The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1857-05-30
Miscellaneous.
THE USE OF OPIUM.

= A writer in the Medical World (Dr.
Corhe ~ says the use of opium, as an exhii.
+ Grating agent, is much more frequent in the
e community that many suppose. 1t is be.
E lleved that large number Of sedentary and
stud'ous men, and many clergymen, are in
the hahltuat use of this drug, and under its
; stimulus, many literary works and sermons
, are written and lawyers pleas made. 1t is
known that some eminent divines, now de.
ceased, impaired their intelects by the use of
opium. The drug, probably, is used as much
among lawyers as among ministers, and
much more among ladies in fashionable life
than in either of the learned professions. At
a meeting held in Boston, it was stated by
one ofthe oldest and most experienced ply
sicians, that he knew lady who took seven
teen tea spoonsful of laudanum every morn.
ing to set her up for the day F; and it had to be
made of the best opium, as she would know
IN minute if it were in the least adulterated!
As IT is well known, many eminent English
literary characters have been addicted to the
pernIclous habit of opium eating. Besides
the celebrated DE Quincy may be mentioned
Wribertorce, the phiIanthropist, DR.. Isaac
Miner, Dean of Carlisle, the first Lord Ers-
kline, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and others.
Opium Is powerful poison, and although it
creates temporary elyslum in the mind of
the devotee, its results are most disastrous.
Mr.. Tiffany, in late work on the 'Canton
Chinese, :" gives the following sketch of the
effects of opium:
The victim inhales his allotted quantity,
and his senses swim around him he feels
its subtle nature ; he floats from the earth as
on plnions. He would leave his humble
station, his honest toll. his comfortable home.
He would be great. He runs with ease the
paths of distinction he distances rivals.
Wealth and power wait upon him; the
mighty take him by the hand. His dress is
costly, his fare sumptuous, his home palace,
and he revels in the pleasures he has read of,
and believed to be a fiction. Music sounds
through his lofty halls sages assemble to do
him honor women of the brightest beauty
throng around him; he is no longer poor,
lowly and despised; but demigod. The
feast is spread, the sparkling cup filled tothe
brlm with hot wine, and he rises to welcome
one whom he has left far behind in the path
Of glory, TO tender to him triumphant cour.
.esy; and, as he advances step, he reels
and staggers wildly, and competitors, guests,
magnifcence, all fade from his
vision, and ihe gray, celd.Esality of dawn
breaks upon his heated brain, and he knows
that all was nought, and that he is the same
creature that he has ever been.
A cold shudder agitates his frame weak
and worthless he seeks the sir, bur finds no
relief He cannot run his thoughts to his
calling; he is unfit for exe,tion; his DAYS
pass in solitude and in bitter remorse. And
when night comes in gloom, he seeks again
The sorceress INTO whose power he has sunk,
and whose finger mocks while it beckons
MIN on"
There is no escape from the fascination of
opium, says DR.. Cornell, when once its use
mas been commenced. The pIeasurabie
at first experienced soon pass
away, and give place to the most horrid
1reams and appalling pictures of death.
Spectres of fearful yisage haunt the mind.
The light which once seemed to emanate
rom heaven is converted into the gloom of
hell. The countenance becomes paid the
eye assumes wild brightness memory
alls; mental exertion and moral courage
sink; general atrophy comes on, and the
,oor victim ceases 10 live ere he really dies.
fhis fearful state of things is not reached
~ all who use opium, but there is strong
endency to it in any case where it is used.