The ignorant use of poppy-tea has frequently caused the death of young children; thus in 1875 an inquest was held at Chelsea on the body of a little boy two years and a half old. He had been suffering from whooping-cough and enlargement of the bowels, and poppy-tea was by the advice of a neighbour given to him. Two poppy-heads were used in making a quart of tea, and the boy, after drinking a great portion of it, fell into a deep sleep, and died with all the symptoms of narcotic poisoning.
§ 350. Doses of Opium and Morphia.—Opium in the solid state is prescribed for adults in quantities not exceeding 3 grains, the usual dose being from 16·2 mgrms. to 64·8 mgrms. (1⁄4 to 1 grain). The extract of opium is given in exactly the same proportions (special circumstances, such as the habitual use of opium, excepted); the dose of all the compounds of opium is mainly regulated by the proportion of opium contained in them.
The dose for children (who bear opium ill) is usually very small; single drops of laudanum are given to infants at the breast, and the dose cautiously increased according to age. Most practitioners would consider half a grain a very full dose, and, in cases requiring it, would seldom prescribe at first more than 1⁄16 to 1⁄4 grain.
The dose of solid opium for a horse is from 1·77 grm. to 7·08 grms. (1⁄2 drachm to 2 drachms); in extreme cases, however, 4 drachms (14·16 grms.) have been given.
The dose for large cattle is from ·648 grm. to 3·88 grms. (10 to 60 grains); for calves, ·648 grm. (10 grains); for dogs it is greatly regulated by the size of the animal, 16·2 to 129·6 mgrms. (1⁄4 grain to 2 grains).
Fatal Dose.—Cases are recorded of infants dying from extremely small doses of opium, e.g., ·7, 4·3, and 8·1 mgrms. (1⁄90, 1⁄15, and 1⁄8 of a grain); but in such instances one cannot help suspecting some mistake. It may, however, be freely conceded that a very small quantity might be fatal to infants, and that 3 mgrms. given to a child under one year would probably develop serious symptoms.
The smallest dose of solid opium known to have proved fatal to adults was equal to 259 mgrms. (4 grains) of crude opium (Taylor), and the smallest dose of the tincture (laudanum), 7·0 c.c. (2 drachms), (Taylor); the latter is, however, as already shown, uncertain in its composition.
A dangerous dose (save under special circumstances) is:—For a horse, 14·17 grms. (4 drachms); for cattle, 7·04 grms. (2 drachms); for a dog of the size and strength of a foxhound, 204 mgrms. (3 grains).
Enormous and otherwise fatal doses may be taken under certain conditions by persons who are not opium-eaters. I have seen 13 cgrms. (2 grains) of morphine acetate injected hypodermically in a strong man suffering from rabies with but little effect. Tetanus, strychnine, convulsions, and excessive pain all decrease the sensibility of the nervous system to opium.