A modification of Dr. Marshall Hall's plan of treating drowned per sons, when no longer able to stand or walk about, would be useful. One point In this plan is to avoid laying the patient on his back, but, on the contrary, on his face, with his arms folded under his head, and moving him from aide to aide so as to cause successive expirations and inspirations, sixteen times in the minute only. (See ' The Lancet,' April 12, 18S6.) The officinal preparations of opium are numerous, and are fitted for different purposes. It is to be regretted that they are not of uniform strength, as this proves a source of inconvenience, as well as sometimes of danger. The great variation in strength of the tincture of opium, as found in the shops, has been pointed out by Dr. Christisun (' Edin.• Medical and Surgical Journal, rubs alias, p. 329), and even a greater difference is to be found in the syrup of poppies, which as generally prepared is a feeble preparation, but in other instances so powerful as to prove, in the dose of a few drops, fatal to children. (See' Returns from the Coroners of England and Wales, of all Inquisitions held by them during the years 1837 and 1839,in cases where Death was found, by Verdict of Jury, to have been caused by Poison,' laid before parliament, on the motion of Sir Robert Inglis.) Numerous also are the instances of deaths from mothers and nurses administering nostrum', such as Godfrey'a cordial and other soothing medicines, the most potent ingredient in which is opium. Paregorio elixir, though a
weaker preparation than tincture of opium alone, or laudanum, differs much in strength in the two kingdoms. Scotch paregoric elixir is only one-fifth of the strength of laudanum, while English paregoric elixir is four times weaker. Some secret preparations in extensive use are, on the other hand, considerably stronger, such as the black drop, Ilattley'a sedative liquor, and Jeremie's sedative solution, which last is now much employed in India, and even in Britain. It seems not to be followed by headache or constipation, effects so inconvenient that to avoid them the alkaloids of opium have been substituted for the crude drug. Thus acetate and hydrochlomte of morphia often agree with the system, where opium is unsuitable; and a syrup of codeia is elliceciaus against the gastric disorders of tropical climates, where opium or morphia even cannot be borne. ('Journal de Pharmacia; tom. xxiii. p. 418; et tont xxiv., p. 144.) The capsules of the white poppy are ordered to be used to form an extract, and a decoction which is employed as a fomentation. These should be collected before they become ripe, as all the morphia is dissipated afterwards. The petals of the wild field poppy, P.
are used to form a syrup, which is only esteemed as a colouring material, and Is not narcotic.
(Sachs, has Opiont,litinigsberg,1836 ; Charvet, De i'A ction compare e de 11)ply* ; Christison, On Poisons ; l'ereira, in Maleria 1Nabica, and Holland, Medical Note" and Deflections.)