An experimental inquiry into the properties of opium : and its effects on living subjects: with observations on its history, preparations and uses. Being the disputation which gained the Harveian prize for the year 1785 / By John Leigh.

  • Leigh, John, active 1786.
Date:
1786
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An experimental inquiry into the properties of opium : and its effects on living subjects: with observations on its history, preparations and uses. Being the disputation which gained the Harveian prize for the year 1785 / By John Leigh. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    19 which proves that opium is the juice of the poppy procured by incifion alone. We are told, that in the province of Ba- har in the Eaft Indies, the poppy-feeds are fown in the months of O&ober and No- vember, at about eight inches diftance, and well watered till the plants are about half a foot high, when a compoft of dung, ni- trous earth, and afhes, is fpread over the areas; and a little before the flowers ap- pear, they are again watered profufely till the capfules are half grown, at which time the opium is collected; for when fully ripe, they yield but little juice: two lon- gitudinal incifions from below upwards, without penetrating the cavity, are made at fun-fet for three or four fucceflive evenings; in the morning the juice is fcraped off with an iron fcoop, and work- ed in an iron pot in the fun’s heat till it is of a confidence to be formed into thick cakes