An Essay on the Effects of Opium. Considered as a PoisonAwsiter, John
History
An Essay on the Effects of Opium. Considered as a Poison
Awsiter, John
Opium -- Toxicology
In the second Degree, _viz._ Convulsive Twitchings, Madness, Suppression
of Breath, florid Complexion, fixt Eye, and faultering Speech——The Party
had taken one Ounce of Laudanum, in different Proportions, with small
Punch, in the Space of an Hour, and this upon an empty Stomach; being
thus taken at Intervals, the Vellications in the Stomach were not so
immediately violent, as to make it be rejected; the Party conscious of
his Error, and fearful of the Consequences, when the Poison began its
Operation (he being possessed of a strong Constitution) endeavoured to
counteract the Power of it by violent and incessant Walking, till
Nature, overcome by the Conflict, was no longer able to support herself.
The sleeping Power of the Opium being withstood, the Operation upon the
animal Spirits produced a Delirium; the Eyes were distorted, the Speech
inarticulate, notwithstanding, his Pulse moved slowly, but with great
Distention of the Vessel; I found also a cold, flaccid Moisture of the
extream Parts, with convulsive Twitchings, and a violent Tremor, arising
from excessive Exercise, and the Effect of the Poison upon the whole
nervous System; and from the Length of Time the Poison had been taken,
an almost immediate Solution was to be apprehended, after the Manner
observed by Doctor _Willis_, quoted in a former Page.
I gave him a vomiting Potion, which, by the Help of a Quantity of Gruel,
soon operated; and presently after (the Vomiting being ended) a nervous
cordial Draught, of the same Nature of that already described,
encreasing the Quantity of Acid with Castor, (being a more powerful
Antispasmodic) instead of Valerian. He was placed upright in Bed, and
being covered warm, through the Assistance of the Medicines, in a short
Time, fell into a profuse Sweat; he drank plentifully and frequently of
warm Whey; Blisters were soon after applied to the Arms: The first four
Draughts were taken within the Space of two Hours: His Pulse thereupon
grew full, and regular, and the extream Parts warm. AS I perceived he
laboured under an Astringency of Body, and the Virulence of the Poison
being now, in some Degree, carried off by Sweat, I gave him, of the
Powder of Jalap, one Scruple, properly corrected as before; which
performed its desired Office. The Virus thus subdued, I reduced the
Quantity of Acid in each Draught, and repeated them Night and Morning
for some few Days, with a Cordial Julep to take of, at Intervals, when
oppressed with a Languor of Spirits. By this Process the Patient
perfectly recovered his Health.
Doctor _Jones_ has observed, that when Opium causes a Purging, the
Patient generally recovers; but is an Evacuation that rarely happens,
without Art. A Constipation or bound State of Body is the general
Consequence that ensues the taking this Poison; which to remove,
requires the Aid of brisk Purges, and those, for the most Part, in
encreased Doses.
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