1318

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

AVI

,-ilh

supervenes, attended usually with contracted, though sometitf^^gudilated pupils, coldness of the surface, frequent and small puls e >stertorous respiration, and occasionally with convulsions. Before t j, esibility comes on, as well as when it is subsiding, there is itchingsldn. Difficulty in passing the water is also experienced, in consof the paralysed state of the bladder. Not unfrequently, lividftjis observed. . ^eir

The effects of morphia and its salts appear to be identical i a „Jnature. The soluble salts (as the hydrochlorates) are more const**certain in their operation than uncombined morphia, in const -1probably of the difficult solubility of the latter. . * tW

In comparing the morphitic salts with opium, we observe * \ a fioi ! >are less stimulant, and less disposed to cause sweating, cheadache, and dryness of the tongue. The feelings which the, , jotare less agreeable, and hence they are not adapted to be substitopium by the eaters of this drug. They more readily affect thethan opium. .

Uses .—We employ morphia or its salts in preference to °P* llir ^our object is to make applications to the denuded dermis, (ender „ 0 tdication , see p. 49). They are employed in this way for thealleviating violent neuralgic pains; and to relieve the excessive oJ pit'operation of strychnia (see p. 921). Gastrodynia and obstinateing are sometimes relieved by the endermic application of m° r P n jy t°epigastrium ; and violent headache by the application of this rethe temples. Occasionally this mode of administration is adopt® > ;, r

we wish to bring the general system under the calming and sect' t )jefluence of morphia, and where from some cause its exhibition ^4mouth is objectionable. Some cases of maniacal delirium may Dwith advantage this way. . , t n oh'

The morphia salts are given internally in cases where we

wish

to

au®“

tain the anodyne, soothing, sedative, soporific, and antispasm°c ^ jtsties of opium, and where this drug is objectionable on accoun ^jj).tendency to excite certain injurious effects already referred to (seep- ^pjS 'In all cases where both opium and the morphia salts are equal y^gd-sible, I prefer the former, its effects being better known and , re " aI1 J f° fmoreover, opium is to be preferred as a stimulant and sudorificsuppressing excessive mucous discharges. r sU^'

Administration .—The salts of morphia are given internally ^in-stance or solution, in doses of from one-eighth to one-fourth ot

pplied

e*'

,iSS>

For endermic use they are to be finely powdered, and atent of a grain or a grain and a half at a time. ,. 31

4. Morphia'. Muriatis Solvtio, E. (“Muriate of Morptn ^y a te f <Rectified Spirit, fjv.; Distilled Water, fyxv. ; Mix the Spirit ay.j 0 ) 9and dissolve the muriate of morphia in the mixture with the ^ jjjU'gentle heat”).—166f minims of this solution contain one ff ral £_ gS .riate of morphia. The dose is from iqx. gradually increased to of

5. Trocuisci Mqrpiiije, Ik Morphia Lozenges. (Muiia te tophia, 9j ; Tincture of Tolu, gss.; Pure Sugar, 5 xxv. D 1SS () f T 11 ^muriate of morphia in a little hot water; mix it and the tincture t

with the sugar; and, with a sufficiency of mucilage, form fifteen g<£

for making lozenges; each of which should weigh, about nft ^

Each lozenge contains about one-fortieth ol a grain of muriate o