infusion of opium and belladonna as a wash for an eruption in the vulva,
took it into her head one day to use the wash as an injection; and
actually received three successive injections, containing each the
active matter of a scruple of opium and half an ounce of belladonna
leaves. Fortunately none of the three was retained above a few minutes,
except the last, which was not discharged for ten minutes. In less than
an hour, she was found in bed in a deep sleep, but the true cause was
not suspected till three hours later. She was then completely insensible
and motionless, with the face pale, the pupils excessively dilated and
not contractile, the pulse frequent and small, and the breathing
hurried. After the use of purgative injections, blood-letting, leeches
to the head, and sinapisms to the legs, she began in five hours to show
some sign of returning consciousness, which improved after a fit of
vomiting. When thoroughly roused, her vision continued dim, the pupils
excessively dilated, and the ideas somewhat confused. For three days the
pulse continued frequent, and the pupils somewhat dilated.[2560] Here
the opium seems to have prevented the delirium usually induced by
belladonna in the early stage, while on the other hand the belladonna
prevented the usual effect of opium on the pupils, and actually produced
the opposite action.