Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 003.djvu/96

 do, when they sleep on the top of the Sea; for they float asleep (faith he) in a calm day a long time, so that the Sea-men hoise out their Boats and row gently to them, and either strike them with irons, or ensnare their Legs with a Rope and a running Net, and so take them. He doth not remember any Swim or Bladder in them, than what contains their Urine.

Fourthly, he observes of the Purging-nuts (of whom so much is said by Authors, as Ligon, Piso, Simon Pauli, &c.) that he could never adjust the Dose, having given from 3 to 60, without any effect in the same person, so that he never durst rely on them; yet he adds, that they often do work as is related.

Fifthly, he notes, that he never saw any good effect of the most innocent Purge during his stay in the Indies, except in Chronical distempers; nor did he ever almost give any, after frequent tryals had made him cautious, but Pills that were Antimonial, or Mercurius vitæ, or Vomitive Infusions.

Sixthly, he relates, that inquiring at the Barbadoes of the Doctors and Chirurgions there, about the use of Opium, so much magnified by Bontius and Piso, he heard them all condemn it, as most stupifying and mortal; and found, that they us'd the London-Laudanum, which he observ'd to be very narcotique, the Opium being extracted with Spirit of Wine. But he faith, he had a Laudanum of Monsieur Le Fevre, call'd Laudanum Simplex, of torrefied Opium, extracted with distill'd Vinegar and some other Correctives, which he affirms never stupifies, no, nor inclines to sleep after 'tis taken, yet immediately easeth all pain. He adds, that he used the London-Laudenum several times, and found two grains to stupifie so, that those who took it, were almost senseless for two days, even when it was mixt with purging Pills in the Colick; but that other never rendred them sleepy; and if they fell asleep, and he awaken'd them presently after, he found them as intelligent, as if they had taken nothing of Opium To which he subjoyns, that he took it himself for 14 weeks every night in the Bilious Colick, where it immediately ceas'd his pains, but perhaps he slept not till two or three hours after; taking it with so much security, that he very seldom weigh'd it, but guess'd at a Pill of two or three, or (as he found his mistake sometimes, when he weigh'd it out of curiosity) even four grains. Rh