CHAP. XL. Of the Alterative Use of the Panacea of Opium.

YOU see the mighty Extent and general Use of the Panacea of Opium as a Pleaser of Sensation, which takes up the Nine last Chapters, to mention the Heads of its Performances without descending in∣to all particulars, because their Number is inde∣finite.

How universal then must its Use be, when we add thereto its Effects as a consummate Alterative which, 1. Invigorates Nature by comfo•ting the sub∣limest Principles thereof, viz. the sensitive Soul and Spirits, that are the Original of all Motion and Action. 2. Furnishes them with an indefatigable Eu∣phory in the great Business of our Preservation. 3. Puts the best Means into the Hands of invigorated Nature for that End, that is, most agreeable Princi∣ples, even more powerful, and of a greater Energy than our own; which must (as agreeable and exalted Menstruums do) resolve all Humours, congregating the good, and homogeneous, and se∣parating the effete and heterogeneous Parts, which it, 4. Discusses and dissipates, by its brisk and active, Volatile Salt, and at last, 5. conveys out of the Body by a liberal Perspiration, the most natural, universal, and copious Way of Evacuation.

All which being considered, it is (I think) ma∣nifest, that it must excel all other Panaceas.

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• 1. Because it takes away the Grievance or Form of Diseases upon the very first Administration thereof, whereas other Medicaments do that but gradually as they alter or subdue the Matter.
• 2. Because it highly comforts Nature (or the sen∣sitive Soul, and Spirits) from the very Commence∣ment of the Cure, and through the whole Process thereof, if duly repeated; which other Medica∣ments do only by insensible Degrees, as they gain upon the Diseases.
• 3. Because it procures Sleep, the sweet and chief Refreshment of, and first Cure in Nature, so that I cannot see what can be desired in a Medicament that it is not accomplished with; whereas other Panaceas are deficient, or at least come very short of ours in these extraordinary Qualifications, which seem to make it absolutely compleat and consum∣mate.
• 4. Because it from the very first composes all Per∣turbations and enormous Motions of the sensitive Soul or Spiri•s; which Helmont attributes to the Archae∣us, placing all Diseases therein, and therefore says
  Ort. Imag. M•rb. Sect. 12. Universale quoddam ar∣canum consopotivum, & sedativum Archaei est adhi∣bendum, that is, An universal Remedy, that appeases the Archaeus, should be used.
  And what appeases or composes it more than, or as much as Opiates? There∣fore I cannot wonder that paracelsus should declare that it served his Purpose when all his Arcanas sail'd; or that Helmont should be in a Rapture upon the Ap∣prehension of the Excellency of Opium if the noxi∣ous Quality were separated from it, tho' he had a very wrong Notion of its Operation as appears, Potest. Medicam. Sect. 4. where he says, that Opium Archaeum abigit, & fugat, that is, Opium chases and puts the Archaeus to flight, which on the contrary it highly pleases, and comforts.

Page  363It is endless, and a Kind of Impertinence, to de∣scend into Particulars in the Use of a Panacea. Therefore having shown how it operates by i•vi∣gorating Nature, causing Euphory, Ease, Sleep, re∣solving all Humours, (as a general Menstruum, or Alkahest) congregating the good, separating, discussing, and carrying off the bad Particles, &c. it remains only, that I show you how to use it, as to Form, Dose, &c. leaving the Administration thereof in particular Cases to Physicians, therein concern'd.

• I. The Form, that I mainly approve of to alter, is the Liquid, because the solid is in some Measure (tho' not much) impair'd by the Evaporation to the due Consistence, and does not consist of the finest Parts, as the liquid does.

• II. The Dose may be at first about 20 Drops, ad∣ding a Drop to every Dose, till the Distemper is in good measure abated; then let the same Number of Drops be continued till the Person is well, and afterward abated by a Drop every Day till you come to ten, or less, or to such an inconsiderable Dose, that you can find no Effect at all.

  Note, That tho' I am cautious in the Dosing till trusty Experience gives more Assurance, yet do I believe that no Inconvenience will be found by far greater Doses, if by any, unless very excessive, as 1 or 2 Gallons of Wine is in respéct of a Pint, which in such Doses may be, and is injurious.

  Such as have Pain to be taken off, must use it as is directed in the Chapter of its Use to take away Pain, gradually encreasing so as to keep it off, and when the Cure is in great Measure perform'd, must continue and decrease as is aforesaid; the like is to be said as to Fluxes, &c.

• Page  364III. The Vehicle may be in general plain Water, or rather altered, and made bitter by an Infusion of the Ingredients of the bitter Decoction, or Agrimo∣ny, Wood-sage, Bean Trefoil, or the like good bitter Things, that are known by Experience to cause a good Digestion.

  In particular Cases the Vehicle may be appropria∣ted to the Disease; yet always so ordering it, that it may be stomachi•al.

• IV. The Time should generally be in the Mor∣ning, unless Sleep at Nights is to be procured there∣by; if so, you must order Things as in the Chap∣ter of its Use to cause Sleep.
• V. The Regimen must be exact Temperance and Moderation in all Things▪ and,
  • 1. As to Diet, let it be appropriated to the Di∣seases, and always of such Things as the Stomach digests without any Difficulty or Disturbance.
  • 2, As to Sleep, it should be moderate, yet so much as fully recruits and refreshes.
  • 3. As to Rest and Motion, the like Moderation must be used; for Motion must not be violent, or over-wasting of the Spirits in any Respect; yet must gentle Motion and Exercise be used; Riding on Horseback (to such as can do it) is a very whol∣som Exercise.
  • 4. As to Excretion and Retension, you should ne∣ver Purge, or Vomit, during its Use, unless there be a very special Cause; and then I would have the Vomit to be only carduated Water, and for Stools, only so much of the Scots Pill, or Stomach Pill, as will serve to open the Body, to be taken at Bed-Time, or at such Time of the Night as to cause no Disturbance before you are up in the Morning; but (generally speaking) causing no Evacuation is best, but what is the Consequence of the Panacea it self, which causes the best, most natural, universal, and considerable Evacuation by the Pores
  • Page  3655. As to the Air the dry, and temperate as to Heat and Cold, but rather inclining to Coldness, is the best; for you cannot so well err on this Hand, because the Pores will be kept open, and Colds prevented in a high manner by the Use of the Panacea, besides that Coolness is most agreeable to Digestion.
  • 6. As to Passions of the Mind, all the grievous ones should be avoided, and a fine even Chearful∣ness maintain'd as m•ch as may be; it will be ve∣ry easily continued by the Help of the Panacea, which causes it above all Things.

• 1. Note, That these Directions do generally concern its Use in Chronical Cases; for as to acute Diseases, and particular Gases; it must be left to the Management of the present Physician.
• 2. Note, That its Use as an Evacuative has been sufficiently treated of in the Chapter of its Use to cause Fluxes and Evacuations.
• 3. Note. That notwithstanding all I have said of the most excellent Qualifications of the Panacea of Opium, I submit all to farther Experience, at the In∣troduction of which I mainly aim, by endeavou∣ring to take off People's Fears and Iealousies▪ which have ever been the greatest Hinderers of Improvement in Cure, more especially in Refe∣rence to the Use of Opiates, (which without Doubt) will cure many Diseases more than ever they were used for, (at least as Alteratives) which if my Discourse does Occasion, I shall thank and praise the Author of all Good, for making me instrumen∣tal thereto.