Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-22
INSANITY.
Proceedings Of the Superintendent of
Asylums.
An Interesting Exchange Of Views as
10 the Use Of Opium and ChIoraI.

10 the Use Of Opium and ChyoraI.
| The Association met at 10 A. NJ. yester.
day, Vice President Walker in the chair
The minutes Of the previous days session
were read and approved.
An invitation for the Association to visit
the cotton factory was read and referred to
the Business Committee, with the recomen-
dation that it be accepted.
The reading of the
HISTORY OF THE ASSOCIATION
was resumed by the Secretary.
| RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT,
relative To the death of the late DR.. VIM.
! Rockwell, OF BrattlebOrO, Vermont, were
presented by DIR. Green and adopted.
ASSOCIATION PAPERS.
DIR. Compton offered a resolution in
structing all members of the Association
presenting papers, to prepare a synopsis of
| the same, 10 be printed with the published
proceedings OF the body. Adopted.
OPIUM AND OTHER sTIMULASTs.
In response TO suggestion by DIR. Wal
lace, OF Texas, general detailing of ex-
perlence by the members of the Association
was INDUCED in.
DR.. Peck related the case of a lady of his
acquaintance, the wife OF a very wealthy
man, who became addicted to the use Of
opium and intoxicating liquors, and whose
children have all shown deficiency in the
moral qualities, the daughters being fire.
quently found in places where they should
not be, and the sons being profiigate and
disSolute. He had at one time a Young
man who had been using twelve ounces
per day oftincture of morphia, from ten to
fifteen grains of opium, together with beer
and other intoxicating drinks. This man
died soon after his admission to the hos
pital. He cited another case of opium
eating, where the victim was a talented
young Methodist clergyman, who insisted
upon giving himselfup to the speaker for
treatment; that no narcotics should be
used in the 'letting down. process, unless
it was absolutely necessary to save his life.
For nine days and nights this man suf-
fered terribly, but came out of the ordeal
victorious. Three months later he took
small dose Of morphine to assist him in
preaching sermon at the Quarterly Con-
ference, again became the victim of the
deadly drug, was again cured but fell for
the second time, and finally ended his
wretched existence by committing suicide.
In the treatment of cases Of inebriatiOn, he
had found the use of a species of poison
OeS AOAAAA III NcIN Dtttc-
fetal, as it is slightly stimulating and
leaves no bad effect, when used in very
small doses; but this drug he uses only in
cases where there is an inOrdinate taste for
liquor.
DIR. Green had known but few cases of
permanent cure of that class of PATIENTS
who are addicted to the use of opium. He
has now under his care lady who has been
taking fifteen grains Of opium per DAY, the
habit having been acquired by the doctor
having allowed her TO use morphine whilst
suffering with neuralgia for period of two
years.
DR.. Smith thought that choral should be
used in the treatment Of patients, with
great caution.
Dr.. Fisher had found the use of chloral
very beneficial and knew Of nothing to
take its place.
DIR. Andrews had used choral very ex-
tensively, and always to advantage.
DIR. Carried advocated the use of choral. |
Ordinarily be used a dose of thirty grains. !
but in one instance had used 100 grains. |
Patients who have used opium require |
stronger doses Of chlOral than those who |
have not.
DIR. Stone knew of one case where dose |
Of 275 grains of chlOral had been admins |
tered. He cites case Of epilepsy, where |
The patient was cured.
Association adjourned until S o'clock |
P. NJ, the President announcing that car
riages were in waiting to convey the party !
70 the Tennessee Insane Asylum.
At the
NIGHT SESSION
4 familiar discussion on the use of choral
vas had, and many of the members par
icipated. Chloral was spoken of chiefly as
% its use as a hypnotic and a remedy for
leart diseases. 1t was ascertained that it
vas in general use among the members of
he Association. The question of chief in
crest was whether choral ought to be
laSsed as a dangerous remedy. On this
'oint "the doctors disagreed" but the ma
GRITTY were in favor Of regarding it as dan
erOus medicine, and of using il with great
autiOn.
Association adjourned till 10 O'Clock AN.
o-day.