OCR Text |
Show 520 WHITE POPPY. WHITE POPPY, ing so well how acceptable every communication of this kind, though extended even to minuteness, is to the interested inquirer, To the utmost of my power I have complied with the requisition of the Society in class 175, in describing the mode of cultivating the poppies, and preparing my opium; and, in doing this, I can truly say that every thing which I have advancedis founded on the evidence of facts. Ihave been unwilling to indulge myself in mere speculation, being of opinion that a paper of such ade. scription as the present would prove much moreacceptable if confined to experiment alone. Had it been necessary, I could have introduced a variety of quotations on this subject, describing the methodof preparing opiumin other countries ; but surely this would have been foreign to the subject. The information which the Societyandthe public require, is what really has and may be done, as related in this paper. This information does not consist of vague evidence, collected from accounts of doubtful veracity, and of course more calculated to mislead than instruct; on the contrary, I have closely adhered to what I conceived to be the principal intention of the Society; have related nothing but what I teria medica in the university of Edinburgh, informed the pu blic, more than sixty years ago (See Med. Essays, vol. vy), that the milky juice, drawn by him from the heads of the white poppy, soon acquired the consistence of opium, whenits taste, smell, faculties, &c. were the same as thoseof that drug. In the year 1791 I convinced myself of the truth of his assertion, by repeating his experiments, which I noticed the following year in my Medical Botany. Soonafterthis time I appropriated a part of the garden at the Small-pox Hospital for the growth of the Papaver somniferum, from the green capsules of which were collected between two and three ounces of opium, which was found to be moreefficacious than that of the exotic, as appeared upontrials of it made by several of my medical actually saw ; have confined myself to a bare recital of circumstances; and have only occasionally ventured to make deduc- tions. I acknowledge, with heartfelt pleasure, the repeated honours with which the Society has distinguished me; am not without hope, that this additional proof of perseyerance and exertion will also receive its approbation. Withthe certificates I have inclosed a very flattering letter from Dr, Woodville, author of Medical Botany. It ina great measure proves, that if the practicability of preparing this inestimable medicine in this kingdom can be established, the opium itself possesses every quality that can be desired, I remain, sir, your most ohedient servant, Tuomas JoneEs. Sir, I called yesterday morning to examine the opium collected by you fromthe capsules of the white poppy; and I have no doubt, fromits taste, smell, colour, and purity, but that it is more powerful and efficacious than the best foreign opium im. ported into this country, The late Dr. Alston, when professor of botan y and the mas friends. 591 But the great tropble and length of time required for the collection of the juice, induced me at that time to think that the manufacture of this valuable medicine in England did not hold forth any prospect of commercial advantage. However, since I have seen the great quantity of it collected under your direction, I sincerely hope that the above opinion will prove to be unfounded, and congratulate you on your success. Your obedient servant, W. Woopyittr. To the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. I, William Duncan, of Philpot-lane, in the city of London, chemist and druggist, do hereby certify, that I have examined twenty-one pounds seven ounces of opium, made by Mr. Thomas Jones, of Fish-street Hill, from poppies grown onhis planta. tion at Enfield ; and I declare, that it appears to me to be as fine opium as the best I have ever seen in the course of my ex- perience, for upwards of thirty years: and I further declare, that the whole of the said twenty-one pounds seven ouncesis of equal quality with the five pounds sent herewith for the inSpection of the said society. Witr1am Doncan. To the Committee ofthe Society for the Encouragement of Arts, &c. _ Gentlemen, agreeably to your request to the physicians. of St. George’s Hospital, conveyed in a letter of the 5th of May last, I, as one of that body, return you the resultofthetrials |