of intoxication, which was necessary to
relieve the patient in the epilepsia dolorifica.

6. There is likewise some relief given by opium to inflammatory pains, or
those from excess of motion in the affected part; but with this difference,
that this relief from the pains, and the sleep, which it occasions, does
not occur till some hours after the exhibition of the opium. This requires
to be explained; after the stimulus of opium or of alcohol ceases, as after
common drunkenness, a consequent torpor comes on; and the whole habit
becomes less irritable by the natural stimuli. Hence the head-achs,
sickness, and languor, on the next day after intoxication, with cold skin,
and general debility. Now in pains from excess of motion, called
inflammatory pains, when opium is given, the pain is not relieved, till the
debility comes on after the stimulus ceases to act; for then after the
greater stimulus of the opium has exhausted much of the sensorial power;
the less stimulus, which before caused the pain, does not now excite the
part into unnatural action.

In these cases the stimulus of the opium first increases the pain; and it
sometimes happens, that so great a torpor follows, as to produce the death
or mortification of the affected part; whence the danger of giving opium in
inflammatory diseases, especially in inflammation of the bowels; but in
general the pain returns with its former violence, when the torpor above
mentioned ceases. Hence these pains attended with inflammation are best
relieved by copious venesection, other evacuations, and the class of
medicines called torpentia.

7. These pains from excess of motion are attended with increased heat of
the whole, or of the affected part, and a strong quick pulse; the pains
from defect of motion are attended with cold extremities, and a weak pulse;
which is also generally more frequent than natural, but not always so.

8. Opium and alcohol are the only two drugs, we are much acquainted with,
which intoxicate; and by this circumstance are easily distinguished from
the secernentia and sorbentia. Camphor, and cicuta, and nicotiana, are
thought to induce a kind of intoxication; and there are many other drugs of
this class, whose effects are less known, or their doses not ascertained;
as atropa belladonna, hyocyamus, stramonium, prunus laurocerasus,
menispermum, cynoglossum, some fungi, and the water distilled from black
cherry-stones; the last of which was once much in use fo