The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-01-31
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BEWARE OF OPIUM.

There are many inveterate cheWers
and smokers, individuals who do moi
only enjey tobacco but to certain ex-
tent live upon it. To be without it il
e be miserable. And yet the habit OF
chewing; as well as that Of smoking,
may be considered as of little conss-
Quense when compared with the practice
Of eating opium or drinding laudanum.
The indulgence of tobacco is, moreover,
fashionable appetite It Is popular
fancy, and no discredit is attached to it.
It is indulged in openly, without any re-
straint or the slightest sense of shame.
But not so with opium-eating and laud-
anum drinking. These are nourished in
secret. The appetite is craving and 6end-
like, unless it be INDUCED the victim
writhes in agony. 1t is fomented by va
rious causes. Sometimes the use of OPT
um or of laudanum is induced by some
terrible bodily pain, which the narcotic is
calculated to sooth aud temporarily sub
due. It is found necessary, too, in ma
ny cases, constantly to increase the
dose, so that in time two ounces of laud-
anum daily are consumed. Nay, drug
gist who resides In the southwestern
part of the city informs us that he has
at least ten regular customers for opium
and laudanum, some of whom consume
incredible quantities. They have reach
ed such condition by habit aud indui-
gence that they fancy that they cannot
live without the use of either The gum
or the liquid preparation. Some of them
too, are in very needy circumstances,
and thus expend large. portion OF their
daily earnings in obtaining and satisfy
ing this want. At times, he says, they
will rush into the store, trembling, SAL
ment they obtain the coveted Harco6 tic
they swallow it with wild aVidity, as if
life itself depended upon the movement
The extent, indeed, to which opium IS
used, IA some form or other, IS 2lmcst
incredible. " e are assured, moreover,
that the habit is rapidly on the Increase,
and that not few individuals resort to
the drug In the spirit OF the Chinese,
and with the object of stimulating them
selves into sort of earthly elvslum,
only to wake and find themselves
Wretched.
An article in recent number Of the
Journal Of Physiological Medicine de-
tails some curious facts in relation to
the use and effect of opium. 1t is stated
that if the drug be taken in compara-
lively small and frequently repeated
doses it produces excitment andipleasur-
able feelings before it occasions stupor.
The capability of receiving excitement
from it Is probably increased by habit,
somewhat in the same manner that al
coholic liquors give most pleasure to
those who are in,some degree habituated
to them-n Mr.. Madden, in.his travels in
Turkey speaks of the practice as e1-
tremely injurious to the opium eaters
themselves: they lose their appetites,
become feeble and tremulous, their necks
aWry, and their fingers contraeted.-
They are perfectly miserable until the
hour arrives for the qualification of their
Indulgence DIR. Oppenheim, German
writer, makes q similar statement
's The habitual opium eater," says he,
" is instantly recognized by his appear
ance: a total attenuation of body, a
Hithered, yellow countenance, lame
gait, q bending of the spine, frequently
to such degree as to assume circular
form, and CLASSY, deep sunken eyes, be-
tray him at first glance. DIR. Open
helm mentions that the habit is almost
to break, but those who make
the Sttempt inRsniously mix their pills
With wax and daily diminish the guam
tity of opium until nothing but the wax
rsmains.p
Fhe:case of the celebrated poet Cole
tidgs is refere to, Ii appears
'nat he became addicted to the babit OF
seIlng opium, and was earnestly appeal
GO q . upon the subject by friend, Mr..
Dossle His reply is painfully thrilling.
I've AZ Ne sndioia portions Of it BY way Of