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.
In the most extream and violent Degree, when a large Quantity of this Poison has been taken, and gained its full Power of Action, the Symptoms are, an Inclination, but Inability, to vomit, from the great Inflammation of the Parts, Hickupings, heavy and dead Sleeps, unequal Pulse, Convulsions, Contraction of the Jaw, profuse and cold Sweats, with a total Relaxation of the extream Parts. In this State, I found a Patient, who had taken the Poison upwards of an Hour; she was lying on the Bed, in a profound Stupor, interrupted only with Convulsions.—She did not exceed the Age of Eighteen, of a slender and delicate Constitution. I ordered her immediately to be raised to a sitting Posture in Bed, supported by Attendants on each Side; and then gave the following Powder, mixed with warm Water, in a Spoon; as that was the readiest Way the Medicine could be got down, some Force being requisite, and half of it, even then, was lost, by running out at the Sides of the Mouth; yet the Stimulus of the remaining Quantity, which reached the Oesophagus, or Mouth of the Stomach, was sufficient to cause an immediate Inclination to vomit, and gave Opportunity for pouring down Fluids.
The Powder was of Ipecacuanha, and _Russia_ Castor, each half a Drachm in fine Powder, mix them for one Dose. In the Space of ten Minutes I might get down, I suppose, about one half of this Powder, and the warm Water, which we forced into her at the last, in some Quantity, occasioned her to vomit plentifully five or six different Times; her Senses yet were in no Degree returned; her Head falling upon the Shoulder, as if lifeless; the Convulsions, however, ceased, and she grew warm. I caused her then to be roused as much as possible, by a continual Movement of her Arms and Body; but to little Purpose. The following Medicines were then given:
Take of the Powder of _Russia_ Castor, Mountain Valerian Root, each half a Scruple, Aromatic Species, five Grains; and with a sufficient Quantity of Sir _Walter Raleigh_'s Cordial, mix them into a Bolus, to be taken directly, and repeated every half Hour, or oftener, as the Urgency of the Case might require.