These Effects will all be heightened by the Mixture of the _Opiate_ Particles with the _Blood_; Which is hereupon Rarefied, and Distends its Vessels, especially those of the Brain; and thus does still to a greater Degree lessen the Influx of the Nervous Fluid to the Parts, by pressing upon the little _Tubuli_, or Canals, thro’ which it is derived. This is the Reason of that _Difficulty of Breathing_, which they do for a time Experience who take these kind of Medicines; This Symptom being inseparable from the Rarefaction of the Blood in the Lungs. From hence it appears, that the Action of _Opium_ is very Analogous to that of other Volatile Spirits, only that a small Portion of It has a force equal to that of a greater quantity of most of Them. This is very evident in Those who accustom Themselves to take large Doses of It; as the _Turks_ and _Persians_ do to that Degree, that it is no uncommon thing there to Eat a Drachm or Two at a time; for the Effects of It in Them are no other than downright _Drunkenness_; upon which account (148) it is as common a Saying with Them, and on the same Occasion, _He has eat Opium_; as with Us, _He has drank too much Wine_. Neither indeed do They otherwise bear such large quantities of It, than our _Tipplers_ will a great deal of _Brandy_; that is, by habituating themselves to It by degrees, beginning with small Doses, and requiring still more and more to raise themselves to the same _Pitch_. Just as _Galen_ (149) tells Us of a Woman at _Athens_, who by a gradual Use had brought her self to Take, without any hurt, a considerable quantity of _Cicuta_ or Hemlock. Which Instance is the more to our Purpose, because _Nic. Fontanus_ (150) knew one who being Recovered of the Plague, and wanting Sleep, did, with very good Effect, eat _Hemlock_ for some time, till falling Ill again of a Fever, and having left off the Use of this Remedy, He indeavoured to procure Rest by repeated Doses of _Opium_, which (Nature having been accustomed to a stronger Alterative) had no Operation, till the help of _Cicuta_ was again call’d in with desired Success. It is a sufficient Confirmation of all this Reasoning, that _Prosper Alpinus_ (151) observed among the _Egyptians_, those who had been accustom’d to _Opium_, and were faint and languid thro’ want of It, (as Drinkers are if they have not their _Spirits_) to be recovered, and put into the same State of Indolence and Pleasure, by large Doses of _Cretic Wine_ made hotter by the Infusion of _Pepper_, and the like strong _Aromatics_.