An investigation of the effects of certain substitutes for morphine and heroin upon the passage of food along the alimentary tract of the human subject

Abstract

1. The effect of heroin, morphine, Dilaudid, Dicodid and Eukodol upon the human alimentary tract are described from observations involving the use of the barium meal and X-ray methods. 2. The effects of Dilaudid closely resemble those of morphine. Dilaudid produces a condition of increased tone in the pyloric and ileo-colic sphincters resulting in delayed emptying of the stomach contents into the duodenum and a delayed passage of the intestinal contents into the caecum. 3. Dicodid has a much weaker action upon the pyloric and ileo-colic sphincters than either morphine, heroin, Dilaudid or Eukodol. It causes only a negligible delay in the passage of food up to the 3 hr. stage, it being normal at the 6 hr. stage owing to a hastening of the motility rate. 4. Eukodol has an action resembling that of morphine and is described. 5. All these drugs possess well-marked analgesic properties. 6. No gross rectal symptoms were observed in any of the subjects under observation.