Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-10-02
lie idle; and will therefore enter into our views
when we express our unfeigned wish to hear soon
asa,n from the author of Martin Faber.
TN y FIN.
OPIUM EATING.

OPlUM ChliNo
Is there any sure and safe method OF curing
a person Of the habit Of opium eating' wnen mat
habit is confirmed by many years use OF the ar.
tice!
This is question not important so much , from
the number of persons who contract and indulge
this noxious practice, as from the intense desire
generally felt and often expressed 6y the lew
who are 40 unfortunate as to be its slaves, to be
rid of 90 dreadful an evil. There are not many
in this country addicted to the free and constant
use of opium; but every person oil this descrip'
ton we have CHANGED to know has manifested a
strong sense Of the improperly and danger OF
the practice, and entreated Us to PRESCRIBE "
possible. some effectua remedy. That remedy
we have not yet found; and it it be known TO
any whose eve shall glance over these lines we
trust he will delay not in giving US and the pro-
fession all the information On the subject that he
may possess.
When we alude to opium eaters, we mean
those who took it originally as medicine Tor
some nervous affection, and continue 1t from ne
cess,ty, rather than from choce;- who take 1t,
not to intoxcate, but to strengthen and balance
the nervous system, and enable them to attend
to business, and to appear like other people,
Or those who take opium for the purposes OF un-
natural excitement and inebrlatlOn, we have no
! kno Wedge. They need less of our sympathy,
and would excite US less to exertions IN their be-
half.
| A lady, for example, is now under treatment
| for common disorder, who allows no visit to
| terminate without entreaties that something may
| be done TO break up this habit, to which she has
been many years bound and servi'e slave -
The drug was originally given her to quiet a
| slight degree Of nervous irritation. Ii answered
the purpose to charm. From useless thing
lolIing abou, in idIeness and pain, trouble t"
herself and an ANNOYANCE TO all around her, she
became composed in body and mind, and caPa'
BILE of performing her part as wife and mother,
neshbor and friend The effect, however. Of
the dose went off with the day. and each success
sive morning found her spirilless, treful. unea.
sy being. until small pill brought her up again
to health and usefulness. After time she found
it necessary to increase the dose. The same
quantity failed TO bring her up to the standard OF
health. And so It went on. Month after month,
and year after year. she did well 80 long as she
took her pill, but each month required larger
dose than the preceding About year ago she
became alarmed at the prospect before her Still
young, and with family Of children, what must
become of her few years hence, when already
an ounce day scarcely sufficed to answer her
purpose. She sent for me, stated her case IN
anguish, and prayed for remedy.
No one had ever suspected this lady OF us
ing opium or any other stimulus, Tor she had
never, in any one instance, been in the least de-
gree over excited bv it. She had never taken
more than she found necessary to enable her to
attend properly to her family and friends. Her
husband even knew it not. Could she have got
along without increasing the dose, she would
have continued to use it without much apprehen.
sion But this was impossible. The prospect
was full Of horror, and she was resolved to III.
vulge her secret, and to seek a remedy.
Here was case of the most touching charac.
ter, and vet of the greatest difficulty. Suffice it
to say. we devoted as much care and research to
the case as it demanded. Every resource was
tried. but without, effect. Often have we seen
this lady, whilst under course Of gradual re.
ducton or substitution, convused for hour after
hour in every muscle, and vomiting almost with.
out intermission; and yet she insisted on bearing
IL all, and more BY far than We ventured to adj
wise. in the faint hope that she might yet become
quiet without resortlDg to her accustomed dose.
That hope has always vanished, and she is now
going on in the same course as before-well IN
every respect, capable and agreeable. but sup.
porting herself by increasing quantities OF opium
alive to the danger Of her practice. and dread
ing it more than any degree Of suffering that may
attend any measure that may be adopted to arrest
it, with the slightest prospect OF success.
This case we have given, as illustrating the
kind of opium eating that we aPprehend is most
common with US, and that which calls most loudly
for the sympathy and aid of the humane physici-
an. Other cases are perhaps less aggravated;
but 10 this, death must follow a sudden with.
drawal Of the stimulus gradual reduction of
the dose has been tried in vain, and SO has the
substitution of other narcotics and anti spasmo
dics.-Medicai Journal.
THE FIFTH OF OCTOBER.