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the gum of opium feparated from the refin as perfectly as it can be. by the ufual fluids, though inferior to the latter in point of force, yet retains a fufficient degree of power to affect the fyftem confiderably, if given in increafed dofes. Whether this be owing to the principle which gives activity tò opium being poffeffed, though in different proportion, both by the gummy and refinous parts, or to the impoffibility of perfectly depriving the gum of every portion of refin by the effufion of different menftrua, may feem doubtful; though to me it appears more than probable, that the refinous part is that alone which poffeffes activity, and that the gum ferves principally to give it folubility in the gastric and inteftinal fluids. To this conclufion we fhall, I think, be led by the following confiderations :

⚫ift. When the refin and gum are separated in the ufual imper fect manner, the activity of the former is confiderably greater than that of the latter.

2dly. The gum thus feparated muft retain no small portion of refinous matter, both for the reafon affigned in experiment XIV. and because the gum, by its natural attraction for, and union with the refin, will detain a part of it, preventing the alcohol from taking up the whole it would otherwise diffolve.'

M. M. Laffonne and Cornette have given a very different view of the fubject, and we have much reafon to think that the opiate prepared by them, in which the refin is, in a great measuré, feparated, is a medicine lefs inconvenient than the tincture. We think fo, because we obferve a confiderable difference in the effects of pure opium and the tincture of this medicine-we obferve a difference between the effects of the fyrupus è meconio in children's complaints, and the tinctura opii. These are facts not to be learned in the elaboratory, but which must be obvious to every attentive practitioner.-Our author's recapitulation we fhall felect:

• From the whole of the facts, authorities, and experiments ad duced, we may, I think, fairly lay down the following pofitions:

1. Opium is compofed of a gum, a refin, an effential falt, and of earthy indiffoluble impurities.

2. The quantity of gum and refin is nearly equal; the proportion of the falt very inconfiderable; the earthy impurities amount to three parts out of twelve.

3.

gum, when perfectly feparated from the refin, is divefted of the peculiar properties of opium, poffeffes no degree of aftringency, but retains the whole of the bitterness of the medicine.

4. The refin is of two kinds, one more fluid, fixed in the heat of boiling spirit of wine, but capable of being volatilized in that of boiling water, especially if it be continued for a confiderable length of time; the other portion is more fixed, and not capable of being F 2 elevated

elevated by any continuation of boiling-water heat. The refinous matter is void of bitterness, but poffeffes as well the whole of the aftringency of the medicine, as of the peculiar and narcotic properties for which it is celebrated. The activity of the refinous matter feems to be deftroyed by the heat neceffary to its elevation, as the diftilled water of opium is perfectly inert.

5. The fmall portion of effential falt which opium contains, is analogous to that of other vegetable fubftances, and poffeffed of no, peculiar properties.

6. Whether it be occafioned by the prefence of the faline matter, or by the attraction between the gum and refin, the union of both is fo ftrong, that the refin cannot be perfectly feparated from the gum by the action of different menftrua.

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7. Any fuch feparation of the component parts of the medicine, is of no ufe whatever in medical practice.'

Dr. Crumpe next examines the different opinions of various authors, on the fubject of opium, and refutes (no difficult tafk) the frange doctrines formerly offered, refpecting its operation; particularly combating Fontana's fyftem of its acting on the blood, and Mr. Hunter's fancy of the blood being endued with life. He afterwards produces his own opinions, which, as Hamlet fays, are words-mere words.' The animal fyftem, he fays, is endued with excitability, a principle not confined to the nerves, and, on this, opium acts as a ftimulant.-As a ftimulus, it is tranfitory, though diffusible, and hence arifes its indirect action. This is the opinion nearly of the late John Brown; and we muft attend to it a little, left too hafty an affent fhould lead us into error.

Opium has certainly at first a ftimulating power; but that it must confequently operate as a ftimulant, is gratuitous. If its fedative operations be the effect of primarily ftimulant ones, the degree of the latter fhould be in proportion to that of the former. This, however, is not the cafe, and, by increafing the dofe, opium will appear to be fedative, without any prior marks of ftimulus. When applied to the eye, &c. it produces pain, but this is alfo the cafe with every extraneous body; and, in many of the inftances, pure water will do the fame. Admit, however, the facts: muft it follow that opium is fedative only because it has been a ftimulant? As a gumrefin it must be ftimulant, for the refin of plants is univerfally fo; but the ftimulus of the coagulated oil is mitigated by the peculiar effects of the juices of the poppy.

Such are the primary effects refulting from its partial or general. operation on the body in a state of health, and fuch can be the confequences of a ftimulant power alone. That it fhews manifeft figns of the fame property, when operating upon the fyftem in a difeafed

State,

ftate, is equally evident. In the latter ftage of typhus fever, attended with delirium fubfultus tendinum, and other fymptoms arifing at that period from the great debility of the fyftem, like wine, the vo latile aromatic fpirits, and other stimulants, either alone or in conjunction with them, opium has the moft falutary effects. Of this the most respectable authors and practitioners have described and witneffed a variety of inftances. In intermittent fevers it has frequently prevented the recurrence of a paroxyfm, when given before its expected approach: or even when exhibited after its commencement, it moderates its violence, and brings it to a fpeedy and eafy termination; in thefe effects refembling the volatile and ammoniacal falts, aromatics, and many other ftimuli, which have fo frequently been prescribed with fimilar intentions and event. In the confluent fmall-pox, where a weak and quick pulfe, flat and watery puftules, pallid fkin, and other fimilar fymptoms, denote a confiderable degree of debility prefent, like wine and other cordials it is ftrongly indicated, and frequently produces moft defirable confequences; and in a variety of spafmodic affections it is, as well as other stimulants, a remedy of acknowledged efficacy. But, deferring to a fubfequent chapter a more particular enumeration of its falutary effects in these and several other difeafes, I fhall content myself with referring to the authors already quoted in the fecond chapter, and tranfcribing from a few others fome paffages which will fufficiently prove, that its stimulant properties and cordial effects have been very generally and diftinétly noticed, and that it has been very frequently and fuccefsfully employed with fuch intentions by practitioners of the greatest skill and character. And firft let me place the venerable Sydenham, in general fagacious in his enquiries, and ever actuated by the spirit of fidelity in relating their refults engaged in extenfive practice, this medicine was frequently exhibited by him, and in fo great a variety of inftances, his attentive mind could fcarce fail being ftruck with the ftimulant powers it fo obviously pofleffes; and we accordingly find, that he not only frequently prefcribed it with an intention of fupporting the powers of nature when languishing or oppreffed, but confidered it as the moft fupreme cordial ever difcovered: "Et præftantiflimum fit remedium, cardiacum unicum pene dixerim," are the expreffive words he employs in conveying his fentiment to his readers. That the celebrated Callen perceived fimilar effects, and prefcribed it with fimilar intentions, will be evident from a flight perufal of his practical works. In Haller's Commentaries on the Inftitutes of Boerhaave we meet with a paffage which clearly proves that he aifo was ftruck with it's ftimulant properties, as he therein compares its action to one of the most powerful stimuli we are acquainted with. "Opium, fays he, non alia ratione agit in corpus, quam alcohol." A fentiment alfo adopted by Huxham, who, fpeaking of the em

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ployment of opiates in fmall-pox, fays, "They are fimilar in effect to large dofes of fpirituous liquors."

Such is the acute reasoning so warmly recommended! We will meet it pointedly. We deny, in the last stage of typhus, that, like wine, &c. opium has the most falutary effects, if by this equivocal expreffion the author means to infinuate that the effects are fimilar. We have often tried them attentively: wine will increase the quickness and frequency of the pulfe; in some instances induce fleep, but generally with a flushed face, frequently with a clammy fweat, and laborious respiration. When more cautiously exhibited, it feems to recruit like food, or fleep. Opium, on the contrary, in these cases, does not increase the colour, or the quickness of the pulse: the subfultus leffens; the distracted looks affume a more complacent afpect; fleep, or a ferene state of mind comes on; the skin is fofter, the tendons lefs tenfe. These are the appearances, and, if the one is a ftimulant, what is the other?

In intermittents, it ftops a fever, and ftimulants do the fame -Excellent logician! By the fame mode of reasoning, the cold bath, terror, a baked spider, and à numerous train of different and oppofite remedies, act in the fame way.

In the confluent small-pox it is useful, when the skin is pal lid. Is not mufk the fame? and is not every remedy, which determines to the skin, equally useful? We believe Dr. Crumpe and every other practitioner does not, in these cases, trust to fuch a ftimulant, without wine and aromatics. This firft of ftimuli, therefore, to fucceed, requires the aid of fabordi

nate ones.

Sydenham calls it a cordial: it is fo, but not a cordial as it is a ftimulant. We have taken it often, and it induces a placid ferenity, rather than high spirits: it feems to take off a weight rather than to add energy; and, above all, it is chiefly cardiac when it has ceafed to be a timulant.

Once more: it is injurious in inflammatory diseases. True, but not as a stimulant, for, if the proper fecretions are kept up, it is highly beneficial. In rheumatifm, where its peculiar property of determining to the skin is ufeful, opium never injures from its ftimulating qualities. The pharmaceutical management of opium, and its ufe and abufe in different difeafes conclude the volume; but these parts offer nothing particular or new. The opinions may be easily understood from the author's previous doctrines.

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The

The Duty of Citizens in the Prefent Crifis. 8vo. 3. fewed. Westley. 1793.

WE E are told that the Addrefs, which forms the first pages of this work, was written originally for one of the late popular affociations; and as many gentlemen, who then defired to become fubfcribing parties, have fince requested copies, it is now prefented to them with elucidations.

It is a calm, manly, and expoftulatory addrefs to the people of this country, on the propriety of guarding, at the prefent important moment, that liberty which has been fo dearly purchafed by their ancestors; and to do all in their power to amend those parts of the conftitution, which have either been impaired by time, or have not yet been rendered perfect. The points particularly infifted on are, a reform in parliamentary reprefentation, an abhorrence of the fufpenfion of the habeas corpus act, a steady defence and attachment to the mode of trial by jury, and the high importance of preserving the liberty of the prefs; concluding with an exhortation of the neceffity of revifing and fimplifying the laws of England.

On each of thefe fubjects the author agues with equal ability and candour, particularly on the laft; a circumftance which inclines us to conclude, that he has made it his particular study. He afterwards proceeds to confider the weight of the people in the fcale of government, and the refponfibility of minifters. On the former of these fubjects we shall felect a portion, which may serve to fhew the manner and spirit in which the whole of the pamphlet is written :

An idea, fays the author, has been industrioufly circulated, that the people are despised as a multitude and cyphers in the state. The pofition I fhould hope to be impoffible; and the face of the country stamps it fo. A view of the government evidently manifefts that, although the established plan of its adminiftration delegates authority to separate eftates, in the character of trustees for the community, there can actually be but one, and, politically, only two parties, the king and the people; and that there does not exift a middle class. For, what are the nobility but a small number uppofed to be selected and dignified by their virtues and fervices, and polit cally entrusted, for the benefit of the people, with the intermediate fituation of a council and jury of the nation?

The people are the real and folid fupport of the ftate; and inftead of not exifting any where, they are to be seen in all stations, as the prominent figure in the scene. Are they in the management of the government?-there can be no goverment without them. Are they poffeffed of power? They are, as being the national trustees

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