An Experimental Inquiry Into the Properties of Opium, and Its Effects on Living Subjects; With Observations on Its History, Preparations and Uses - By John Leigh (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1786 Excerpt: ... "dually increase it to the size of a pea; "in one hour's time they begin to feel "its effects. The Persians say it enter"tains their fancies with pleasant visions, "and a kind of rapture; they very soon grow merry, then burst into a laugh, "which continues till they die away in a "swoon. It is found by those who have "a disposition for jesting, to increase that "extremely. After the operation of this remedy, the body grows cold, pensive, "and heavy; in this dull and indolent "situation it remains till the dose is re"peated. Those of the Persians who are ' accustomed to use this remedy cannot "live without it; the want of it produces "depression of spirits, and a languor and "debility are instantly discovered in the "countenance. The Turks say they can"not live without opium, unless wine is "given them in its place; and even then fl they are not concent, as they say that "wine does not operate so powerfully on "them as opium." It is said by some writers, that among many of the Turks opium is used to the quantity of ten drachms in the day. Kerr observes, that it is the custom of the Chinese to smoke opium in their pipes in the place of tobacco; and this they do because it produces a liveliness in them. Chardin mentions the following circumstances: "When a Persian finds himself in a dis"tressed situation, he has recourse to a "piece of opium as big as his thumb, and "immediately after taking this he drinks a "glass of vinegar; this throws him into a fit of laughter and every extravagancy "of mirth, which terminates in death: $ hence this common saying among them, "When you are ivearied with life, have re' course to opium and vinegar, and then you "die Garcias. "die merrily. There is a decoction which "is made of the shells and seeds of the ' poppy, this t...