New-York tribune., 1868-10-20
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE OPIUM HABIT.

as not less than eighty thousand. and perhaps
amounts TO hundred thousand. The un-
fortunate class is principally composed OF persons
subject 10 prOtracted nervous disorders, and whose
habits of life make special demands upon the ner-
vous system But few contributions made TO it
from the ranks of business and industry in this
country The personal narratives of which the
volume consists intended to point ont the dangers
of the practice and to its victims with the
hope OF delivery from its runous thralldom. Wethink
Che examples presented will be more effectual as
warnings against the formation of the habit than as
Incentives TO it's Abandonment. The intensely vivid
descriptions of the horrors of recovery viii tend 10
deter the victims from attempting reform, when
can only be accomplished by the endurance OF
agones less easy TO be borne than the bitterness of
death. But the appalling consequences ei opium
eating are set forth in all their ghasty tcrrors wi'h
Il force of cooTng which, in many cases, must prove
powerful barrier against entering the pain OF oe-
structon.
The first narrative in the volume describes the case
of one who had been led form the habit by the ad-
wee of physician who prescribed opium as aremedy
for n chronic disease and which after few months
use became indispensable to the comfort OF the
patient. lie gradually increased the dose TO the
amount OF eighty grains. two thousand drops OF
landanun daily. The fiIst steps III the process of
cure thus related:
frst day from eighty grains to sNty, VIII ho very
allowance fifty grains, with an observable ten
aeEey toward fesItssness anu genera W.. roi,,
had diminished the nsual allowance by one-half, bnt
with perCeptihe Increase IN the sense OF pbyslcal s-
comfort The mental emotions however, were en-
trely iubnant The prevailing feeling was one Of hope
tnl oxultaton. The necessity for eighty grains day
had been reduced necessity for ouly fortyt
and, therefore, one half Of the dreaded task
seemed 9ceonPhed IL w grsao eac @sgoal1 @ TO che Se
.hsposed of with the same serene seleOnro tha the
lifted from the spirits the world wore happier look
The only drawback this beatihc state Of mind was
giving attention 10 the most necessary duties
H d Matters TsG now TS began 4 to oos deal
Gus Only fifteen of the as forty grains mad oeen as
pensed with but this gain had cost curious conflict A
strange compression and construction Of the stomach
sharp pains like the stab of a knife beneath the
proongation Of time so much so that 1t seemed the
day would never come TO close an ineapaeity 9i
derng pains over the whole body. the jaw, whenever
and Increased sensbty To cold with alterat0ns OF hot
bushes, Of the phenomena which manifested
citations the three days had become changed by
Abe fifth state OF high nervous excitement; 80 that
while on tho whole there prevailing hopefuness
OF temper and even some remaining bnoyancy OF
spirits. arising chiefly from The certainty that already
,he quaBtty consumed had been reduced by more
phan two thirds the conviction had nevertheless greatly
serious one than had anticipated. Whether 1t pos
sbe at present to carry the descent much farther had be
of five grains somehow attained; but IT was
grans. From this stage commenced the really Dtoler
able part OF the experience Of opiuneater retiring
from service. During single week, three-quarters or
the daily allowance had been renqushed. and in this
Tact a. least there was some ground m fSr hxnU anr
preadventure OF relapse 50 far positive success Wond
be achieved.
Few victims of an evil habit would have been
able to maintain such persistent fight with their
subtle enemy without betraying symptoms of de-
1cat. Every reader must admire the courage with
which the struggle was carried until the final
victory.
For the week was dropping from sixteen grains to
sggavation OF tie pain previously endured was marked
Te feeling Of bodily and mental wretchedness was per
petual, while the tedium of life and occasional vague
wishes that it might somehow come TO an end
away the hours Of daylight My rest at nigut had in
deed become imperfect and broken, but sthl II
refreshing very sound Those who were about me
cay that was IN constant motion but OF TINS was IN
relief from the troubled activity of thoughts After
iDgly to the city, but as this occupied only hour
the remaining a time hung nia %eary Upon my my
ve consecutive minutes Many suffering hours passed
e ey Ss over leaves ave
and occasionally reading few lines, but too impatient
ssadns e ss en eaees seemed S to
bsusted in the one consderation-how not to give in
serns Up uS to this IS time % bad from Soyhood made
NEE use Of tobacco The struggle With ntS opium in
sageested the groprey Of including the former ALSO IN
be enhanced the respect and
tbe opposition and even Obdurscy Of the win would,
fhe one great object Of leaving od opium for
Sti dreaded the experiment OF adding
feathers weight TO the suferings was then en-
during. An accidental circumstance however, deter.
mined upon making the trial; but TO my SURPRISE
The deprivation accompanied IT, The opium suffering
inspprecabe The next day BROUGHT me down to nine
Dse.%Dsr o'lS%d snd hsd I s tsen day. %
before the New Year would 40 l had re,
drug The three days which succeeded the disuse OF
1ng had been experiencing On the fourth day, how.
and for the fortnight which the agony OF
Intervals when the effects Of the opium were felt
sns BRANDY or increasing The dose Of opium rssorted
the former the least OF the two evils In the cond
tion was now In It eaased no psrceptble e1hiiaraon
BILE Especially helped the weary nights TO pass away
s S an Te S
brandy OF short continuance After a few
Ssys nss sleep 9T any he OF seS.e of
eIhausting pain unremltted day and night. The
Ssna sfsehnS SGl the joints o~ed as though the
BODY had been upon the rack, whie acute pains slot
Through limbs only sufficiently intemlttng TO give
place 10 sensation Of neryoless bepleesness Impati
ence OF state Of rest seemed now to have become
though a very uncertain kind Of walking which daily
threatened TO come to end fom general debility Each
could make any preteSt for doing co. and then ride the
city for at this time the mud too deep TO think Of
around the streets weary way for two three hours
frequently resting in some shop or store wherever could
and seat only anxious 10 get through another long
sever-endDg day.
The issue of the contest seems to have remained
doubtful until nearly the last moment but at length
the fend was thoroughly subdued.
At length the long anticipated New. Years Day,
which 10 be emancpated forever from the tyranny
the wealth OF all the world would not induce me