for some hours almost completely insensible, with a slow, obscure pulse, and occasional convulsions.[1]
But perhaps opium may in some circumstances act even through the unbroken skin. It has certainly been often applied in this way to relieve local pain without avail. Yet on the other hand its effect is at times unequivocal; and the following incidents seem to show, that it may even prove fatal, both when the skin is healthy, and in certain diseased states of the integuments. A young dramatic writer in Paris was directed by his father, a physician, to apply over the stomach a poultice moistened with a few drops of laudanum. The patient, in order to relieve his pain more quickly, poured the whole contents of the bottle over the poultice, and soon fell into a deep sleep. Prompt assistance was obtained, but proved of no avail, and death is said to have ensued with great rapidity.[2] A soldier affected with erysipelas of the leg, had a linseed poultice applied, which his surgeon ordered to be sprinkled with 15 drops of laudanum. Next morning the patient was found in a state of deep sopor, accompanied with convulsive twitches of the muscles of the face and limbs; and in no long time he expired. His soporose state turned the surgeon's attention to the poultice, which he found coloured yellow and smelling strongly of opium; and on removing it he discovered that it was completely soaked with laudanum, which the attendant had carelessly poured on it to the extent of an ounce. The patient died notwithstanding all the remedies which his state called for; and the viscera were found quite healthy; but in many places the blood is said to have had a strong odour of opium.[3]
In an instance reported by M. Tournon of Bordeaux, death is supposed to have arisen from the introduction of opium into the external opening of the ear, as a remedy for ear-ache. It is possible that fatal poisoning may thus be induced by laudanum too freely and frequently renewed: but it seems very unlikely that death was owing to opium in the instance in question, since it was used in the solid form, and in the quantity of four grains; so that the dose was small, and absorption must have been very slow. The account merely states that the patient fell asleep, but his sleep was that of death.[4]
Of the Action of Morphia, Narcotine, Codeïa, and Meconic Acid.
The action and symptoms caused by two active principles of opium, morphia, and narcotine, have been examined by many experimentalists.
The action of morphia is nearly the same as that of opium, but more energetic. In its solid state it has little effect, being nearly insoluble. But when dissolved in olive oil, or in alcohol, or in weak acids, it excites in animals the same symptoms as opium. Experimentalists are not yet agreed as to its power. The trial of Castaing
