Treatise on Poisons by Sir Robert Christison

poisoning with opium, allusion has already been made to a remarkable case related by Mr. Shearman, where the usual effects of opium were much retarded in an individual who, at the time of swallowing the opium, was in a state of excitement from intoxication. For five hours there was no material stupor. But after that the usual narcotic symptoms supervened and eventually proved fatal.[2559] The excitement of intoxication, however, has not always the effect of suspending the action of opium; for in a case which came under my notice in the Infirmary of this city,—that of a woman, who swallowed an ounce and a half of laudanum while much intoxicated,—the usual narcotic symptoms were fully formed in an hour: and although the stomach-pump was applied soon afterwards, she expired in less than five hours from the time the laudanum was swallowed,—those who had charge of her before she was brought into the hospital having neglected to use the proper means for keeping her roused.