The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-08-05
Dangers Of Choral Drinking.

D0uSC1S VI Ou1VI0l DIluAluks
b. blessed be theman. that invented sleep
fsaidsaAe immS ktsl kancho Panza. Wher
the primary physiological effect of chloral
was first made known thousands called
down equal blessings on the man who
discovered that simple and seemingly
harmless sleep-compeller. No matter
what cares made life burden, no matter
what cxcitements or excuses made stran
ger of "tired Natures sweet restorer, here
was painless key to the soothing realm
OF Morpheus, with no apparent penalties
EtUPay for the INVASION. 1t is not surpris-
ing, therefore, tfdt ~chloral soon came to
he employed, without medical direction,
to greater extent than had ever been the
case with any other sedative.
Il But experience has not justified the i'm.
plieit confidence reposed in it. Its appar-
ent harmlessness only made the insidious
effects of its daily use the more dangerous.
Though Il might mot kill directly, it too
frequently enabled death to take place
from causes that would not have been i'm
mediate;y fatal without the sedative influ-
ence of the drug on processes needful for
Lite and not infrequently the machinery
Of life came to p stand under its influence
when o"otlfer disturbing cause could be
detected; more frequently, perhaps, the
Lancet AYERS, than with the use Of any
'otler sedative except chloroform, with
which it has many. chemical and few
physiological relations. The danger of
premature death, however, is not the
grayest consequence of chloral.drinking /;
and the Lancet editorially predicts that
some day, when the punishment for the
=: nf <kr IrSa E,,llS. ,,,>oo couo;
tive temperament and gifted intellect, we
shall have the "Confessions Of a Choral
Drinker" to take its place beside De
Qaincey's Confessions of an Opium
Eater
There seem to be two sources of danger
attending the habitual use of choral.
The most obvious arises from the fact that
the sleeplessness which it is employed to
remove is the result Of improper living.
The proper cure for the distressing symp-
toms is return to right living, which will
never be done SO long as the penalty is
masked. Instead of curing the disease
chloral simply hauls down the danger
signal and permits the wrong-doer to
hurry on to complete destruction. 1t is
thus delusion and snare.
: But this is not the worst. Chloral is
ICSCll ScIlOuS ulStuIDcI VI tuC Vial cCOLl-
omy, though its action is very slow.
Healthy life is the attendant, if not the
effect, Of a properly balanced and correct
ly-working organism. Any tampering
with our physiological machinery, more
especially if habit,lal, is Of necessity mis-
chievous; and the practice of chloral-
drinking is such an interference. Wesee
its immediate effect in the phenomena of
sleep; and there is an analogy, as the
Lancs points out, between the temporary
effect of its habitual use.
I'm sleep, the sensory recipient and
lower motor centers are separated frem
those of consciousness and will with
which, during the waking state, they are
in close connection. This separation
can take place only under certain condi-
tons, which vary much in different
individuals. Choral introduces an arti-
fetal influence, and separates forcibly
those functions of the nervous sys-
tenn which would otherwise have been
linked together. 1t stills unpleas-
ant u emotion - removes disagreeable
sensation -paralyzes the will. This can
hardly occur repeatedly without some
permanent effect. Each region of its in
fiuence presents an example of perverted
action. The will becomes weakened
emotional manifestations are in the chloral-
drinker more easily produced; the evidence
of the senses is perverted, and their action
is no longer under the same control of
associated impressions. All influences of
depressing character are felt more keen
ly. The sufferer becomes more nervous
emotional, hysterical. Neuralgia and
other sensory disturbances become fire.
quent, and with them various paretic
phenomena depending chiefly on defective
will. Ultimately still graver consequences
may result. Delirium, imbecility and
paralysis of the pharynX and Psophagus
are among tlle symptoms which have &C.
CURED in recorded cases, and which have
ceased when the habitual dose was dis
continued. All the time the supposed
need for sedatives increases, the craving
therefor may become as intolerable as for
opium-the patient moaning for choral
which he can hardly swallow-while sleep
gradually becomes impossible except
under artificial influence
This is a serious showing for a drug
popularity believed to be absolutely safe
and harmless. And when we add to its
direct injuries to the nervous system its
indirect influence in perpetuating the un-
sanitary conditions and habits which lead
to resort to it, the need of caution in its
use and the propriety of abstaining from
its use except under medical advice must
be apparent TO the dullcst.-Sesentifs