1302

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEIIICA.

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us a guide in some doubtful cases ;—where it is contracted, opu 111 ’ , q.,

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contra-indicated. A similar suggestion with respect to the usedonna was made by Dr. Graves (see p. 859), to which I havesome objections. When sopor or coma supervenes in fever,opium generally proves injurious. Recently the combination oj

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and emetic tartar has been strongly recommended in fever vvitu .a

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cerebral disturbance, by Dr. Law (Lond. Med. Gaz, xviii. 538 anand Dr. Graves {Ibid. xx. 538).

2. Inflammatory diseases. — Opium has long been regarded "^ or tobjectionable remedy in inflammation ; but it is one we frequently ^ ato, either for the purpose of palliating particular symptoms, or e' uI1 gpowerful auxiliary antiphlogistic remedy. The statement of D r - - n a ll{Treat, on Opium, p. 169. Lond. 1753), “ that opium was improp er ^those diseases in which bleeding was necessary,” is, therefore, 7 . si very considerable number of instances. Ihe ° J t0

means correct in a very wiiomticunt nuiiiuu ui iiiaiam/taj* — ^

for which opium is usually exhibited in inflammatory diseases, ^mitigate excessive pain, to allay spasm, to relieve great restless - ^gcheck excessive secretion, and to act as an antiphlogistic. In elll P t j )0 seit as an anodyne, we are to bear in mind that it is applicable t0 j a rcases only in which the pain is disproportionate to the local flll .

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cases only in wincn me pam is disproportionate to tlie iouaiexcitement; and even then it must be employed with consideran ^tion ; for to “ stupify the sensibility to pain, or to suspend any P ar fredisorder of function, unless we can simultaneously lessen or remo'causes which create it, is often but to interpose a veil between our i ^ment and the impending danger” (Holland , op. supra cit. p. 421)- * c(l jii'antiphlogistic, it is best given in conjunction with calomel, asmended by Dr. R. Hamilton, of Lynn {Ed. Med. Comment. lX ‘ g olThe practice, however, does not prove equally successful in all 1° eJI i«inflammation. It is best adapted for the disease when it affectsbranous parts (see Brachet, I)e VEmploi de V Opium dans les P' l f. nl ia-Membr. muq. ser. etfibr. 1828); and is much less beneficial intion of the parenchymatous structure of organs. In gastritis and flI) gthe use of opium has been strongly recommended by tlie late Dr- Arm n<r tb e[Transactions of the Assoc, of Apothecaries, 1823). After bleed 1patient to syncope, a full opiate (as 80 or 100 drops of the if ^or three grains of soft opium) is to be administered, and g j.,j),stomach reject it, we may give it by injection. It acts on 1 j Rieinduces quiet and refreshing sleep, and prevents what is ca pa-hemorrhagic reaction. If the urgent symptoms return when c0 ,jrtient awakes, the same mode of treatment is to be followed, h a r e-bining calomel with the opium. A third venesection is sen patquired. In peritonitis, the same plan of treatment is to be adopt 6 ’^g.1warm moist applications are on no account to be omitted. Of 1value of opiates in puerperal fever abundant evidence has been a p^i-by Dr. Ferguson, ( Essays on the most Import. Diseases of Women- ^jug1839). In cystitis, opium, preceded and accompanied by bloo a jn,and tlie warm bath, is' a valuable remedy: it relieves the scald 1 =>by diminishing the sensibility of this viseus to the presence of t 1 th eand also counteracts the spasmodic contractions. In inflammanwalls of the pelvis of the kidney, and also of the ureters, especial 7j lia l)lcbrought on by the presence of a calculus, opium is a most ' ^iinremedy ; it diminishes the sensibility of these parts, and prevents