eumatic pains in the joints,
and severe contusions. A pillow stuffed with hops acts as a narcotic.
When the powder is mixed with lard, it acts as an anodyne dressing in
painful ulcers.

_Dose_, of the _extract_, from five grains to one scruple; of the
_tincture_, from half a drachm to two drachms; of the _powder_, from
three! grains to one scruple; of the _infusion_, half an ounce to one
and a half ounce.

700. Opium

Opium is a stimulant, narcotic, and anodyne.

_Used externally_ it acts almost as well as when taken into the
stomach, and without affecting the head or causing nausea. Applied to
irritable ulcers in the form of tincture, it promotes their cure, and
allays pain. Cloths dipped in a strong solution, and applied over
painful bruises, tumours, or inflamed joints, allay pain. A small
piece of solid opium stuffed into a hollow tooth relieves toothache. A
weak solution of opium forms a valuable collyrium in ophthalmia. Two
drops of the wine of opium dropped into the eye acts as an excellent
stimulant in bloodshot eye; or after long-continued inflammation, it
is useful in strengthening the eye. Applied as a liniment, in
combination with ammonia and oil, or with camphorated spirit, it
relieves muscular pain. When combined with oil of turpentine, it is
useful as a liniment in spasmodic colic.

_Used internally_, it acts as a very powerful stimulant: then as a
sedative, and finally as an anodyne and narcotic, allaying pain in the
most extraordinary manner, by acting directly upon the nervous system.
In acute rheumatism it is a most excellent medicine when combined with
calomel and tartrate of antimony; but its exhibition requires the
judicious care of a medical man.

_Doses of the various preparations._--. _Confection of opium_, from
five grains to half a drachm; _extract of opium_, from one to five
grains (this is a valuable form, as it does not produce so much after
derangement of the nervous system as solid opium); _pills of soap and
opium_, from five to ten grains; _compound ipecacuanha powder_
("Dover's Powder"), from ten to fifteen grains; _compound kino
powder_, from five to fifteen grains; _wine of opium_, from ten minims
to one drachm. _Caution._--Opium is a powerful _poison_ when taken in
too large a quantity (_See_ POISONS, _pars._ 1340-1367), and thus
should be used with extreme caution. It is on this account that we
ha