List No. 077
MYSTERIES OF OPIUM REVEAL’D
Dr. John Jones
1700
In 1700, English physician Dr. John Jones wrote Mysteries of Opium Reveal’d, possibly the first treatise to tackle the subject of opium at a time when, despite its numerous dangerous side effects, it was freely available and used by many to cure and treat all manner of ailments. Much of Jones’ book takes the form of lists, two of which are seen here: “The Effects of Opium taken in an Excessive Quantity” and “The seeming Contradictions in the Effects of Opium”.
The Effects of Opium taken in an Excessive Quantity.
1. A Heat at Stomach.
2. A sense of Weight at Stomach (sometimes.)
3. Gaity of Humour at first.
4. Sardonick Laughter afterward.
5. Laxity, and Debility of all Parts.
6. Alienation of the Mind.
7. Loss of Memory.
8. Darkness of the Eyes.
9. Laxity of the Cornea.
10. Appearance of divers Colours.
11. Deadness of the Eyes to the View.
12. Faltring of the Tongue.
13. A Sopor.
14. A flow, and wide Pulse.
15. A high Colour.
16. Looseness of the Jaw, and Lips.
17. Intumescence of the Lips.
18. Difficulty of Breathing.
19. Fury, and Madness.
20. Venereal Fury.
21. Priapisms.
22. Violent Itchings.
23. Nausea’s.
24. Swimmings in the Head.
25. Vertigo’s.
26. Vomitings.
27. Hiccoughs.
28. A turbulent Pulse.
29. Convulsions, and Cold Sweats.
30. Faintings and Leipothymies.
31. Cold Breath.
32. Death.
Such as escape it generally have,
33. Plentiful Purging.
34. Sweats that smell of the Opium.
35. Violent Itchings in the Skin.
The seeming Contradictions in the Effects of Opium.
1. It causes Sleeping, and Watching.
2. It causes, and prevents Sweat.
3. It relaxes, and stops Loosenesses.
4. It stops Fluxes, and causes that of Sweat, &c.
5. It stupifies the Sense of Feeling, yet irritates by that Sense to Venery.
6. It causes Stupidity, and Promptitude in Business; Cloudiness, and Serenity of Mind.
7. It excites the Spirits, and quiets them.
8. It is very hot, yet cools in Fevers.
9. It is hot, and bitter; yet lessens Appetite, even in Cold Stomachs.
10. It stops, and promotes Urine.
11. It relaxes, and weakens; yet enables us to undergo Labours, Journeys, &c.
12. It causes, and prevents Abortions.
13. It stops Vomiting above all things; yet causes most violent, tedious, and dangerous Vomitings.
14. It stops Purging in a most eminent manner; yet sometimes causes it.
15. It is very acrimonious, yet (as all say) obtunds Acrimony; however, it allays Pain proceeding from Acrimony.
16. It causes a furious Madness; yet composes the Spirits above all things.
17. It causes Dropsies; yet sometimes cures them (as Willis says.)
18. It causes Palsies; yet have I known it to cure a Palsie.
19. It causes Driness in the Mouth; yet takes off Thirst in Fevers.
20. It cures, and causes a Hiccough.
21. It stanches Blood; yet causes the Blood to come outward, (as appears by the Efflorescence, or Redness of the Skin that it causes) yet moves the Menses and Lochia.
22. We have many Instances of it promoting, and hindering Critical Motions.
23. It raises very weak People, (when nothing besides will do it) yet it kills other weak People.
24. It causes, and cures Convulsions.
25. It causes Relaxation, and Contraction of the same Parts.
26. It Relaxes; yet causes Rigidity, Tension, and Erection of the Penis, Priapisms, &c.
Mysteries of Opium Reveal’d
