Narcotics (Gr. narkē, 'stupor') are remedies which produce stupor if the dose be increased beyond a certain point. Opium is the most important member of the group, and the type from which most descriptions of the action of this class of medicines have been drawn; but it includes substances of very various properties. Some, as alcohol, produce intoxication in lesser doses; some, as belladonna, delirium; most have a primary stimulating effect: in fact, almost every one presents some peculiarity in the way in which it affects the system, and no satisfactory general description of their minor effects is possible. Their power of inducing sleep has procured for them the names of Hypnotics and Soporifics; while many of them are termed Anodynes, from their possessing the property of alleviating pain. Next to opium, Henbane, Indian Hemp, and Chloral may be regarded as the most important narcotics. Numerous artificially-produced organic compounds have been introduced during the last few years, some of which (e.g. paraldehyde, sulphonal as hypnotics; antipyrin, exalgin—an aniline derivative—as anodynes) will probably take a permanent place among useful remedies.
Narcotics are usually administered either with the view of inducing sleep or of alleviating pain or spasm. As, however, their action is much modified by a variety of circumstances—such as age, idiosyncrasy, and prolonged use—they should be administered with extreme caution, and, as a general rule, only under competent advice. The various quack medicines for children which are known as Carminatives, Soothing Syrups, &c. almost always contain some form of opium, and are a fertile cause of the great mortality that occurs in early life, especially among the poorer classes. All the narcotics, when taken in excess are poisonous (see POISONS).
