Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-09
THE FORCE OF HABIT.

OPIUM-EArIso AND LAuDASuM- DnIsKra-We are al
less the of habit and there few
individuals who have not some habit which, in their
cooler moments they regard perncous but which, to
certain extent has become almost Indispensable Look
for example, at the thousands and tens of thousands
who indulge in tobacco chewing and snuff taking not
say cigar-smoking All these habits, when practccd in
moderation are, comparatively speaking, harmless. But
the difficulty is to keep within the proper bounds There
many inveterate chewers and smokers individuals
who not only enjoy tobacco but to certain extent live
upon it. To be without it is to be miserable. And yet
the habit of chewing, well that Of smoking may be
considered as OF little consequence when compared with
the practice of eating opium drinking laudanum The
indulgence of tobacco is moreover, fashionable appe-
title. 1t is popular fancy and dscredit is attached
to it, 1t is INDUCED in openly without any restraint or
and laudanum drinking. These nourshed in secret.
The appetite is craving and fsndke, aud unless it be
INDUCED the victim wrthes in agony 1t is fomented by
various Sometimes the Of opium of lau-
danum is induced by terrible bodily pain, which the
narcotic is calculated to soothe and temporarily subdue
1t is found necessary too in many cases, constantly to
increase the DOSE that in time two Of andanum
daily are consumed Nay druggitt who resides in the
southwestern part of the city informs that he has
least ten regular customers for opium and laudanum
some Of whom incredible quantities They have
reached such condition by habit and indulgence that
they fancy that they cannot live without the either Of
the gum the liquid preparation Some of them, too,
are in very needy and thus cxpend large
portion OF their daily earnings in obtaining and satisfying
this want At times, he says, they will rush into the
store, trembling sallow and in utter misery, and the
moment they obtain the coveted narcotic they swallow it
with wild avdity, If life itself depended upon the
movement The extent. indeed to which opium is used,
in some form other, is almost Incredible We
sured moreover that the habit rapidly the increase
and that not few individuals resort to the drug in the
spirit OF the Chinese and with the object Of stimulating
themselves into sort of earthly eysum only to wake
| and find themselves wretched.
An article in number of the Journal of Physio
logical Medicine details curious facts in relation to
the uses and effects of opium 1t is stated that if the
drug be taken in comparatively small and frequently
peated doses it produces excitement and pleasurabe feel
ngs before it occasions stupor The capaby Of receiv
ing excitement FROM it is probably increased by habit
somewhat in the that alcoholic liquors give
most pleasure to those who in some degree habnated
to them. Mr.. MADDEN, in his travels in Turkey gives
brief description of the opium Of Constannope:
The cofeeh in which they assemble situated in
large square, and the benches outside the door they sit
and indulge in the rcvees to which the drug gives RISE He
states that their gestures Wild their features flushed and
their talk incohcrent Some however, addressed eloquent
dscourses to the bsanders and others appeared to be enjoy
ing the most beatdc IDEAS Mr. Madden himself desire
Gus of experiencing the effects He first took grain of
opium but hour and half elapsed without any percepble
effect The keeper of the coffee house wished give him
grains more but he only consented to half this quantity
However subsequently took an additional quantity
grains and then he became sensiby excited Every thing
appeared enlarged in volumes there sort OF curious
expansion of mind and matter But Mr. Madden discovered
and that when he closed his eyes the feelings were no
longer excited. h& |.t-. .a...
He now determined to make his way home as fast pos
ble, BIT he he feared to commit extravaganza.
He hardly sensible that his feet touched the ground but
seemed to slide aloug if propelled by invisible
cy which rendered his body lighter than the air The
ment he got home he bed but the delightful
visions filed his mind all the night The day. however,
he pale and dspirited with headache and feeblenes
that he all that day confined to his sofa. Mr. Madden
speaks of the practice extremely injurious to the opium
eaters themselves they lose their appees become feeble and
emulots their necks wry and their fingers contracted They
perfectly miserable until the hour arrives for the grat6
cation of their indulgence. DIR. oppsnhem German wri-
ter makes similar statement the haoltua opium eater
says he is instantly recognised by his appearances total
attenuation Of body whered yellow countenance lame
gait bending Of the pine frequently to such degree as to
circular form, and CLASSY deep sunken beray
him at first glance. Dr. 0ppeuhem mentions that the habit
is almost impossible break, but those who make the
tempt ingeniously mix their pills with and daily d-
mnish the quantity of opium until nothing but the
mains"
The of the celebrated poet CoLER1paE is referred
to- Ii appears that hs pecanu Indicted to tho habit Of
eating opium and was earnestly appealed to upon the
subject by friend, Mr. Cotte His reply is painfully
thrilling and suboin portions of it by way Of solemn
admonition: &# ", XVI
The object of my present reply is to state the just
is First that Tor years the anguish of my spirit has
been indcscrbabe the Of my danger staring but the
consciousness of guilt far worse, than ALL have
prayed with drops agony brow trembling not only
before the justice Of my Maker but before the Of
my Redeemer. Il gave thee many talents what hast
thou done with hem Secondly overwhelmed as am with
of my drefu infrmy, have attempted to
disguise conceal the On the contrary not only
friends have stated the whole with tears and the very
bitterness of shame but in two instances have warned
young aclantances who have spoken OF having
taken sudanum Of the droul consequences by awful
position of its tremendous effects myself Thirdly, though
before God cannot lift up my eyeds and only do not de-
spar his mercy because to despair would be adding chime
to crime, yet to fellow may that was seduced
to the accursed habit gnoranty. had been almost bed
ridden for many months with swelling in my knees In
medical Journal unhappy met with an account Of cure
performed in similar (or what appeared to me SOY by
internally. It acted like charm, like miracle! recov-
cred the Of my limbs Of my appetite, of my spirits, and
this continued for fortnight AT length the unusual
stimulus subsidized the complaint returned the supposed
remedy REQUIRED to but cannot go through the dreary
history Suffice to say that effects produced which
acted by and cowardce and sudden DEATH
not ESQ help God) any temptation of pleasure desire
Morgan and her sister will bear witness the
longer abstaned the higher spirits the keencr
enoyments till the moment the dreful moment arrived when
pulse began palpate and such u falling abroad
Of whole Frame such atolerabe restesness and
ncpent bewdermen that the last of several attempts
to abandon the dire poison exclaimed in agony, which
repeat in seriousness and soemnty, too poor to
hazard this Had but few hundred pounds, but f2OO
half to send to Mrs. Colcdge and half to place myself in
private house. where could procure nothing but what
physician thought proper and where medical attendant
could be constantly with for three months lin less
than that time life death would DO determined then there
might be hope there is none! God! how willingly
would place myself Dr. Fox his establishment for
my species Of madness only that 1t is arrangement
utter impotence of the coton and not Of the intellectual
faculties. You bid myself Go bid man paralyuc
in both rub them briy together and that will
him. ALAS he would Teply that cannot
is my complaint and my misery. &.
"May God bless you and your aeconate but most nfct
3D. S. L. CoLEgIDGs'
This be it remembered, is the case of highly intel
ectual man. Nay, powerful became the habit with
he fnok two lauInnum