A natural history containing many not common observations extracted out of the best modern writers / by Sir Thomas Pope Blount, Baronet.

Observations concerning OPIVM.

OPIUM is a Tear which flows from the wounded Heads of the Poppy being ripe: Some do pro∣misc••••usly use it with MECONI∣UM, but very improperly; for O∣PIUM is a Drop or Tear, MECO∣NIUM the gross expressed Juice from the whole Plant; however they are both of one Quality: O∣PIUM is the finer Gum, and the stronger; MECONIUM is the courser and weaker, yet the more malign.

OPIUM is of three sorts. 1. Black and hard from Syria and Aden. 2. Yellower and softer from Cam∣baia. 3. Whiter from Cairo or Thebes; which last commonly cal∣led Thebian-OPIUM, is the best, be∣ing

heavy, thick, strong scented like Poppy, bitter and sharp, infla∣mable, almost of the Colour of Aloes, and easy to dissolve in Wa∣ter. The Counter••eit, when washed, colours the Water like Saffron.

The OPIUM, which is spent in Europe, comes from Aden or Cairo; but that which is sold in the Indies comes out of the Province of Gualor, in Indostan, and is nothing but the Juice which is got out of POPPY, by an Incision made therein, when it begins to grow ripe. All the Eastern Nations are great Lovers of it, insomuch that the young People, who are not permitted the use of it, and the meauer sort, who are not able to buy it, will boil the POPPY it self, and eat of the Broth which is made thereof. And whereas the POPPY among them is called Pust, they thence call those Pusty, who make use of that Broath, instead of OPIUM. The Persians affirm, that they were the first who made use of it, and that all other Nations did it

in Imitation of their Grandees, who took it, at first, to provoke Sleep. They take every Day a small Pill of it, about the bigness of a Pea; not so much in order to Sleeping, as that it should work the same effect as Wine does, which infuses Courage and great Hopes into those, who otherwise would not discover much of either. The Caffees, or Messen∣gers, who travel into the Country, take of it to hearten themselves; but the Indians make use of it for the most part, that they may be the better fitted for the Enjoyments of W••men. No doubt but it is a Poy∣son, which kills, if a Man do not accustom himself thereto by little and little; and when he hath so ac∣c••••••om••d ••imself, he must continue the frequent use of it, or he dies, on the other side. It so weakens their B••ains who take it continually, that they run ••he hazard of losing the use of their Reason, an•• ••he principal Functions of their Understanding, and become in a manner stupid, if

they recover not themselves by the same Remedy. MANDELSLO's Trav. into the Indies, pag. 67.

OPIUM is commonly used a∣mong the Persians; they make Pills of it of the bigness of a Pea, and take two or three of them at a time. Those who are accustomed thereto, will take about an Ounce at a time. There are some who take of it only once in two or three Days, which makes them Sleepy, and a little di∣sturbs their Brains, so as that they are as if they were a little entred in Drink. There is abundance of it made in Persia, especially at Ispahan, and it is thus ordered. The POPPY being yet green, they cleave the Head of it, out of which there comes a white Liquor, which being ex∣pos'd to the Air grows bl••ck, and their Apothecaries and D••uggi••••s trade very much in it. All 〈…〉〈…〉 East they use this D••ug, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Indians, as w••ll as the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 insomuch, that Bellen s••y••▪ 〈…〉〈…〉 Observations, that if a Turk 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but

a P••nny, he will spend a Farthing o•• it in OPIUM; that he saw above ••it∣ty Camels loaden with it, going from Natolia into Turky, Persia, and the Indies; and that a Ianizary, who had taken a whole Ounce of OPI∣UM one Day, took the next Day two, and was never the worse for it, save that it wrought the same effect in him, as Wine does in such as take too much of it, and that he stagger'd a little. It hath also this Quality common with Wine, that it does in∣fuse Courage into those who have not much. And therefore the Turks never fail to take of it before they enter up∣on any great Design. The Women do not ordinarily take any; but those who are not able to b••ar with their untoward and imperious Husbands, and prefer Death b••fore the Slavery they live in, do sometimes make use of OPIUM, whereof they take a good Q••antity, and drinking cold Water upon it, they, by a gentle and insensi∣••l•• D••ath, depart this World. OLEA∣••••••S's Trav. of the Ambass••dors, &c. p••••. 2••9.

Dr. Bernier, in his History of the late Revolution of the Empire of Mogol, says, that the Ragipous, or the Souldiers of that Kingdom, are great takers of OPIUM; that he has oftentimes wonder'd to see them take such great Qua••tity; that they accustom themsel••es to it from their Youth; that on the Day of B••ttel they double the Dose, this Drug animating, or rather in∣ebriating them, and making them insensible of Danger; insomuch, that they cast themselves into the Combat like so many furious Beasts, not knowing what it is to run a∣way, but dying at the Feet of their Commanders, when they stand to it. 'Tis a pleasure, says the Dr. thus to see them, with the Fume of O∣PIUM in their Head, to embrace one another; when the Battel is to begin, and to give their Mutual Farewells. as Men resolv'd to dye. Pag. 60.

Tavernier says, that such of the Persians, who from their Youth

have been great Takers of OPI∣UM, are short liv'd: And that if they do live till Forty, they com∣plain heavily of the Pains that pro∣ceed from the cold Venome of the Herb.

He says, that those who have a Mind to kill themselves, swallow a large piece, and drink Vinegar after it, to prevent the relief of a∣ny other Counter-Poyson, and so they dye Smiling. TAVERN. Trav. into Persia Pag. 242.

Sachsius in the Ephemerides Ger∣manicae An. 2. Observ. 69. is of O∣pinion, that OPIUM is an Inciter of Venery in those who live in the Eastern parts of the World; but that it hath a quite contrary Effect on those who inhabit the Western. But herein he seems to be singular; since all other Authors do agree, tha•• OPIUM in both, is a very great pro••ocative to Lust.

Iohannes I••cobus Saar, in his Iti∣••erar. L••d. Orie••t Pag. 11. says, that the Indians make an Electuary of

OPIUM, which the Chineses take on purpose to Excite them to Lust and that by Virtue thereof, they can ly a whole Night in a constant Enjoyment.

Wagnerus in his Historia Natu∣ralis Helvetiae, Pag. 262. says, that in Argovia, where POPPY is sow'd in great quantity, they express on Oyl out of the Seed, which they use in their Lamps instead of Olive-Oyl: That some make use of it with their Meat instead of Butter, and that they also Knead it with their Flower, and make Cakes of it, which they eat without any manner of harm.