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
Parts themselves do also duly contract which Opium hinders 6. You have much the same Reason not to give them soon after other large Evacuations where a due Contraction of the Parts is requisite as after Tapping or Paracentesis in Dropsies Child-birth c. 7. Opiates are best given in the Morning to cause Euphory or brisk Effects because the Refreshment gain'd by the Night's Sleep does not only concur towards Euphory and Briskness but also much oppose Sleepiness and Drowsiness which are not consistent with brisk Effects VI. As to Persons 1. It is not convenient to give Opiates to Persons very young or very old 2. They agree better with Men than Women or Children With Men of a robust and hard rather than of a weak fine tender and soft Texture with such as have a strong Digestion than a weak and in general with the strong rather than the weak Therefore 3. Never give them to Persons that are very weak especially if they take or digest no sustenance or extreamly little for Reasons already given nor to such as are near their End or almost expiring ☞ Except it be for want of Opium or by Extremity of Contraction by Terrour Pain Cold Convulsions c. for then it will do Wonders in preserving People that are otherwise past all Hopes by relaxing taking away Pain Contractions c. 4. It is not so agreeable to the very fat or moist because they may be over-relaxed nor to the very lean and dry c. especially to cause sleep because it is apt to irritate and actuate their Spirits too much by which means Sleep is much hinder'd VII As to Maladies and Diseases c. I. Opiates are not convenient in Relaxations as such as general Palsies Hemiphlegia's Palsies of the Eyes Deadness of them Dilatation of the Pupil Relaxation of the Tympan of the Ear of one side of the Face which makes the other side contract and and so draw the Face awry for 't is not a Spasm or Convulsion as Men imagine of the contracting side but a Resolution of the other which permits the Antagonist Muscles of that side to contract without Opposition and draw the Face toward the strong or sound Side Relaxation of the Uvula or the annex'd Valu◠which last is known by Snuffling without any other evident Cause or by observing that it does not shut in sounding u in but cut c. by it self Relaxation of the Larynx and Windpipe which is known by a hoarse kind of Whisper without a Cold or any evident Cause Of the Pharynx or Gullet which is known by a Depravation of swallowing without Pain or Tumor or any evident Cause A Paralytical Asthma or difficulty of Breathing wherein Men heave the Shoulders without any apparent Cause Relaxation of the Stomach as when Meat stays too long at Stomach c. A. Palsie of the Intestines or Guts as when one is bound and cannot refer it to any other Cause Of the Bladder when one cannot make Water without any other Cause to refer it to Relaxations of the Sphincters of the Bladder and An◠that is when Urine or Ordure fall from one involuntarily nor are they convenient in Baths unless great Relaxation as for Passage of the Stone c. is intended Nor in Ruptures as Bronchocele of the Windpipe Exomphalos of the Navel Bubonocele of the Groin or the Fall of Humours Guts Fat c. into the Scrotum or of the Fundament Womb or the Vagina c. except it be to reduce them Nor in Lunations Sprains Laxity and Weakness of Ioints Limbs Back c. Extensions of Nerves Tendons Ligaments c. Nor where Relaxation does or may improve the Distemper or do harm as in Apoplectical and soporose Cases as Coma Caros Lethargy c. Weakness of Memory Stupidity Morosi◠Nightmare Drunkenness c. Syncopes and Faintings from Relaxation as the original Cause as from Excess of Ioy Pleasure Large Evacuations when the Parts cannot well and duly contract upon what remains as after Child-Birth profuse Hemorrhages Tapping or Paracentesis or any large Evacuation of Humours in Dropsies of the Belly Breast or Head nor as has been hinted in Dropsies tho' without any such Evacuation unless it be upon some special Consideration of the learned nor in Tremblings or Shakings of the Head or Hands c. from Weakness as in old Age Nor in Fluxes from Relaxation as too much Sweat Gonorrhaea Simplex Diabetes nocturnal Pollutions Chylou◠Flux Lientery involuntary Flux of Urine or Ordure and some sorts of immoderate Fluxes of the Menses or Lochia which owe their Cause to Relaxation or Aptitude to Abortion from that Cause and indeed generally in Women with Child lest it should cause Abortion by relaxing the Neck of the Womb. Or where Contraction is beneficial as to empty a foul or replete Stomach Choler c. by Vomiting or Stool or an ill Humour any way Therefore II. Opiates are not convenient when grievous Sensations are useful as to excite Expectoration when Matter threatens Suffocation in Vomicas Pleurisies Peripneumonias Consumptions Spitting of Blood c. When Hunger calls for Food and Restauratives that of stuffing at Stomach excites Vomiting that of Urine solicites us to a due Excretion thereof that of ill Matter at Guts causes an Evacuation thereof so that when a Crisis is to be by the Help of grievous Sensation or Irritation Opiates are not convenient for it takes off the Sense of Irritation but when a Crisis is to be by Relaxation as by opening the Pores to cause Sweat Perspiration c. then is it of excellent Use So that great Question that has very much puzzled the learned whether Opium is convenient before a Crisis c is plainly and mechanically answer'd III. Opiates are not convenient where Titillation by the Acrimony of volatile Salts is the Cause of the Disease as in troublesom Erections Priapisms Nocturnal Pollutions Venereal Furies too much Salacity and Titillation Itchings of the Uterus Scrotum Penis Skin in general c. IV. I scarce need tell any that Opiates are inconvenient when the Meconium of Children should be evacuated or when one is bound in Body or apt to be so but there may be a Time when the learned Physician may think fit to give them even to the Costive in urgent Cases for he can order somewhat along with them or soon after to open the Body who may also see Cause sometimes to vary from these general Rules when Necessity and good Reason direct him so to do tho' they are nevertheless general in their Nature and not to be transgressed without special Cause and mature Deliberation V. Opiates are not so convenient where there is much slimy moist and phlegmatick Humours by Reason that the Parts are subject in such Cases to be too much relaxed I have been the fuller especially upon the Head of Diseases that I may hereafter have nothing to do but to shew the beneficial Use of Opiates duly prepared more particularly of the Panacea's
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
Sleeps are the soundest and that Sleep gradually declines in degrees as we are recruited till we awake the nearer which we are the more we dream the state of Dreaming being a kind of Twilight between sound Sleep and Awaking or between a full somniferous Relaxation and vigilative Contraction And as the Sensitive Soul uses all degrees of Contraction below that of the Vigilative till it comes to bare Compression of the Air so it can exercise super-vigilative Contraction if I may so call it that is much higher degrees thereof than what was requisite ordinarily for a state of Vigilancy as in Cases of Danger to the Animal Frights Terrours grievous Passions and Sensations by which means the animal Spirits being more compressed than under the ordinary vigilative Contraction Sensation grows more nice and smart and Motion more prompt and vigorous they always going together for the Defence of the Animal by extraordinary Flight Repulsion or otherwise Hence it is upon Fear Terrour grievous Passion or Sensation which manifestly proves the Being of such an extraordinary Contraction upon such Occasions That 1. Perspiration sails in a yet higher degree than under bare or ordinary vigilative Contraction as appears by infallible statick Experiments and Demonstrations 2. It is by reason of the said defensive Contraction for so I call it because it is excited in an extraordinary manner for the defence of the Animal in time of need or great Exigence That in Frights Terrours c. our Hair Dogs c. does stand on end or more upright 1. Because the Pores do by that violent Contraction strictly close about the Root of the Hair that it cannot swag incline or yield any way by reason of its Weight c. as when the Skin is more lax and soft and the Pores wherein the Hair is fixed more open 2. Because which is the main Reason the said Contraction renders the oblique Pores more upright as suppose the Pores and Hair do naturally stand obliquely as they do to carry off Wet c. as in Fig. 1. Fig I Fig II And that a in Fig. 1. is by the said Contraction brought nearer to i as much as is from a to o then will the Pores and Hair stand upright as in Fig. 2. and the Skin a o e i s contracted and brought within the prick'd Perpendiculars whereas in Fig. 1. it excur'd beyond the Perpendicular n m as much as is from a to o. 3. For the same Reason it is That the Face in grievous Passions and Sensations as acute Pain c. is contorted and wrung awry as you see in Persons that cry because of Grievances after the same manner as when they strive to lift up a great Weight and that at the same time Tears and Moisture at Nose and Mouth are squeezed out by the same Contraction which makes People use the Saying of Casting Snot about when Men cry It is for the same Reason that People's Mouths water extreamly when they are trimm'd with a bad Razor that puts them to Pain which contracts the Parts and squeezes out the Spittle 4. The Pulse grows sensibly narrower and harder by the same Contraction 5. It is by the Contraction upon grievous Sensation that our Mouths water very much upon a Nausea at Stomach because of the continuity of the Membranes of the Mouth and Stomach 6. The same Contraction is the true Reason why People upon Hunger which is a grievous Sensation at Stomach have so much Moisture or Spittle in their Mouths and so much the more when they see good Victuals and cannot have it because the Grievance which causes the Contraction that squeezes it out is by so much the greater This is the cause why the Mouth waters when hungry People see or smell good Victuals By the same Contraction Moisture is squeezed out into the Oesophagus or Gullet and the Menstruum into the Stomach at the same time where observe God's Good and Wise Providence that Hunger which calls for Meat at the same time provides Spittle to lubricate it for swollowing and to help Digestion render the Gullet slippery and distensible and causes the Menstruum to flow more abundantly into the Stomach and all this when most needed and that exactly in proportion to the Hunger or grievous Sensation that causes the Contraction It is well worth your nothing That God's Wisdom does always cause the Want of what is necessary in sensile Creatures to be the solliciting and urging Cause for supply that a due Proportion may be observed between the Supply and the Want which may upon the telling of it appear so plain a Case that it is scarce worth the mentioning but believe me it is so little observ'd as plain as it may seem to be that People have and do err extravagantly for want of noting it which if they had noted they could never have said that Vapours or the retiring of Spirits into the Brain c. was the Cause or Call of natural Sleep nor feigned Menstruums to be the cause of Hunger but would have duly considered what is mainly supplied by Eating or recruited by Sleeping c. and then had nothing to do but to conclude the Defect of that to have been the Cause that solicited for the Supply in proportion to the Defect Which if observed will most naturally and easily lead you to the true Knowledge of the Causes of all Appetites in an Animal upon a few Minutes Consideration for want of which most plain and one would think very obvious Method the deviating World has sadly puzzled it self about the Cause of Hunger Thirst Sleep and the like to this day and still is in Disputes about them of which tho' my advertent Reader may well prevent me by using that natural Method I shall God willing give an account in my Tract of Animal Mechanism Only note here That I do not mean bare privative Defect as such to be the positive Cause but that the Defect of what keeps or guards the Stomach c. from the Grievance causes other Matter to grieve it cause Hunger c. without which means no Proportion can be observed between Hunger and what takes it away or our Food 7. The same defensive Contraction does upon grievous Sensation as Pain Cold Terrour c. cause a Corrugation of the Scrotum contract the Skin into little Tubercles like that of a Goose-Skin c. 8. By it upon grievous Sensation as by squeezing the Nose very hard pulling the Hair Sand or any such thing in the Eye or a Grievance by the Volatile Particles of Onions Mustard Horse-Radish-Roots c. the Parts and Membranes about the Eyes contracting squeeze out Tears that what grieves the Eyes may thereby be washed away or qualified as much as the Tears can do it 9. By this Contraction repelling the Bloud the Skin grows Pale by Cold Fear Pain c. which also closing the Pores stop Sweat as in a moment You 'll have an account hereafter how Contraction may cause Sweat
by squeezing in some Cases and stop it by shutting the Pores in other Cases 10. It is by it that Contraction that Fear Cold c. closing the Pores and repelling the Bloud stanch Bleeding So happens also a greater Contraction of the Pupil of the Eye by the same Cause 11. It is the Violence of this Contraction upon Fear Terrour Pain Cold c. closing the small Vessels of the Animal Spirits and thereby repelling them causes the Shivering in those Cases by the Renitency of the elastick Animal Spirits springing back again toties quoties having gain'd more elastick Force by the very Compression it self which that Contraction causes so that by reason of the dubious velitation or skirmishing between the repelling Contraction and the springing Spirits happens a tremulous Motion as of quavering Springs which Shivering in Ague-Fits did formerly lead me to the Situation of the Cause of Agues when I writ my Book De Febribus intermittentibus in the Angustiae at the end of the Vessels which terminate in the Membranes the grievous Sensation of which causes all the Shivering that happens in any Case to Animals 12. By the same Contraction when very violent and of the whole Body cold Sweats happen in Pain Fear Terrour c. while it violently squeezes out the outmost and therefore coldest Moisture of our Bodies as Laundresses do Water out of wet Linnen by Contortion Thus if you dip one half of a wet cold Sheet in hot Water wrapping the hot side within the cold or let a warm Sheet that is contorted cool on the out-side of it and then wring it as Women do Linnen the Water that first exudates will be cold for in this Case the closing of the Pores avails nothing to hinder it as long as the expressing Force masters it more especially in Animal Bodies wherein the Parts are so contrived that Humours design'd for Exoretion cannot well return and therefore must upon Contraction run out Hence it is that Alum or Vitriol which are very astringent and therefore close the Pores will notwithstanding cause the Mouth or Nose to run very plentifully with Moisture by contracting all the Membranes about the Mouth or Nose and thereby squeezing out the Moisture design'd to be excern'd which cannot return because the Parts are contriv'd against the return or readmittance thereof whereas Alum or Vitriol will stanch or stop Bloud by the same Contraction because it may return as not being design'd to be excern'd either into the Arteries and so pass by other Branches thereof or which is more ready and natural keep its course into the Veins So the two Riddles that I have known some Proud Physicians amaz'd at tho' but Trifles of Alum and Vitriol causing the Spittle c. to come out instead of stopping it by their Astringency and their stopping Bloud at Nose at the same time they cause the Snot or other Humours to run out are unfolded 13. It is by this mighty Contraction growing to an enormous degree that the Animal Spirits being violently compressed grow exceeding irrequiete as upon Convulsions in great Pain or very grievous Sensation at Stomach c. while the sensitive Soul compressing them with mighty Force and somewhat disorderly and unevenly because of the Confusion and Hurry he is in to relieve the Animal they by their springiness fling up and down with great Vigour This makes convulsive Motions have great Strength 14. The Body under this Contraction is manifestly shrunk by measure especially when the Sensation is very grievous but most of all if they cause a general Convulsion which I manifestly observed in a little Bitch that was convulsive all over for three Hours and was just expiring when I gave her the Sal Volat. Oleos of Opium which perfectly restored her by relaxing the Vessels Some may think it strange That Nature should contrive a more nice and smart Sensation which the Contraction of the Vessels of the Animal Spirits must cause by compressing them c. in Pain and by it which becomes so much the more acute whereas one would judge That Nature would rather contrive its Ease than improve its Smart You are to know That the Pain is in order to relieve the Animal by exciting all its Powers to defend expel or reject the Cause and that without a grievous Sensation the sensitive Soul is neither minded nor excited to do it and the more the Pain is the more it is stirr'd up to Self-preservation and as was shewn the more vigorous do its Motions grow by the Compression of the elastick Spirits to perform that Work so Nature not regarding the Pain which is rather for good as much as taking away the Cause advances that for this Purpose like a wise Physician who finding a Grievance at Stomach not sufficient to excite effectual Vomiting to throw away the grieving Cause adds to the Grievance by giving a Vomit which because as was said Nature is proportionably excited to and invigorated for Self-preservation sufficiently sollicites and enables it by a stronger Contraction to reject the grieving Matter As the greater the Relaxation is the more is the Rest of all Parts and the weaker the Animâ—l Spirits because less compressed the gentler are all Motions as you see in Sleep consequently the less is the Expence of Spirits so that in Sleep we generate more than we spend and are thereby recruited So the more the Contraction is the more violent is the Motion of the Heart Intestines and of all Parts and consequently the Expence of Spirits is the greater Therefore it can be no Wonder That Contractions do cause great Commotions of Spirits Diary Fevers c. when you consider 1. That the sensitive Soul is by the grievous Sensations c. that cause them put upon a great Fret Concern and Hurry to defend the Animal and lays about him all manner of ways for Self-preservation 2. That the Animal Spirits are by means of great Compression caused by the defensive Contraction in a very forcible Springiness which causes all the Actions that are continual involuntary and of course to be perform'd with great Violence proportionable to its compressed Elasticity Besides that 3. The Systoles of the Heart are oâ—tener repeated All which conspire to cause greater Commotions upon grievous Sensations whereby Diary Fevers c. are caused which are easily and naturally cured by Sleep or Relaxation at present compose and quiet those Perturbations Who knows tho' it is not my Business to discuss it at present but that the Contractions in the cold Fits of Agues have a great hand in causing the hot ones How otherwise should Opium by only taking away the grievous Sensation of the cold Fits take off or prevent the hot Fits also But of this in my often-mentioned Tract though not so often as it grieves me that it is not published How reasonably may we now expect That pleasant Sensation may cause quite contrary Effects to that of grievous Sensation viz. Relaxation and all its Effects
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
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 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
Contraction by which Vomiting is perform'd 4. It stills Hiccoughs for the same Reasons 5. It causes Convulsions and Contractions to cease 1. Because it induces a Relaxation which takes them off 2. By taking off the sense which the Irritating causes 3. By composing the Spirits 6. It causes the Meat to stay long at Stomach as Sleep does 1. By relaxing the Stomach so that it is not subject to contract to send it out 2. By stilling all Motions whereby the Stomach grows proportionably unactive 3. Because the Relaxation opposes the Contraction by which the Menstruum is sent into the Stomach or the Saliva into the Mouth both which are therefore much wanted in Sleep for the like Reason as has been shewn 7. It moderates and prevents Hunger 1. Because as was said the Menstruum is not so plentifully sent or squeesed into the relaxed Stomach 2. Because it takes away the sense of Hunger 3. Because it leaves the Meat to stay too long at Stomach by Reason that it is relaxed more insensible and proportionably languid in motion as in Sleep 8. It causes Sweat when the Body is full of moisture as Sleep doth by relaxing and thereby opening the Pores and not as People commonly talk by attenuating and the like for a Grain of Opium bears no Proportion to the Bloud and Humours That it causes it meerly as Sleep does is manifest not only because it bears not a due Proportion to the Work as an Alterative but because Men do not Sweat in that Case as in Sleep without much moisture in the Body whereas much would not be attenuated as soon as less Therefore it is only an Exudation of the Humours upon a Plenty thereof and opening of the Pores Sanctorius Sect. 1. Aph. 22. Invisibilis Perspiratio fit visibilis quando Nutrimentum est nimium That is Invisible Perspiration becomes visible Sweat when nourishment or moisture is too much which exactly agrees with that of Hippocrates cited in Chap. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 9. It causes the Menses to flow when nothing is wanting but the opening or relaxing of the Viae or Pores they issue out at as when they are naturally too narrow and close as upon the first Tendency to them in young Girls or when stopt by Reason of any undue Contraction thereof as by Pain Cold Sorrow or other grievous Passions all which do close the Pores Besides it does irritate those very sensile Venereal Parts to Erection and I have reason to think that it does by a general Relaxation cause an Increase of Bloud as it does of the Breasts Milk c. causing as it were an Artificial Puberty or at least much promoting the Natural and therefore is of excellent Use in this Case in Judicious Hands tho' little thought of in Practice Obj. Here I may be sure of an Objection That it stops all Fluxes but Sweat or Perspiration Ans. It is as false as it is a common saying if they do not mean only such Fluxes as proceed from grievous Sensation and Contraction thereupon for how can that which relaxes all Parts stop any Flux that depends upon Relaxation as Stillicidium Urinae by Relaxation of the Sphincter of the â—ladder involuntary Flux per Anum by the 〈◊〉 of its Sphincter and such like so do I speak of a Flux that may often depend upon Relaxation as I have shewn Obj. But it may be objected That it particularly stanches Bloud how then should it promote the Menses Ans. Experience tells me it does and Reason confirms it It stanches Bloud by composing the Fury of its Motion but that does not hinder but it may relax the Pores for Sweat Menses Lochia c. to pass and why not for the Menses and Lochia as well as Sweat by opening the Pores I would fain know considering also the Titillation that it causes upon those Venereal Parts which may very much solicite their motion 10. It causes the Lochia to flow for the same Reasons that it does the Menses This I have great Experience in Note That the Menses Lochia and Perspiration are Natural Evacuations that have Pores designed for them by Nature the opening of which by Relaxation must make way for them Suppose when the Bloud flows so much into the Skin as to cause an Efflorescence by the Relaxation thereof after Opium is taken that there were Pores to carry out Bloud as there is for Sweat why should not one flow as well as the other But there are such Pores for the Menses and Lochia and large ones too and therefore it must promote them and why should not Relaxation do it as well as Contraction by Cold Terrour Grief c. stop them for the Effects of Contraries are contrary 11. It causes the Stone to pass 1. Because it reâ— and so widens the Passage 2. Because it 〈◊〉 move with little or no Pain which contracts the Parts and so hinders its Passage therefore the Use of Opium with some other Helps is the greatest Means that can be or ever will be for the Stone till the Dissolution of it is found out not only to give Ease in the Case of the Stone but to cause it to pass for both which Purposes it excells all Things and doth both at once 12. It causes the Delivery of Women by relaxing the Neck of the Womb as it does that of the Bladder to deliver Persons of the Stone but in the Delivery of Women it is not to be used but in particular Cases and by a very Skilful Hand 1. Because it is apt to take off all the Womens Pains and Throws and so quite disappoint the Delivery for a day 2 3 4 or more sometimes 2. Because it causing a great Relaxation the Parts after Delivery will be very unapt to close and contract duely as they should in such Cases otherwise several Inconveniences may ensue 3. It may be pernicious upon the Account of the Evacuation of Bloud that then happens But these Things belong more properly to the Use of Opium in Cure 13. It causes Deadness of the Eyes as in Drunkeness c. because the Cornea is relaxed so that the Humours do not fill it up to a tense Rotundity as when 't is more contracted 14. It causes the Pupilla to dilate because of the same Relaxation 15. It causes a Growth of the Breast Penis and Increase of Milk by Reason of the same Relaxation as the Pleasure of the Semen upon Puberty does or as Emollients and Relaxers applied to the Breasts increase Milk c. by making more Room for it c. 16. It causes Venereal Dreams because of the Titillation of the Venereal Membranes that it causes 17. It causes Nocturnal Pollutions for the same Reason and because it relaxes the Parts 18. It causes Itchings in the Skin because of its Titillation by its Volatile Salt 19. It causes much Urine as Cantbarides Bees Pismire Millepedes c. do by its Volatile Salt which titillates and irritates those
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
which looking not unlike an Apoplexy makes Authors say that Opium causes Apoplexies Such as escape Death do so generally by 34. Plentiful Purging which is occasioned by a great Quantity of the Rosin of Opium meeting a strong Digestion and fixed Salts as has beeâ— said 35. Sweats that smell of the Opium are caused 1. By the Openness of the Pores by Relaxation 2. By Plenty or at least sufficiency of Moisture for that End for otherwise as was shewn it would be only insensible Perspiration 3. By the great Quantity of Volatile Salt attenuating the Humours 4. By the strict intimate and even indissoluble specifick Union or Combination of the Volatile Salt and Oily Parts which makes it hold its specifick Smell to the last 36. Violent Itchings in the Skin must of necessity follow a great Quantity of Opium since it causes such Itchings as was shewn in a small Quantity by the Titillation of its Volatile Salt Note That these Effects do not all happen to all Men that take it in an excessive Dose but some to one and some to others as was intimated in Chap. 5. according as they are more or less troubled with the Rosin Quantity Relaxation c. CHAP. XXII The Explication of the Effects of a long and lavish Use of Opium AS an Excessive Dose of Opium is Intemperance for one time so a long and lavish Use of it is an habitual Intemperance for a long time therefore if you could not rationally expect good Effâ—s in that Case any more than from the best Wine taken suddenly in a vast Quantity it follows that you cannot expect good Effects from an habitual Intemperate Taking of it any more than from a long and lavish Drinking of Wine tho' both are excellently good in their Kind but that the Opium has the pernicious resinous Part join'd with it There is nothing so good whereof an intemperate Use is not mischievous God having so ordered it to deter from and punish Intemperance and the Abuse of his Creatures Therefore ill Effects are not always to be imputed to the viciousness of the Things used but frequently of the Person that imprudently uses them 1. Relaxation and Debility of all Parts is contracted by the habitual over-relaxing thereof by the lavish Use of Opium 2. An Inhability of doing any Thing without it is contracted by the habitual Pleasure Comfort Promptitude and Euphory it causes when taken without which the sensitive Soul becomes lazy listless and averse to all Actions it is as iâ— a Man used to Dance to Excellent Musick were required to do it without any Musick at all nor as much as Thoughts of it or mumbling it within himself Or that one who Drinks nothing but Wine and Eats the best should be suddenly denied both and forced to live upon Bread and Water Or that such as always take Tobacco at their Studies should be suddenly debarr'd thereof and required to Study without it How very listless would a Man be in such Cases Tho' hardly any of the Comparisons come up to that of Opium because of the charming Pleasure mighty Euphory and Promptitude that it causes it is as if one were supported and wholly depended upon Cordials and suddenly denied them c. 3. An Inhability of getting up in the morning till it is taken and begins to operate proceeds from the same Cause A Mechanical Reason may be expected here also as to these Matters but it will hardly bear it any more than how the Will or Appetite causes the first Impulse toward voluntary Moti n all that can be said is that without the Opium the sensitive Soul is when he does any Thing to act under the Toil and Difficulties of a full vigilative Contraction as being awake intentive Contraction as acting and defensive Contraction as being grieved when the Operation of Opium is over as after Veneral Pleasure c. so that now he labours under the great Disadvantages and Drudgery of all the Three Contractions whereas by the Pleasure fine Titillation of Opium and Relaxation consequential thereunto he was eased of all the Defensive Contraction which is the most grievous and in great measure of the Vigilative as has been shewn which makes Working Iourneying c. very easie to him Therefore it is as if one that delights in Musick Danced to Charming Melody in beloved Company with pleasing Refections of Wine c. and in the other Case as if one laboured in Grief or Pain Now suppose that one used never to Act or Work without such mighty Pleasant Advantages and Causes of Euphory were required to act under the Pressure of the Three Contractions or in Grief or Pain how listless would he be to Act Work get up c. 4. A dull moapish and heavy Disposition must be the Effect unless it be while they please comfort and enliven themselves by the Opium because their Brain is habitually over relaxed which is the very Case of old Drunkards who have as 't is said drank away their Parts by such an habitual Relaxation of the Brain which over-much Sleeping causes also upon the Account of the like Relaxation therefore they must be moapish till the pleasing Titillation of Opium enlivens them 5. Diminution of Appetite is caused by an habitual Relaxation of the Stomach taking away its Sensation and suspending the Menstruum from flowing to it as freely as it should and would if there were a due Contraction to squeese it out 6. Weakness of Digestion happens from the same Causes 7. Dropsies are caused by the Relaxation weakning the Parts and making them thereby susceptible of Humours as also by Diminution of Appetite and Digestion as in old Drunkards 8. Decay of Parts or Wit happens from habitual Relaxation of the Brain and its Membranes as in old Drunkards 9. Weakness of Memory proceeds from the same Cause as in old Drunkards 10. Stooping in the Back is caused by the habitual Relaxation of the Parts which weakens and causes them to comply with our Tendency and Use of bending forward and yield to the greater Weight that is generally speaking on the foreside of the Back-bone or Perpendicular so that Stooping must gradually follow those conspiring Causes as it does in habitual Drunkards whose Parts are relax'd 11. Early Decrepiteness must proceed from the aforesaid Relaxation spoiling the Tone of Parts and causing Want of Appetite Digestion c. in the manner before shewn 12. Shortness of Life must be the Effect of the same Causes 13. Acrimony of Blood proceeds from the Abundance of Acrimonious Volatile Salts taken in the Opium wherein it is much more acrimonious than our natural Volatile Salt and in greater Quantity proportionably Therefore it can be no Wonder that 14. It excites Inclination to Venery by that acrimonious Salt which is analogous to that of Cantharides Ants Bees c. 15. Frequent Inclinations to make Water is also a known and common effect of such a Salt by its irritating and soliciting the Bladder c. 16. Priapisms
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
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
Spirits and not an over-Relaxation or Dilatation of the Pores which must be well distinguished I. The Form must be liquid in all Fevers and is also most convenient generally speakingâ— II. The Dose may be the moderate or midling except it be where the Pains are great or where much of the Opiate is lost as in Vomiting Loosness c. for which see the General Rules III. The Vehicle should be generally speaking cooling composing and incrassating Liquids as Emulsions Milk and Water or the like but in settling the Stomach use agreeable warm and comfortable Cordials or Wine burnt with Aromaticks or the like IV. The Time is when 't is convenient according to the General Rules and your Intention of its Operation therefore where there are periodical Paroxysms or Exacerbations as in the Small-Pox and many Diseases in the Afternoons or towards the Evenings give it the due Time before that it may have its full Effect by the Time the Paroxysms or Exacerbations are expected to begin and be not so mad as to be regulated by Night or Day or Bed-time c. as is usual which are no Symptoms Signs or Effects of the Distemper but of the Motion or Position of the Sun Stars c which are not the Subjects of your Cure nor can be The Want of which most obvious and rational Practice has sadly disappointed inconsiderate Physicians and often hazarded if not destroyed the Patients V. The Regimen is the same as that to cause Sleep which you have in Chap. 35. and should be by all means used in this Case 1. Note That Opiates are not to be used as has been intimated where the Commotion Flux c. is for apparent and speedy Benefit of Nature as in Vomiting upon Repletion or to discharge the Stomach of somewhat that offends it or a Loosness to clear the Intestines or the like 2. Note That when any Evacuation is to be made by Vomit or Stool the best way in these Cases is to use large Dilutions of some contemperating Liquid instead of Vomitories and Purgers therefore use only lukewarm Water or which is best boil'd with a little Carduus in 't or Carduus-Posset or the like to cause Vomiting and more agreeable Dilutions for the Intestines to wash off ill Humours as a Gallon of Water with half an Ounce of Cream of Tartar or rather the purging Salt of the Waters dissolved in it or some part thereof using all cold or but very little warm'd giving the Opiate or Panacea immediately after the Person has done Vomiting or Purging in a small Glass of Wine or agreeable Cordial to warm and comfort the Stomach and Intestines which because of the smallness of the Quantity the Moisture and Coolness of the diluting Liquids and the Opiate can cause no Inconvenience by its inconsiderable Heat CHAP. XXXIII Of the Use of the Panacea of Opium c. to relax HAving shown that Opiates relax all the sensile Parts of the Body and bow and why it follows that they are of excellent Use 1. To prevent and take away all Contractions that happen from grievous Passion or Sensation or Pain as Convulsions Sâ—iverings Shakings Cramps Tensions Palpitations and Tremors of the Heart from Fear Terrour Grief Melancholy Anxiety Solicitude Anger Fretfulness Concern Surpize c. Or from Cold Pain Acids c. as Contraction of the Sphincter of the Bladder from those Causes by which the Urine is often stopt as also by the Pain from the Haemorrhoids Inflammations Small Pox Colicks Acrimony Excoriation c. which often hinder the making of Water as they also do sometimes going to Stool swallowing c. Shivering in Ague-Fits Stupors from Cold or Pain which as was shown proceed from a violent Contraction in all which it will scarce ever fail of due Effect by this Means you may as I have often done cure those Disasters safely speedily and pleasantly even to a Wonder and Amazement as if charm'd by a Spell when others know not what Hand to put to them and are quite baffled thereby By the same Means tho' little or not at all minded you may prevent great Tumours upon Pain as when by a Thorn or any grievous Pain the Arm Legs Thighs c. begin to swell for the Swelling which often grows prodigiously and seizes the whole Limb if not a great Part of the Body threatning and often causing Mortifications and Death it self is caused by the Pain contracting and so girding the Parts that the Bloud Lympha c. cannot pass by which Means the Humours being stagnated and crowded in by the Force of the Arteries and dam'd up by the Contraction most dreadful Tumours happen whereas the Pain being taken away by the Opiate and all the Parts relaxed they are and must be prevented by plain Mechanism if used timely For Pain can cause Tumours by no other Means besides Contraction which Opium must prevent by taking away the very Pain it self 2. To help the Cure of all other Contractions as Tensions Rigidities of Nerves Membranes Tendons Ligamâ—nts Muscles c. 3. To relax or make way for Things to pass as Sweat 〈◊〉 Small Pox Measles pestilential or venemous Esslâ—vias Mâ—nses Lochia and the like to pass through the Skin or Pores A Child dead or alive After-birth Mole clodded Bloud c. to pass through the Neck of the Womb when too narrow by Nature or contracted by Pain Cold Terrour c. A Stone to pass the Ureters or Neck of the Bladder by taking away the Pain that contracts them and hinders the Passage of the Stone so that in the Hand of an ingenious Physician there is not a better nor as good a Remedy to cause a Stone of any passable Bigness to come away for it passes through the relaxed or widened Passages without Pain to help which other Relaxers as Warmth 〈◊〉 Bathâ— Fomentations Clysters together with slippery and emollient Things inwardly taken and at last a great Stream of Urine well contrived and timed when the Parts are most relaxed suppled and lubricated do much conduce I would have all who are troubled with the Stone Note this Note also That to hold and dam up the Urine a long Time is of excellent Use well managed when the Stone is in the Ureters because when the Urine has fill'd up the Bladder very tightly that it will receive no more it must distend the Ureter which is the Cause that very many are eased either by the removal or discharge of the Stone after a set Time which gives Occasion to call them Fits of the Stone because they last for much about the same length of Time however the large and sudden Evacuation of Urine must by leaving the Part loose c. conduce very much to the Passage of the Stone Clods of Bloud Phlegm Matter c. that steps the Urine 4. To relax or make Way for Things to be put into the Body when there is Occasion as in Reductions of Hernias or Ruptures of a fallen Fundament Womb or
Vagina in which Cases it is of neat Use both by relaxing and taking away Pain during the Operation It may be also of Use when the strictness of the Collum Uteri hinders the Admission of Sem. viril both as a general Relaxer and as causing greater Pleasure of those Parts and a proportionable Relaxation thereof for it is by the Pleasure in Coition that the Collum Uteri is opened or relaxed as is observed which immediately closes again when the sense of Pleasure is ended yea and so much the stricter because the Loss of Pleasure is as was shown a Kind of Grievance hence it is that omne Animal post coitum est triste and not because of loss of Spirits as is vulgarly imagined for we can lose little or no Spirits by that which is so separated for Excretion before hand as the Semen is 5. To enlarge any Part for the due Reception of what is convenient or necessary as the Breasts to receive Milk by which Means it comes to be such great Increaser of Milk The seminal Vessels as Sem. virile does upon Puberty to receive the Semen Thus it causes the Penis to grow as the Semen upon Puberty causes it and Cocks Combs Turkey-Cocks red Bags at the Neck Proboscis c. to grow as the Time they are fit for or begin to tread for the Relaxation caused by the Pleasure of the Semen makes the Party more capable of the Nutriment Thus it is that Sleep causes the Growth Fatning and Thriving of Animals and red Noses to grow so large by frequent Relaxation upon the Pleasure of Wine Ale c. as was said to which Quantity distending the Parts may in the last mentioned Case contribute I. The Form of Opiates in this Case may be either solid or liquid as you think â—it II. The Dose must be proportioned to the Relaxation that you desire for more relaxes more and less less so must it be also proportioned to the Contractions that it is to take away therefore very grievous Passions or Sensations which cause proportionable Contractions require greater Doses because their Grievance and Contraction do strongly oppose the Pleasure and Relaxation that Opiates cause therefore great Pain as you 'll find in its due place requires an extraordinary Dose III. The Vehicle in Contractions from grievous Passions should be VVine or some comfortable Cordial except they be the more turbulent Passions as Anger Fury c. where Composers as Emulsions Milk and VVater c. are best In all other Cases emollient and suppling Vehicles are most proper as soft smooth and slipper◠〈◊〉 Broths c. IV. The Time to give them is at the due Distance before Bed Time when the Intentions are consistent with Sleep which it self is a great Relaxer otherwise any Time will serve as Occasion or the Intention of the Physician requires it V. The Regimen 1. As to Meat and Drink is using moist emollient and lâ—bricating Things as smooth Broth somewhat â—at butter'd Roots Herbs Sawces 〈◊〉 Milk-Meats young Flesh as of roasting Pigs 〈◊〉 Lamb c. Smooth Drinks as Alc 〈◊〉 c. 2. As to sleeping and waking that relaxes and this contracts therefore that conduces this hinders 3. As to Rest and Motion that relaxes and this conâ—racts 4. As to the Passions of the Mind the Pleasant as 〈◊〉 Ioy Pleasure Comfort and all such do relax and the Grievous as Terrour Fear Grief Melancholy c. contract as Pain does 5. As to Air the warm and moist or that when the Quicksilver is low in the Barometer or VVeather-glass does relax as do warm Baths Fomentations c. especially if emollient Dry and cold Air and that when the Quicksilver is high do cause Contraction 6. As to Excretion and Retention generally Excretion does make Room and Way for things to pass through or into the relaxed Parts as Clystering for Passage of the Stone Child Reduction of Hernias c. But be sure not to make the Excretions grievous because all grievous Sensation causes Contraction CHAP. XXXIV Of the Use of the Panacea of Opium c. to take away Pain or grievous Sensation THIS it does as was shown by diverting the sensitive Soul and introducing a Sense of Pleasure which being contrary to grievous Sensation or Pain cannot be in the same Subject with Pain but chiefly and mechanically by relaxing all Parts and permitting the springy Animal Spirits to expand and so become unfit to carry Impressions smartly which is requisite to cause a sense of Pain as has been proved Therefore it is of most happy and glorious Use in all Pains but especially to be used 1. In such as are not for any Benefit to the Person pain'd in Order to alter or evacuate the grieving Cause as in Pocky scorbutical or hypochondriacal Pains or such as proceed from any ill Habit of Body c. 2. Where Pain hinders the taking away of its Cause or some Benefit as when the Pain of the Stone does by contracting the Parts hinder its own Passage that of a Tenesmus hinders going to stool that of the Sphincter of the Bladder hinders its opening to let out Urine clodded Bloud Phlegm Matter or any such Thing when that of the Neck of the VVâ—mb hinders Delivery of a Child After-Birth Mole clodded Bloud c. that of the Mouth of the Stomach hinders Vomiting when requisite or that of the Pylorus hinders the Detrusion of Chyle or that of the Intestines as by an Inflammation c. stops the Passage of the Ordure and causes an Iliack Passion or that of the Guilet hinders swollowing of the Larynx Breathing or that of any Part hinders Perspiration or desired Sweat or that of the Venereal Parts stops the Menses or Lochia c. In all which Cases it is and must in all Reason be of excellent and if duly managed of almost if not altogether infallible Effect by taking away the Pain which causes the Part to contract and make the Stop c. 3. Where the Cause of the Pain cannot be remoued but by Perspiration Sweat Menses Lochia or Urine â—s in Pains in the Habit of the Body Limbs c. From Cold Wind or Vapours Gout Rheumatisms Stitches Pleurisies Inflammations and many of the Cases aforementioned it is excellent As it is 4. Where the Pain Irritation or grievous Sensation causes Nature to work irregularly as in Iliack Passiâ—ns hysterick Fits Fruitless Convulsions canine Apâ— c. In which Cases it excells all other Means for many Reasons 5. Where the Pain is not likely to have a timely Effect for good till People may be too much worn out 6. In all Pains that have not any matâ—rial Cause from the Humâ—urs c. of the Body as such as happen from Passions Wounds Pricks of Nerves Tendons Fractures Dislocations Amputations severe Chirurgical Operations c. 7. In all Pain from Inflammations Suppurations Abseesses Tumors where Repulsion is not convenient or possible 8. In all Pains that are more likely to cause Fevers than any
'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
Loosenesses caused by the Humours of the Body or Things given as Diarrheâ—s Dysenteries Artificial Purging Iliack Passions Cholera Morbus after the Humour is somewhat spent Defluxions Catarrhs immoderate Spitting Gonorrhea Notha that is of slimy Humours by Reason of Acrimony Fluor albus from the like Cause or any other Flux of that Kind 2. To moderate or cure Fluxâ—s that proceed from too much motion of the Bloud Humours c. as Hemorrhages at Nose Lungs Stomach by the Hemorrhoids Pissing of Bloud immoderate Flux of Bloud by the Menses Lochia Stool c. when they proceed from that Cause as may also some Defluxions 3. To stop Fluxes that proceed as Hippocrates says from Segregation of Humours by composing and combining them from which Cause many such Fluxes as I have mentioned do happen But it is not advisable to use them in Fluxes that are apparently or very probably for speedy and ready Benefit otherwise as was said of Pain use them to respite Nature which they do as Sleep does nay in many Cases the Continuance of their Use may quite Cure them for the several Reasons given in the beginning of this Chapter What a pleasant Cure then do some refuse that reject them leaving their Patients to be worn out with dismal Pains tedious and profuse Evacuations want of Appetite and Digestion the common Consequences of Diarrheas Disenteries c. I. The Form of Opiates in this Case should generally be solid because it sticks better to its Work whereas the fluid is more subject to be evacuated in Diarrheas Dysenteries and Vomitings tho' sometimes the Liquid may be convenient in Vomitings as when that Form is more agreeable to the Stomach or that you would have a more speedy Effâ—ct c. In other Fluxes where the Opiate is not liable to be evacuated too soon it is indifferent what Form you use II. The Dose in Fluxes where 't is probable some Part of the Opiate may be carried off without Effect as in Vomitings Diarrheas Dysenteries Choleras c. the Dose must be generally speaking pretty large otherwise a moderate Dose may serve In such Cases due Consideration is to be had of what is lost by the Evacuation at which you may easily guess in Vomiting by what comes up if its Colour Smell Taste be observed as also by the Frequency and Violence of the Vomiting and noting how the Stomach clears it self of what is ingested by the Quantity and lastly by the Effect of which if what was given fails more of the Opiate must be given by degrees till it stops the Vomiting in some measure In Loosenesses give Half the first Dose every Four Hours till the Flux begins to be moderated then be more wary in giving it for what is afterward given may have its full Effect therefore be very cautious by giving but small Quantities both in this Case and in Vomiting when they are moderated in some degree because Opiates then have their full Effect without any Diminution or Opposition thereof In other Fluxes a moderate Dose may serve as in Desluxions Catarrhs c. however let the Dose rather incline to the highest than the lowest and suffice if possible to cause Sleep which is a great Effect in these Cases III. The Vehicle in Vomiting should be small in Quantity pleasant comfortable and warming lest you should by either Quantity or Quality give any offence to the Stomach pleasing it answers the same Intent with the Opiate it self and has often good Effect without Opium for indeed every Pleaser is proportionably an Opiate and Opiâ—m is only such in an intense and permanent manner therefore the Vehicle must be agreeable as Wine Hippocras or Wine burnt with Spices Rosemary c. or the best Cordials or Wine with some 〈◊〉 Câ—viare or Anchovis or a little old Châ—ese dissolved in it upon the Fire according as the Person likes one or the other which last tho' not used in common Practice are of very great Benefit where they are pleasing and well liked of In Loosenesses such Wines and Cordials as are sâ—bastringent should be afforded after the peccant Matter is evacuated to comfort the Bowels but the mentioned Salt Things are not convenient in this Case In Defluxions incrassative Composers are the best Vehicles as Emulsions c. See the Vehicles for Composing for they are all proper in this Case also IV. The Time is at any Hour when there is Occasion but Sleep conducing the proper Time will be unless Need otherwise requires at the due and directed distance before Bed-time V. The Regimen 1. As to Diet in Vomitings offer nothing to the Stomach but such Things and in such Quantities as was directed for Vehicles only in Vomiting before the grieving Matter is discharged it will be often convenient before the Opiate is given to give good Quantities of innocent Diluters as luke-warm Water plain or Carduus-Posset between the Vomits to dilate and render the Vomiting more easie but when you would stop the Vomiting use but small Quantities of such Things as are above directed for Vehicles Diluters in great Quantity do also succeed very well in Loosenesses to wash off the ill Humours before the Opiate is given and it is the best Practice that can be but the Chalybeate Waters are the very best for that Purpose tho' Posset or very thin Chicken or Mutton Broth are useful for it answers all good Intentions it dilutes and quâ—lifies the peccant Humours strengthens the Bowels leaves a binding Quality after the Dilution is made restores Appetite and Digestion which are both much amiss in such Cases and adds moisture to the Bloud which is under a Frâ—t or Febricula for want thereof because all Liquids are carried off by Stool but much of this goes to the Bloud where it also washes off ill saline Particles so that believe me it is of it self a most compleat and adequate Remedy in such Cases if taken to 3 or 4 Quarts for 1 2 or 3 Days 1. Solid Meats or Things hard of Digestion must be avoided because the Digestion is infirm but Milks thicken'd with Rice or Flower Rice Gruâ—s a light Bread or Rice Pudding Gellies Marmalet a Tâ—st out of Claret with Nutmeg Cinnamon and some Loaf Sugar Emulsions Almond Milk Cheese-Cakes Custards and all subastringent Incrassatives are best as also in all Defluxions 2. As to Sleeping and Waking that 's good and this bad 3. As to Rest and Motion that is convenient this not 4. As to Passions the joyous are convenient the grievous not 5. As to Air the dry and temperate is best 6. As to Excretion and Retention what is said above is sufficient saving that Vomits are very often convenient especially if the Looseness is occasioned by the Stomach to moderate it before the Opiate is given CHAP. XXXVII Of the Use of the Panacea of Opium c. to cause Fluxes or Evacuations as Perspiration Sweat c. IT as was shewn promotes some Fluxes or Evacuations by relaxing and opening
13. Some of the Ancients applied it to the Perinâ—um Kidneys Region of the Pubis c. to chill Venus by the cold Quality they attributed to it which is all Stuff grounded upon that most absurd Hypothesis 14. They also attributed its Psilothrick Quality to Cold than which nothing does more fasten and cause the Hair to grow as you see in Winter-Time when all Furrs are longer and fastned better to the Skin Into what Fooleries a false Opinion will lead People 15. It has been used by Hieron Mercurialis in Ulcers of the Womb with Success and without danger as he says L. 4. de Morb. Mul. c. 7. p. 281. 16. It has kill'd People in Clysters by sâ—icking to the Intestinum rectum which was doubtless by Reason of its Rosin for it has nothing in it besides the Rosin that can stick to do any manner of Harm which is a most demonstrative Reason of the Perniciousness of its Rosin for if it can â—ill there much more where there is such exquisite Sensation as is at Stomach However 't is known by Experience that Venice Treacle and Diascordium are because of the Dissemination of the Opium and smallness of the Quantity safe in Clysters and very useful in Dysenteries and Diarrhaeas as our Panacea must be that has no Rosin in it and dissolvable in Water or any Humours of the Body 17. It may be used in Suppositories when the Rosin is separated from it but I would not advise the Use of above 4 Grains in this Case or if 8 or ten be used the Suppository should not remain long in the Body This I say for Caution's sake 18. It has been used reduced to an Oointment or Balsam with Oil of Roses c. to the Soals of the â—eet to cause Sleep with good Success 〈◊〉 Polidamus L. de Doloribus Capitis p. 78. 19. D. Francisc. Hildesheâ—m asserts that it takes away Pain in Cauteries â—ut says it is apt to cause Grangrens 20. Crollius in his Basil. Chym. p. 235. says That 2 Pills of Opium each containing 8 Grains being put up into the Nostrilâ— stopt a desperate Haemorrhage at Nose but I should hardly â—rust it in this Case Possibly the Bloud might stop by some other Cause a small Deliquium not observed or the like for Deliquiums still all Motion by a sudden Relaxation which as has been said suspends all Humours and weakens the Motion of the Heart if it does not sometimes quite take it off for the Time Secondly as an Alterative Emplostick c it as was shown incides resolves discusses molleâ—ies maturates suppurates and is psilothrick and titiâ—lative Therefore is of Use 1. In Phlegmatick and Oedematous Tumours 2 In windy Tumours Pains Stitches c. 3. To ripen Boils Buboes Abscesses and the like 4. In all hard Tumours of the Spleen Breasts Cancers Tophousness c. in which Cases it is as other Opiates are of excellent Use by their powerful resolving and relaxing Faculties 5. To cause Nourishment of Parts Increase of Milk c. by Relaxation as Sleep Puberty Pleasure c. do as has been shown 6. To cause the shedding of Hair by Resolution of the Parts as by a Caustick Vesicatory c. with which it agrees in its exuâ—cerating Faculty when it is very strong as the true Maslach or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we have not 7. To excite to Venery by its titillating Volatilâ— Salâ— if apply'd to the Perinaeum YE blessed Minds who in an instant know What in five Thousand Years none here below Could learn How mean are we how great are you O for your happy State while dull Mankind Oft see and fâ—el the Things they cannot find Who did not see the Bloud move to and fro Yet could none its Circulation know Till God enlighten'd Harvey then did he Perceive what others seeing could not see So till God was to my Enquiries kind Millions sought and felt what they ne're could find What is vain Man without th' all knowing Mind To whom all Glory be all Thanks and Praisâ— As was is now and fit to be always Amen Amen Amen FINIS