Its Principles are the most agreeable to the best noblest most active and predominant Principles of our Bodies as has been proved most evidently plene plane nor is it only agreeable but 6. More vigorous and powerful to actuate reduce alter or exalt our Principles according to the Direction of our invigorated Nature or sensitive Soul and Spirits which having so convenient an Instrument and highly qualified a Matter will soon alter the perverse renew the decaid acuate the dull and elevate the depressed effete and pall'd Humours of our Bodies especially seeing 7. That the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum of Opium being so agreeable and powerful must be the greatest Resolver of Humours that can be imagined for all Resolution is by an Agreement of Particles which makes them easily miscible insinuate into and penetrate each other especially if one be somewhat more vigorous and penetrating than the other as the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum has been plainly proved to be Thus it is that all Menstruums do so resolve things of their own Nature and so purifie and cleanse them by taking to themselves what is meerly and purely of the same Nature and rejecting or letting go their Hold of what is otherwise Where it is worth noting how upon the Account of the intimate Combination and Union of the Volatile Salt and Oily Parts in our Panacea it is dissolvable in all Menstruums and consequently an universal Resolvent of all the Humours of our Bodies which its external resolving of all Humours and Tumours does also prove Now if it be such a Resolver of which there is no Place to doubt then as Claudius de la Courvee says it must excell all Things in altering and reducing all the Humours of our Bodies to a good and agreeable Condition Nor does it only thus resolve them and thereby separate as was said the good from the bad but 8. When it has so done it by the amicable Agreeableness of its Sal-Volatile-Oleosum composing Faculty strict Combination of its Principles joins to concentrates congregates and as it were cements the best and most agreeable into a close Union and firm Texture by as was said the Direction of invigorated Nature which is of it self the good being once separated from the bad highly sufficient without any other Help to unite Parts so agreeable and of themselves inclined to unite and combâ—ne tho' all tho Parts of Opium like those of the great Dissolvent were gone and when that is done 9. The high discussive Quality of the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum must be very effectual for the Difflation and Discussion of the sever'd effete Particles which must be highly assisted and improved by the brisk and chearful Motions of Nature viz. the sensitive Soul and Spirits so as is aforesaid invigorated Nor is this all but to compleat and perfect the Operation 10. It lays open all the Pores of the Body as has been Demonstrated 〈◊〉 them out and give the ill Particles their â—inal Exit by the most natural and plentiful Way of Evacuation leaving the Body free from all Miasms and Impurities 11. I have sufficiently shewn how unalterable it is in it self Chap. 15. so that like the Liquor Alcahest it is not made to be subdued but to subdue and resolve Humours Now what can be required more in a Medicament and how can the sensitive Soul and Spirits or Nature so invigorated and endued with all Euphory and Chearfulness by this glorious Medicament whose Principles are not only agreeable to our noblest ones but more powerful and intimately combin'd so resolving of Humours ready to unite the good and to discuss the bad and carry them off by the Pores ever fail being duely administer'd of good Effect in altering all the Humours of our Bodies Hippocrates in his Book De Naturâ— Hominis states the Cause of Diseases to be a Disgregation of Humours by which he seems to imply that the Power of congregating and concentrating of Humours were sufficient to accomplish a Panacea which is but one single Qualification in eleven of our Sal-Volatile-Oleosum tho' this alone as is experienced even in common Preparations of Opium suffices very often to cure Diseases by composing Commotions as in Diary Fevers from Perturbations c. Thus the bitter and firm textured Cortex as I have shewn in my Book De Febribus intermittentibus takes off Ague Fits by re-combining the segregated Humours with the Bloud which it suddenly doing leaves a Disposition in the Bloud when ever it meets with a segregating Cause as Purging violent Motion Insolation intemperate Drinking c. to a Relapse by a second Separation of the Morbid Matter from it as you have it more at large in my said Book p. 166 167 c. 242 243 c. where you may see how Opiates conduce very much to a speedy Cure by the Cortex by composing c. Martianus says Coâ—m de locis in Homine p. 76. Opium sist it prohibet humorum Disgregationem That is Opium hinders Disgregation of Humours Now you may perceive the true Qualifications of a Sal-Volatile-Oleosum so much sought for by the Learned as a Panacea and how far the common ones that are sold in the Apothecaries Shops are from being such Sylvius indeed had an excellent one with which he did many and great Cures which being considered had he not confessed his Ignorance of the Cause of the Effects of Opium and the Narrative he makes of its Vertue and Performance in his Preface to the first Book of his Praxis and that he delighted so much in the Use of Opium even when he was young that he was call'd by the Name of Doctor Opiatus and that he declares no Oil was added in its Preparation and that it is intimated that the Oil and Volatile Parts were strictly combined would have made me suspect that it was the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum of Opium that he used which if it was not I dare be confident that notwithstanding all its Excellency it was not as good I am very well satisfied that a true and consummate Sal-Volatile-Oleosum is not to be made barely by Art Enquirers might have better success if they sought it among the Natural Tribe of bitter Plants that are agreeable to the Stomach which have all in them a Sal-Volatile-Oleosum but how to pick and cull is I think best seen by the requisite Qualifications of a Panacea that I have stated There have been many in whose Hands bitter Things have been as a Panacea One in Germany cured most Diseases with Wild Sage Some have done great Things with Agrimony others
proclaiming their Ignorance and glorying in their greatest Shame and Disgrace of Mankind that Humane Species should have any such unthinking Brutes in it IV. We must not use Acids in the Preparation thereof 1. Because being in their Nature opposite to Volatile Salts it cannot be done without Injury to the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum of Opium 2. Because they cannot so well agree with the oily Parts of it Yet are they not so much to be blamed as Extracts made in Spirit of Wine or sulphureous Menstruums because acid Menstruums leave the Rosin behind them untouched or not extracted V. A Salino-Volatile Menstruum as Spirit of Sal Ammoniac of Urine c. is not so proper 1. It may render the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum of Opium too acrimonious 2. Because by its Volatility Acrimony c. it may cause too great a stir in the Bloud c. and so oppose or hinder Sleep which is one of the most happy and useful Effects of Opium or it s Sal-Volatile-Oleosum 3. Because it may have undue Effects by altering its general Disposition Nay VI. We are not to use a lixivial Menstruum tho' so much cried up 1. Because it extracts the resinous Parts which experto crede Roberto I have found to be pernicious upon that account like Extracts in Spirit of Wine unless great care be taken to separate those Parts which is not easily done by Filtrations c. 2. Because being very apt to join with the oily Parts and quite to destroy their Nature by converting it into a kind of Sapo it may deal so with some of the oily Parts of the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum of Opium 3. Because there is no need to run any of these Hazards since the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum may be as I shall shew easily extracted in its Purity without those Troubles and Dangers 4. Because any Tincture made thus is apt to let go the Rosin at Stomach if it be diluted with aqueous Moisture taken before with it or after it which so being let go coalesces and does mischief VII The use of Fire any way besides that of its Torrefaction is much to be suspected 1. Because the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum may be in some measure thereby evaporated Or 2. An Empyreum contracted And 3. The Rosin as was said of its Torrefaction grows the more in Proportion if any of the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum or but the Phlegm be by that means evaporated and the Remainder kept for use And particularly VIII The Distillation thereof may cause mighty Alterations in its Properties Strength c. We must therefore avoid all these Ways of preparing it and yet must we 1. Separate the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum of Opium from all its Rosin Earth Filth and Dross 2. No way weaken it alter it or add new Qualities thereto but preserve this most Noble and Inestimable Medicament in its Purity and Sincerity To this end Rain water distill'd used cold answers all Intents For 1. It readily imbibes the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum of Opium without Fire Heat lixivial Salts as Salt of Tartar c. 2. It imbibes none of the Rosin of the Opium but lets it all subside together with the earthy and drossie Parts separating the lighter Filth if there be any to the surface 3. It no way weakens alters or adds any new Quality to the Sal-Volatile-Oleosum 4. Whatever cold Water dissolves which is the General Drink or Menstruum appointed by the All-wise Creater for the Dissolution of all Things taken into the Stomach of Animals is easily dissolved at Stomach by its more powerful and agreeable Menstruum And not only so but 5. Water it self is a mighty Stomachick and Causer of Digestion as Hippocrates positively declares L. 6. Epidem Sect. 4. But there 's no need of quoting Hippocrates in so notorious a thing daily Experience tells us the same Do not all Animals by its Help digest their Food Do not all Mineral Waters scarce any excepted create an Appetite and cause Digestion even when no such Effect can be attributed to the Mineral they contain Than which they do also as may be very easily proved more good generally speaking 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for which and many more Reasons it is great Neglect and Folly that it is not more used for Extracts c. for then they readily dissolve at Stomach and thereby 〈◊〉 and speedâ—ly take Effect giving it the least 〈◊〉 and Disturbance that may be as is experimentally found in that of Aloes Sâ—ammony Briony 〈◊〉 Agari◠〈◊〉 Coloquintida Sena and what not unless the Vertue lies in the resinous Parâ—s for then sulphureous or lixivial Menstruums are convenient How inconvenient are they then when the Evil or Mischief lies therein as in our case 6. It is not to be doubted but Water generally imbibes what is best and most agreeable to our Bodies it being the general Menstruum appointed by Wisdom it self for that Use and to be the Vehicle of what is best in all our Food c. to the Bloud However there can be no doubt of what mainly concerns us at present its most ready dissolving our Panacea in the Stomach that does it out of it when cold without the convenient digestive Heat and powerful Menstruum that it finds there Therefore Take of distilled Rain-water 24 Ounces of choice Opium sliced thin 8 Ounces put them together in a strong Glass Vessel of Bottle-metal that contains about 3 Piâ—ts let it be of a tall Figure with a Mouth that conveniently receives a Cork a large Glass Bottle may serve the turn cork it so as the Cork may be easily taken out shaking it 3 or 4 times a day for 6 days and keeping it in a place free from Frosts or any very sensible degree of Heat Which being performed lay the Vessel side-long for 24 hours longer and afterward decant and filtre your Tincture which will be of a Ruby colour and put it into a Glass Bottle of such a Bigness as that it may fill it within a small matter of the Cork and so let it stand for 3 or 4 days then poâ—r off some of the surface of it and instead thereof put sweet Oil thereon Let the Vessel have a convenient Duct or Pipe in the side thereof to empty it out upon occasion This I call the Liquid Panacea of Opium To the Faeces add a Pint of cold distill'd Water shaking the Vessel as before 3 or 4 times in the day let it stand on it 24 hours and in the morning decant it into another Vessel repeat the same quantity of distill'd Rain-water till the Opium no longer tinges it or very inconsiderably in 24 hours At last you may use Water kept hot by a Fire c the better to extract the remaining Sal-Volatile-Oleosum Evaporate all these last Waters in Balneo to the consistence of an Extract This I call the Solid Panacea of Opium GOD and Nature act by simple Means and nothing in imitation of Them is more commendable in a Medicament than Simplicity therefore I shall add nothing to the Panacea's but wholly
its Stay or Indigestibleness all regard must be had in the Preparation thereof as is in the following Preparations which are therefore safe CHAP. XXVII Shews the best Preparations of Opium where to find them and what is their respective Dose c. YOU may infer out of the Premises which are the best Preparations of Opium viz. 1. Such as have the resinous parts of Opium separated from them as 1. The liquid Panacea of Opium Described in C. 25. of this Book 2. The solid Panacea of Opium Described in C. 25. of this Book 3. Diacodium or syr e mecon In the London Dispensatory 4. Laudanum liquidum Cydoniatum In experienced Mr. Wilson's Chymistry and in curious Mr. Staphurst's Officina chymica Londinensis Note That there are several needless Proceedings in this Preparation as that of putting Yeast to it c. Let your Aim in making it be to separate the resinous Parts therefore instead of two Expressions directed use only a careful Decantation because the Rosin may pass by Expressing it 5. Wedelius's Laudanum which is his Opilogia L. 1. Sect. 2. Cap. 2. P. 65. Note That the spumous part on the Surface is to be taken off and the clear Tincture to be decanted from the Faeces and afterward evaporated in Balneo to the Consistence of an Extract 6. Le Mort's Extract out of Rain-water which you have in the most Learned Dr. Love's Collectanea Chymica P. 304. II. Such Preparations wherein the resinous Parts of Opium are altered and as it were soapified by â—ixivial Salts or Soaps viz. 1. Dr. Starkey's or Matthews Piâ—l which you have in Mr. Wilson's Chymistry p. 271 272. In ingenious Mr. Shipton's Pharmacopâ—ia Bateana among the Pills and in Mr. Staphurst's Officina Chymica Londinensis among the Laudanums p 51. Note That the main Things to be regarded in 〈◊〉 making up of this Pill are 1. To spare no Labour in pounding subduing and intimately mixing the Sapo tartareus and the Opium 2. That the Sapo should be twice as much as the Opium that it may the better subdue the resinous part of the Opium Note That as to the other Things contain'd in the â—aid Pill they may or other things be added or omitted according to the Intention of the Physician only this I say that it is very convenient other things should be added to the Sapo and Opium the better to separate and disgregate the parts of the Opium as has been intimated Note That if the Mass be too dry you may as Mr. Wilson directs use some of the Oil that separates from the Soap or rectified Oil of Turpentine q. s. to moisten it 2. Dr. Bates pacifick Pill which you have among the Pills in Mr. Shipton's Pharmacopâ—ia Bateana Note That the same Things are to be observ'd as to this and Starkey's Pill in all Particulars Note That the Benjamin should be omitted as being resinous III. Such Preparations of Opium wherein its resinous Parts remain unalter'd in themselves yet so divided separated c. as to be render'd innocent such are All which you have in the London Dispensatory 1. Venice Treacle 2. Philoneum Persicum 3. Philoneum Romanum 4. Diascordiuâ— 5. Mithridate Note That in all these Preparations the Opium should be carefully mixed with the other Ingredients and to that end either torrified and finely pouder'd or dissolved in Water which divides all its Parts and then throughly mixed with the other Ingredients while 't is off or after 't is reduced by Evaporation to the Consistence of a Syrup or somewhat thinner 6. Sydenbam's Laudanum which you 'll find in Mr. Wilson's Chymistry Note That the main Care in this Preparation is to let the Liquor have a sufficient time to clear from the Fâ—ces and to separate from it that you may by that means have less of the Rosin Note That this is best given in a spirituous Liquid lest its Rosin tho' it cannot have much in it if well decanted be precipitated at Stomach Note That the Henbane-seed in the Philoniums should be left out 1. Because it makes the Dose more uncertain 2. Because it is not to be esteem'd so much as Opium at least you multiply things without necessity in putting it in Note That Pil. e Cynoglosso as was said in the last Chapter of Pil. e Styrace is a very ill Composition both upon the Account of the resinous Things that it contains as also the resinous Preparation of Opium that it is made of and therefore does as that e Styrace often cause grievous Effects Nor do I think the London Laudanum whose Name does probably recommend it more than any Thing else worthy a Place among the best and safest Preparations because the Opium is render'd worse or more resinous than the crude by being extracted out of Spirit of Wine and because it has too few other Ingredients to divide segregate and keep its resinous Parts from Coalescence so that it may and sometimes does cause ill Symptoms so Philonium magistrale is to be rejected for the like Reasons besides that it is otherwise a foolish Preparation because Opium Benjamin Myrrh and Mummy are ordered to be made an Opiate or Electuary with Spirit of Wine which is ridiculous So Troch de Carabe and de Terra Lemnia are not without their Faults because one has Frankincense and the other Olibanum in it which are resinous tho but in a small Quantity Seif de Thure having a great Quantity of the Frankincense is not commendable since the Opium is also crude Now having shown you which are the best and worst Preparations and why it remains that I show you the just Doses of the best and sofest whose Number is very sufficient to answer all Intents without medling with such as may not be so saâ—e or neat An Explanation of the Table of Doses I Had once added an Explicatory Table of the Marks I use but afterward considered that all Physicians and good Practitioners in Physick do know them and that it was not fit to intrust others therewith Therefore I shall only add something for the better and readier Use of the premised Table of Doses 1. Note That the sort of Persons that you have to deal with are placed in the uppermost Space of the said Table and the Doses fit for such and such Persons put directly under them in the same Column 2. Note That there are three sorts of Doses of every particular Preparation that is the least middle and highest Dose under every sort of Men or Women which are also of three sorts the strong midling and weak as you see in the upper Space 3. Note therefore That when yon are about to give an Opiate to any Man or Woman that you first look in that upper Space for the sort of Person you are to give it to as weak strong or midling Men or Women Then carry your Eye down in that Column till you come over against the Preparation that you intend to give and there you 'll find in
the said Column three sorts of Doses the lowest on the left Hand the highest on the right Hand and the moderate Dose between them As suppose you are about to give a middle Dose of the Liquid Panacea to a strong Man see for strong Men in the upper Space and for liquid Panacea in the first Column on the left Hand under the Word Opiates and where the Column that belongs to strong Men and the Space that belongs to Liquid Panacea do meet there you 'll find qt 20 30 40 for the least middle and highest Dose give which you think fit according to your Intention So if you are about to give the highest Dose of the solid Panacea to a strong Woman you 'll find under the Words strong Women over against solid Panacea gr i gr i¼ gr i ss which shews you that gr i ss is the highest Dose for a strong Woman and so of all the rest 4. Note That I have been so cautious in dosing all the Opiates that you may very safely give the highest Doses to all but very weak Persons to whom it is hardly fit to give any Thing by reason of extream Weakness 5. Note That if you give any to young Persons under the Age of 20. you should proportion the Doses not so much as idle Custom directs according to their Years as Bulk and Strength For Instance allowing strong Men to be 200 pound Weight you must give a strong Youth of 100 Pound Weight Half the Dose of the strong Man and so of all other only allowing somewhat less the younger they are because of the Softness Fineness or Laxity of their Texture especially if they be very young to whom Opiates must be cautiously given or only Diacodium which is best in that Case and that in a small Proportion also for young Children cannot bear Opiates as well as grown Persons no not in Proportion to their Bulk or Weight Place this between p. 294 and p. 295. A Table of the DOSES of the Best and Safest OPIATES OPIATES Dose Dose Dose Dose Liquid To strong Men To midling Men strong Women To weak Men midling Women To weak Women The liquid Panacea gt 20 30 40 16 23 30 12 18 24 10 15 20 Laudanum liquidum Cydoniatum gt 20 30 40 16 23 30 12 18 24 10 15 20 Sydenham's Laudanum gt 20 30 40 16 23 30 12 18 24 10 15 20 Diacodium or Syr. e mecon ☞ i Ê’x ☞ ss ☞ ss Ê’vi ☞ i ☞ ss Ê’v Ê’vi Ê’iii ☞ ss Ê’v Solid     The solid Panacea gr i iss ii gr i i¼ iss gr ss i i¼ gr ss ¾ i Wedelius's Laudanum gr i iss ii gr i i¼ iss gr ss i i¼ gr ss ¾ i Le Mort's Extract gr i iss ii gr i i¼ iss gr ss i i¼ gr ss ¾ i Dr. Bate's pacifick Pill gr ii iiss iii gr i iss ii gr i i¼ iss gr ss ¾ i Starkey or Matthew's Pill gr vi ix xii gr v vii ix gr iv vi viii gr iii iv v Philonium Romanum Ê’ss ℈ ii Ê’i ℈ i Ê’ss ℈ ii gr xviii-xxiv Ê’ss gr xvi xx xxiv Philonium Persicum Ê’ss ℈ ii Ê’i ℈ i Ê’ss ℈ ii gr xviii-xxiv Ê’ss gr xvi xx xxiv Venice Treacle Ê’i Ê’ii Ê’iii Ê’i Ê’iss Ê’ii ℈ ii Ê’i ℈ iiii Ê’ss ℈ ii Ê’i Mithridate ☞ ss Ê’vi ☞ i Ê’iii Ê’v Ê’vii Ê’ii ☞ ss Ê’vi Ê’ii Ê’iii ☞ ss Diascordium ☞ ss Ê’vi ☞ i Ê’iii Ê’v Ê’vii Ê’ii ☞ ss Ê’vi Ê’ii Ê’ii ☞ ss The Doses of London Laudanum which I mention rather for its general Use than Laudableness may be the same with that of the Pacifick Pill A Table of Marks very necessary for the better understanding of the Table of Doses gt signifies a Drop 〈◊〉 signifies a Grain 〈◊〉 signifies a Scruple which is 20 Grain◠〈◊〉 or ☜ signifies a Dram which is 3 Scruples 〈◊〉 signifies an Ounce which is 8 Dramâ— or Drachms â— â— signifieâ— a Quarter Of any Toing â— â— â— â— ss or ss signifieâ— Half Of any Toing â— â— signifieâ— 3 Quarters Of any Toing CHAP. XXVIII The Cure of the ill Effects of Opium HAving shewn how to prepare Opium so as to render it safe and innocent in a Moderate Dose and how much that Moderate Dose is one may be apt to think that this Chapter is needless but when you consider how many there are that may be negligent wilful want Time Skill c. to prepare it or take too much or too long of it and that the Physician must be able to Answer and Remedy all ill Accidents that may happen you 'll find it very requisite that I should shew how to cure the ill Effects of Opium which proceed either 1. From its Rosin at Stomach Or 2. From too much Relaxation by an Excessive Dose Or 3. From a long and lavish Use of it Or 4. From a sudden leaving it off after a long and lavish Use thereof I. To Cure the ill Effects of the Rosin at Stomach you are First To know whether that be the Cause which you may learn 1. By considering whether Crude Opium or some resinous Preparation thereof was taken especially by it self in the Form of a Pill or Pills as an Extract thereof out of Spirit of Wine or Pilâ—e Styrace or London Laudanum or the like not duly prepared as has been directed 2. By the Symptoms which are these viz. a Nausea Puking Vomiting Hiccough Convulsions Distresses and Anxieties about the Stomach particularly the Part call'd the Pit of the Stomach Swimmings in the Head Vertigo's Palpitations and Tremblings of the Heart Agitations Uneasiness a Turbulent Pulse and after a Struggle of Nature under those Symptoms Faintings Leipothymies Syncopes c. which last you must not take for certain Signs and Symptoms unless the former have preceded them because it is not impossible but they may happen from the Quantity of the Opium Condition or Constitution of the Person c. but this when all Things are compared together will be easily Judged of especially if you observe 1. Whether those Faintings or Leipothymies be not more like the Failures and Stupors of Drunkards than bare Faintings if they be of the first sort then do they proceed from an over Relaxation occasioned by the Opium and not from its Rosin the Cure of which belongs to the second particular 2. Whether they are more attended with the Signs of Relaxation as Deadness of the Eyes Faltring of the Tongue Darkness before the Eyes Dilatation of the Pupilla Efflorescence of the Skin Laxity of the Limbs Want of Feeling Stupidity Sleepiness Failure of the Senses or of making Water loss of Memory or Understanding a dry Mouth a slow and wide Pulse and other Things much like the State of a deadish Drunkenness for then those Failures are the Effect of Relaxation by the pleasant Sensation that the Opium causes But after all it is the sort of Opium that was taken and
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
't is best liked and most suitable to People's Minds Palate c. II. The Dose moderate except it be 1. Where some by Accident require otherwise as Pain Loosenesses Vomitings and to titillate the Venereal Membranes because remote which see in the respective Chapters of the Use of Opiates in those Cases 2. Where the general Rules direct otherwise as in the soft fleshed People Children Women c. where the Dose must be less III. The Vehicle must be the same as is directed to Compose but in old People 't is observed that smooth Spirituous Things as good Ale c. conduce very much to cause Sleep because Sulphurs do qualifie-the Volatile Salt of the Opium as was shewn IV. The Time in general is at the due distance before Bed-time that is directed in the general Rules but Opiates may be given at any Time when the Case requires as in the Small-Pox about 12 1 or 2 in the Afternoon according as the â—tions which happen in the Afternoon or towards the Evenings do seise them and in Agues at the due distance before the Paroxysm invades them 〈◊〉 that the Operation thereof may be fall and compleat before the Time that the Fits are to begin and so in all other Câ—ses of the like â—ind V. The Regimen in this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Twosold Aspect 1. To promote 〈◊〉 2. To compose and quiet Motions 〈◊〉 â—tions of the Spirits 〈◊〉 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quiet being the Two 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As to the first the Regimen must be the same as is directed in the Chapter of the Use of the Panacea c. to relax but as to composing and quieting the Spirits I shall add somewhat tho' Relaxers are generally good for this Purpose unless join'd with some agitating Accidents as Heat or the like 1. As to Diet it should consist of cooling incrassating inviscating Things that are not aromatick acid or saline such are Milk-Meats Emulsions Almond Milks Chicken Broth with cooling Herbs Water-gruel fresh and young soft Flesh Lettuce Purstane Spinage Herb Mercury Mallows and such like Mucilages as of Quince Fleabane c. The Drink may be Milk and Water Whey or such unfermented Liquors or smooth Small Beer not too old for all stale Drink is naught Water where it agrees c. 2. Rest of Body and Spirits must be contrived by all means as by leaning lying or sitting still without any motion after it is taken till Bed-time and therefore let the Person if the Season permits be as much undressed as may be in a loose Garment or Morning-Gown all that Time and be help'd off with his Cloaths that he may not agitate his Body when sleepy and not before let him go into a cold Bed in Summer and but a little warm'd in Winter and only have what Bed-cloaths suffices and pleases him best and then lie absolutely still without Noise Light or Fire in the Room 3. Rest and Tranquility of Mind is very necessary which should be not only free from grievous Passions but from all Excess of Joyous ones which too much agitate the Spirits 4. The Air should be moist and moderate and if not such by the Weather render'd so by Art especially in Fevers 5. All Evacuations should be made that may any way disturb his Sleep before he betakes himself to it nor should the Stomach be overfull or empty lest any Grievance may be thereby created 6. Emollient tepid Baths Fomentations Feetwashes c. do finely dispose People to Sleep but take care they be not too hot for heat causes a stir of Bloud and Spirits which is an Enemy to Sleep 1. Note That long Sleeps after great Fatigues or long Watching ought not to be very frightful if the Dose was moderate and that the Person takes Sustenance 2. Note That old or dry Persons or such as are very unapt to Sleep after Opiates are often caused to Sleep by smooth Wine Ale Cowslip Wine or the like because the gentle Oiliness of such Liquors do correct the Acrimony of their Volatile Salts and at the same time cause a Sense of Pleasure which relaxes and causes Sleep It has been observed that even Ambergrise and Musk which exagitate the Bloud and Spirits cause old Men to Sleep which happens by their fine Sulphur readily fastening upon the acrimonious Volatile Salts as Spirit of Wine does upon Sal Ammoniac which being mixed do soon coagulate Therefore I am apt to think that Camphire would be of excellent Use to correct the Opium and the volatile Salts of the Body in such Cases because it is Experimentally certain that it corrects the Acrimony of Urine of Semen Virile Cantharides c. 3. Note That the drier the Body is the more unapt are Opiates to cause Sleep therefore dry Bodies as of old Men Hectical Persons c. should be well moistened by incrassative Moisteners as Emulsions and such Things as are above mentioned and ordered in the Chapter of the relaxing Use of Opiates From what is said I do conclude that Opiates do cause Sleep very readily where the Oily Parts abound and that Things that have a fine Oleous Sulphur are very good Correctors of it where acrimonious Volatile Salts abound in order to cause Sleep and that hence it is that some ancient People will often Sleep better by the Use of the aforementioned smooth fermented sulphureous Liquors than by the Use of Opium from all which it appears that Sleep is not such a Property of Opium as People make it to be because that besides relaxing Sleep also requires a great Rest of the Spirits and the sensitive Soul It seems very probable from the Premises that Anodyne Sulphur of Vitriol would be excellent to cause old Men to Sleep for it doubtless causes Sleep only by obtunding and qualifying our Volatile Salts as White 〈◊〉 and other Balsamicks will often do CHAP. XXXVI Of the Use of the Panacea of Opium c. to stop Fluxes IT palliates moderates and stops Fluxes 1. By taking away the sense of the Irritation of Humours which cause Contraction to squeese them out and promote their motion 2. Because it composes and stills the motion of Humours by the Relaxation and the Sleep that it causes which quiets motions 3. Because thereby and by its combining Agreeableness and Texture it congregates the disgregated Humours 4. Because the Relaxation suspends the Humours 5. Because it discusses ill Humours 6. Because the Pores being opened by the Relaxation the Humours that caused the Fluxes are gradually perspired by that most natural and universal sort of Evacuation for 't is plain Reason and common Observation that a plentiful Evacuation at Pores stops Fluxes per Anum c. and if it continues perfectly cures them ☞ Hence it is that the Use of Opiates continued does happily not only palliate but perfectly cure Diarrheas Dysenteries Defluxions Catarrhs c. It therefore follows that it is of great Use 1. To palliate moderate or cure all Fluxes that proceed from Irritation of Humours as Vomitings