Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1910 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IX POISONING FROM OPIUM, SOLANACEAE AND PLANTS THAT CONTAIN SAPON1NS. The use of opium by Chinese and other races is as Fliickiger and Hanbury say, "in the words of Pereira, the most important and valuable used in medicine of the whole Materia Medica; and we may add, the source by its judicious employment of more happiness by mankind." Blyth in his work on Poisons, states that in England and Wales 1505 deaths were attributed to the use of opium or its active constituents between the years 1898-1903. Of these 882 were accidental or because of negligence, 621 were suicidal. In France opium and morphin poisons are said to cause about 1 per cent of the cases of poisoning. Various patent medicines contain opium or some of its products and in the past have been the cause of frequent cases of poisoning. The use of the drug in patent medicines for children in the United States in the form of soothing syrups was once more common than now. The use of opium for infants is a common practice in India, according to Blyth who quotes from Dr. Chevers.1 In general the opium and morphin poisoning are as follows: The beats of the heart are at first accelerated and then diminished. Large doses introduced into the circulation diminish the pulsations without acceleration and may even cause heart paralysis. "The arterial blood pressure, at first increased is afterwards diminished. If morphin is in sufficient quantity thrown into the circulation, then tetanus at once occurs. Depression and stimulation depend on dosage. The common form occurring in 99 per cent of the cases; excitement, narcosis, and coma, bowels nearly always constipated. (2) A very sudden form in which death occurs rapidly, the person sinks into a deep sleep almost immediately. (2) An...
