New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-31
Opium Eating In the United States.

| Opium Eating In the United States.
Opium eaters are found among all classes
| Clergymen and lawyers, whose brains are
| overtaxed, are often led to adopt the fatal
| assistance of this drug. and some of the
! finest lights at the bar are, in no small
degree, due to its use. Many of the hack
| writers, who manufacture the sensation
stories for the cheap newspaper press work
| up to the necessary excitement by eating
opium.
A large number of students at our col
leges are opium eaters. This follows, as a
matter of course, the free use of tobacco,
If the excitement of the latter be a delight.
how much greater pleasure must there be
in the more subtle and refined excitement
OF opium and hence there are many tai.
ented young collegians who dream away
their time, and when they attend recita-
tiOns, which is seldom. make free use of the
"pony."
Large numbers of nervous ladies in high
stations use opium to give new life to their
enete and exhausted frames; perhaps the
largest propOrtiOnate consumption is among
this class. They prepare tor the enioy-
ments OF party or ball by the use of this
stimulus, ana when it has brought the sys-
tenn to its acme, they shine with unusual
5rilliancy. The use of stimulants as
preparation for social enjoyments is pro-
digious, and in large party perhaps one
hall = OF the guests are keyed up by opium
The reason why opium is becoming more
popular is because it's devotee need not in
cur the 0pprobium inseparable from the
drunkard.
He need carry NO bottle with him, and
his breath will not smell of liquor. His
STOCK can be put in his vest pocket, and
can be used imperceptibly to the world.
Having these advantages over fire water.
we do not wonder at the increase of the
former, and the only reason why it does
not become almost universal as a substitute
for alcoholic drinks is simply because thew
are social while opium is not.
The result OF this general use of opium is
now beginning to show itself through the
country The question now is, how shall
the evil be arrested! Among other means
we have the advertisements Of ouacks, who
offer a remedy for the shattered constitu-
ton and the half lunatic intellects which
are the result of this habit, but being
quacks, they only suggest the evil without
showing way of escaping it. Instead of
asylums for cure we need to check the evil
IN Its inception. and it's danger should be
clearly published. Let every one who NAV
be tempted to adopt the assistance of the
fascination OF this pernicious drug learn
that the use can only result in intellectual
and physical rum.
1t appears from the customhouse RETURNS
tnat the amount OF opium imported into
this country, reaching now nearly 100000
POUNDS annually, Is ten times more than it
was thirty years ago, and that in the opin-
ion OF druggists and physicians, not more
than one third is used for medical purposes.
IN reply to questions sent to druggists
throughout the State, it was found that
they SOLD, without any prescription. large
quantities OF opium, morphine and laud-
y nun 10 individuals who are in the habit
d using 1t tor It's stimulating effect
1t Is used fully as extensively in the
country as in the city: women are more
addicted to the habit than men, and this
species OF intemperance prevails more
among the higher and better educated
;lasses than among the poorer and more
gnorant. 1t Is singular fact that amid
ne temperance reform this pernicious habit
mould be revealed as an evil worse in some
aspects than intoxication from alcohol.
Gazette.