RT Journal
T1 ACtion of morphine on the alimentary tract
JF Journal of the American Medical Association
JO Journal of the American Medical Association
YR 1929
FD April 13
VO 92
IS 15
SP 1269
OP 1270
DO 10.1001/jama.1929.02700410039014
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1929.02700410039014
AB Opium and its derivatives, notably morphine and codeine, still have a conspicuous place in the therapeutic procedures employed by the physician of today. Among the undesired pharmacodynamic actions of these drugs is their constipating effect, particularly after large doses, which usually has to be taken into account in the management of patients, and frequently must be counteracted. Consequently an adequate understanding of the physiologic functions of the alimentary tract that are adversely affected and the anatomic parts concerned in the perverted behavior is eminently desirable; for on such information alone can one hope to formulate rationally any wholesome remedial measures or precautionary procedures.It might be assumed that a subject of such fundamental clinical importance would have been adequately studied long ago. There has not been a complete dearth of investigations on the alimentary pharmacology of the opium alkaloids; but the literature of the topic is far from satisfying. This