(From induo, to put on). A shirt or Shirt or Shift.clean linen promotes perspiration, and it may be renewed as often as the patient pleases, whether the isorder be of the acute or the chronical kind; except during a crisis in fevers, while the patient is in a sweat. Yet, even in this state, with proper precautions, the linen may be sometimes safely changed. See Amnion. 1Nlbriant1A. We have anticipated the more important observations on this class of medicines in our article Anodyna, q. v. and we shall now only point out the more common inebriants, with some remarks on their action, for which our readers were not at that time prepared. The most common inebriant is Opium. It is employed among the eastern nations, very generally, to procure, not sleep, but serenity and cheerfulness; and its use, in this respect, may be traced to the earliest ages, for it was probably the nepenthe of Homer. Tea is equally general in the west, and in its native country, China, but it is mild in its effects, and, if not drunk unusually strong, or in too copious draughts, it is not injurious. There is some reason to suspect that the additions, which give it the flavour, are most hurtful; for the finest teas produce the worst effects. The Bangue of the east, prepared from the leaves of the canabis indica, and not from those of the hibiscus abel-moschus, as has been asserted, is in general use (vide in verbo) in India, as an inebriant; but the Betle, q. v. is rather a stimulant than a narcotic. The Assyrian-rue, peganum harmala of Linnaeus, was formerly used, as Bellonius informs us, for this purpose; but its very offensive and disagreeable smell prevents it from being any longer a luxury. The seeds of different species of datura have been also used to inebriate, as well as the roots of the black henbane, and the hyoscyamus, physa-loides Lin. The Delecarlians employ the leaves of the millefolium to increase the intoxicating power of the beer; and the porter brewers of this country are said to use the canabis indicus and the cocculus indicus; but this has lately been denied on oath in the King's Bench. Tobacco; the darnel; the clary; the vanilloes; the hemlock; the spawn of the barbel; and the agaricus musca-rius, have been all employed for this purpose. Fer-mented liquors and spirits are sufficiently known. See Linnaei Amaenitates Academicae Inebriantia, vol. vi.

All these medicines are sedative, and their effects on the nervous system are to produce an unequal excitement. We have explained, in a variety of articles (see Insomnia), that the regular discharge of the mental functions depends on a free, uninterrupted communication between the different portions of the brain.

When from any cause this is prevented, delirium, different degrees, takes place. If unequally excited, the delirium is of the violent kind: if unequally depressed, of the low, and often of the pleasing kind. Whether pleasing or otherwise, the effect is nearly similar, since the same medicine, in different cons tions, will excite the most soothing and the most horrible images. See Materia medica.