The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1874-04-10
OPIUM BATTING.
A Word to Those Afflicted with the
Opium Habit.

the exception or urugSls'n an" "1sio'ahS tu'
masses of the people are in total Ignorance o
the fearful prevalence Of this habit, and OF thu
deplorable consequences entailed by it. II,
vic tins are numbered by thousands all ovel
the land, and from recent investigations we ar,
satisfied that our own city and surrounding
country are no exceptions to this rule. w,
have not the exact data just now at command
to enable us to give iull facts and figures, blu
we purpose at no distant day TO give them t,
the public.
Nine times out of ten, the history of the OPT
UNI eater in our country, is substantially as fol
lows: Opium in some form is prescribed by
physician to hull pain or soothe nervousness.
We will not stop TO discuss the propriety o
physicians pursuing such a course, without
taking every precaution to prevent the evil
habit. We do know, for we have seen the
most touching letters on this point and we
have heard the same in personal conversation,
that very often, if not in vast majority of
cases, the victims, without the slightest premo-
milton or warning, became addicted to q habit
whose destinations conceal the hellish letters
binding them irresistably and irrevocably to a
living death. When they awake to danger it
is, alas, too late 1t is then telling the man
drowning to save himself The will is complete.
lylconquered, and when the effort is made the
most intense and indescribable pain which no
one but the victim can realize seizes the whole
body, frenzies the mind and tortures the very
soul. What can be doneH Till recently SCI
ence has sought in vain for means Of relief. 1t
could extend no helping hand, and the world.
not knowing the real sufferings of the strug-
Cling one, withholds even his sympathy, if in'
deed 1t does not bestow positive derisiop. The
poor victim, finding himself utterly helpless and
every way tortured, returns to the morpha
which gives momentary relief, while it leads
on to greater sufferings, ultimately This pro-
cess may be repeated and with the sane inr
eyitable result, several times In the mean,
time the poor creature gradually increases the
daily dose, till the most fearful quantity is
reached, and until death finally puts an end to
miserable earthly existence.
Soon after starting its use, The opium eater,
say in few weeks or month OF so, becomes
as thoroughly diseased being, as the consump-
tive or the scrofulary, At this point every
body says to him, "lnan, stop it--iust leave "
off-dont touch it." The poor victims heart,
knowing 100 well the whole truth, sobs forth in
the agonizing tones OF the drowning man,
"help help can't stop--oh helpp Look
at that poor emaciated consumptiye; go up to
him and tell him, "Sir, stop that cough, leave
it right off at once" Yet he can do that just as
easily as the opium eater can without help
without the aid of remedies, stop bis habit.
About ak years ago DIR. s. b. Collins claim
ed that he had discovered a perfect and painless
cure for the opium habit. He prepares the
medicine for each particular case. We have
seen many notices off success. Recently Mr..
B. NJ. Woolley, formerly Of Selma, Alabama,
moved to this city and became general agentfor
the Southern States for this remedy, securing
desk room in Maj. John C. Whitner's Office,
whose benevolent nature he soon enlisted in be-
half of the suffering. The Major, though hav-
ing every reason TO have confidence in Mr..
Woolley, was skeptical on the subject Of cure
of opium habit, and Immediately selected as a
test case, well-known and highly respected
gentleman, much loved friend of his living in
Atlanta who was addicted to taking morphine
BY invitation Of these gentlemen, various men
of our city and several eminent physicians, have
visited Mr. NJ, the party mentioned and have
come away convinced that his condition now is
really wonderful. Yesterday we had an inter-
view, and give the result briefly.
Reporter-Mr. M. how long have you used
morphine, why did you begin its use and how
much did you take per day.
Mr.. M.--About three years ago, / had sever
al severe attacks Of rheumatism. My physician
gave me medicine--what did not know then.
Leaving TO be gone sometime, he left bottle of
medicine for me to take, giving directions as TO
quantity, etc. In month or so found out
was taking morphine. / never had taken it
before don't know that ever had seen it. /
then determined to quit IL, but soon found !
could not. The morphine would lull my pain,
and thus afforded excuse for me to use IT, and
/ continued to use up toto-day week ago. As
to the quantity used, for about two years ! have
averaged about fifteen grains Of morphine day.
Rsporter--What was the effect Of morphine
upon you, in.such large quantities, and why did
you not quit it's usef
Mr. MAJ first, as stated, it iulled my
main. but after getting into the habit fully, /