NARCOTICS (Gr. narla, stupor) arc remedies which, in moderate doses, lessen the action of the nervous system. Their full operation is sleep or coma. Opium is the type from which most descriptions of this class of medicines have been drawn; but although most narcotics more or less resemble opium their action, almost every one presents some peculiarity in the way in which it affects the system. These medicines are primarily stimulating, especially when given in small or moderate doses; but this stage of their action is comparatively short; and when the dose is large the excitement is scarcely per ceptible. Their power of inducing sleep has procured for them the names of hypnotics and soporifics; while many of them are termed anodynes, from their possessing the property of alleviating pain. Next to opium, henbane, Indian hemp, and aconite may be regarded as the most important narcotics. It has been already mentioned that there are differences in the mode of operation of the different members of this class. " Sonic dilate, while others contract the pupil; some appear to concentrate their sedative action more particularly upon the functions of the encephalon, others upon the contractile power of the alimentary and bronchial tubes, while a strict distinction is to be drawn between those which occasion constipation and those which do not; all these things being of great importance."—Ballard and Garrod's Elements of Matcria p. 13.
Narcotics are usually administered eitliar with the view of inducing sleep or of allevi ating pain 'or spasm. As, however, their action is much modified by a variety of cir cumstances—such as age, idiosyncrasy, and prolonged use—they should be administered with extreme caution; and, as a general rule, only under competent advice. The various
quack medicines for children which are known as carminatives, soothing syrups, etc., con tain some form of opium, and are a fertile cause of the great mortality that occurs in early life, especially among the poorer classes. • • It is almost unnecessary to add that all the narcotics when taken in excess are poison ous.
NARCOTINE (C4,,H25N0,4+2Aq) is one of the organic bases or alkaloids occurring in opium, in which it usually exists in the proportion of 6 or 8 per cent. It is nearly insoluble in water, but dissolves readily in alcohol, ether, and chloroform. Its ethereal solution, when submitted to spontaneous evaporation, yields it crystallized in colorless acicular groups or in rhombic prisms. A mixture of concentrated sulphuric and nitric acids produces a blood-red color with narcotine and its compounds. Narcotine possesses very slight alkaline properties; its salts do not readily crystallize, and are even more hitter than those of morphia, although the substance itself is almost tasteless. When first dis covered (in 1803), it was supposed to be the stimulant principle of opium; but in reality it possesses very little activity. It has been prescribed in gradually increased doses up to a scruple, without the least injury. Its sulphate has been used in India as a sub stitute for quinine; and nearly 200 cases of intermittent and remittent fevers, treated by it with success, have been published by Dr. O'Shaughnessy.