A solution of morphine in distilled water is an excellent astringent anodyne in conjunctivitis, and, combined with atropine, in iritis. Rx, Morphinae sulph., grs. iv—grs. viij; aquae destil., oz j. M. Sig.: A few drops to be put into the eye as necessary, Rx Morphinae sulphatis, grs. iv; zinci sulphatis, grs. ij; aquae destil., oz j. M. Sig.: Lotion for iritis and other inflammatory affections of the eye. The last formula, omitting the zinc, is an excellent application in earache, the external meatus being filled with it, and in toothache, a few drops on cotton being placed in the hollow of the tooth,

Local inflammatory swellings, painful in character, can be relieved somewhat by poultices containing laudanum. Frictions with laudanum are serviceable in lumbago, sciatica, myalgia, and similar superficial painful affections. An infusion of opium ( 3 j—Oj), applied hot, is an excellent application to inflamed joints, inflamed testicle, etc.

On the Combined Uses of Opium and Belladonna, Morphine, and Atropine.—The conjoined use of these agents is so important a subject from the point of view of practical therapeutics, that the author purposes to consider it under this head. Although a physiological antagonism as respects a part of their action unquestionably exists, it does not extend throughout their whole range of influence in the organism. The balance of actions furthermore produces results which neither is capable of singly. Hence the importance of a more direct presentation of these points than has been heretofore given.

Both act on the brain, atropine causing delirium, hallucinations, and disturbed sleep; morphine producing stupor, somnolence, hebetude of mind. Both relieve pain, but this effect is much greater in the case of morphine. Both produce disorders of motility, staggering, difficulty of co-ordination of muscular movements, vertigo, confusion of mind, and headache. The reciprocal influence exerted upon each other, when they are administered together, modifies in a remarkable manner their physiological effects.

Morphine corrects the illusions and phantasms produced by atropine. In small doses (e. g., one ninety-sixth of a grain) atropine increases the hypnotic power of morphine, with the result of causing a less disturbed and more nearly normal sleep than is produced by morphine alone. If, however, the quantity of atropine be in excess of what is necessary to establish the physiological balance in the cerebrum, it overrides the action of morphine and asserts its own peculiar power of inducing phantasms, illusions, and hallucinations.

The pain-relieving power of morphine is rather increased than diminished by atropine. The disorders of motility are enhanced by the mutual reactions of the two agents. The after-headache, vertigo, nausea, and depression of the heart's action caused by morphine, are to a large extent prevented by the conjoined administration of atropine. When a large quantity of opium, or morphine, is given by any of the modes of administration, its immediate depressing effects are counteracted by the simultaneous use of belladonna or atropine. Morphine produces contraction of the pupil, and a tetanic condition (according to Graefe) of the muscle of accommodation; atropine causes dilatation of the pupil and contraction of the ciliary muscle. When used together these effects may be precisely balanced. It requires but a minute quantity of atropine to overcome the action of morphine on the pupil. When these effects on the pupil are balanced, it does not follow that the muscle of accommodation is in a normal condition, for visual defects remain. Morphine prevents the contraction of the arterioles produced by atropine, and, as a necessary consequence, the subsequent relaxation of the muscular fiber.

Morphine depresses the action of the lungs; atropine is a powerful respiratory stimulant. Morphine produces pallor of the surface, and reduces the external temperature; atropine causes redness and injection of the skin, and elevation of the body-heat. In some experiments the author ascertained that while atropine alone raised the pulse to 105 from 72, atropine and morphine combined depressed the pulse of the same subject to 60.

Both morphine and atropine produce dryness of the mucous membrane of the mouth and fauces. Morphine suspends, and atropine increases, the peristaltic movements. The sickness and nausea caused by morphine are, to a considerable extent, lessened or prevented by atropine.

Morphine lessens and atropine increases the functional activity of the kidneys; on the skin their effects are opposed; hence, when used in combination, the urinary secretion is rather increased than diminished by them. Both produce dysuria.