The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-05-06
The Deadly Drug.

Among the tOllies that at1iict mankind,
none are so universal and destructive as
the use Of stimulus The New York Sun
shows the evil and extent of the use OF the
greatest of these: The fact that 200 tons
OF opium have been imported in one year
alone into the United States, and that not
more than One-titth of this amount is
used for medicinal purposes exclusive
ly, may well create alarm. Quietly and
insidiously this vice is making its way
among all classes. stricking down its vic
Inns BY thousands, unknown on UNDECIDED
by our philanthrOpic societies, while the
public ears are deafcned by the clamor
OF temperance and prohibtory move
ments. Not only in drug stores but in
groceries, in temples OF fashion. and in
still less likely places is this pernicious
Stimulant sold-so!d in utter defiance of
law, and with a full knowledge of the
purpose for which it is used The last
place to which any one would look for
The sale Of opium would be an umbrella
store, but it is fact that well-known
umbrella store in Broadway is doing q
profitable business in opium 1t has many
customers. who receive their daily supply
from a clerk or clerks specially appointed
'Pl WILD l'.tl elNtlft Slilu NJ Ill Z
acquainted with the habitues of the store
OF course the opium is not sold to all who
ask for it, us only druggists and apothe-
carries are permitted by law TO dispose OF
the drug in its various forms. During the
war immense quantities were disposed Of
in Washington to the soldiers, and live
ly and lucrative business was done in
opium by liquor dealers, suffers, cigar
vendors, and the army's other camp fol
lowers 10 such an alarming extent was
his business carried that it forced itself
upOn the attention OF the superior officers,
and finally upon that OF the government
itself Measures were at once taken to
suppress the trade but the evil was only
partially abated, for the opium vendors
contryad to elude the authorities The
opium was easily concealed, and the sol
der when entering battle took a sufficient
ly large dose not only to quiet his nerves
but to render him utterly Indifferent to
the terr0rs Of the conflict. While, how
ever, it proved a powerful stimulant, in
-piring all who We're under its potent in
huence with an artificial courage, it made
them wholly incapable OF understanding
the orders Of the superior officers and of
performing their duty intelligently or
efficiently Dr. Alexander Mott was in
tcryeWed. lie stated, among other things,
that the use of this drug leads to the use
nj other stimulants The effect upon the
secretons produced an Unsuitable thirst
and depression of the nervous system,
and creates desire for alcoholic stimu-
lants. The majority OF opium eaters and
laudanum drinkers are addicted 10 the use
OF spirituous liquors. One is a natural
consequence of the other. The doctor also
says that large quantities are sold in the
form Of tincture OF opium or laudanum
have known persons addicted to this habit
to take a wine glass full OF laudanum
three or four times a day. | have seen
them enter a drug store and take two
ounces Of laudanum at one dose This |
they would do on their way down town |
IN the morning to their place of business, |
and on their return home in the afternoon |
they would stop at the same place and re-
peat the dose. supply was also obtain
ed for use during business hours and to |
prevent the prostration Of the mental ener- |
gies at a time when they were in constant
requisition But morphine is much strong |
er than the liquid form 1t is the salts |
Of Opium-an alkaloid In comparative !
strength, it bears the proportion of one |
grain to about 80 drops of laudanum.
These doses OF the two forms are of about
equal strength. There are ladies who use
u drachm Of morphine every two days
that is sixty grains. You can understand |
The strength Of this quantity when tell
YOU that six grains Of morphine taken by |
4 strong man in tull health, would prove |
fatal unless remedies We're Immediately |
o,H,AltaI snaal-inrr Of,
who are not in the habit of taking opium |
and the sulphate OF morphine The sui !
tty of morphia obtained from gum opium
is from nine to fourteen per cent The
India opium is inferior, affording about
six per cent. One sixth Of a grain of the
acetate of morpha is equivalent to grain
Of opium. The usual or ordinary dose of
either Of the forms of morphia is from an
eighth to quarter of a grain; this is
dose for adults. In my own practice
have had to treat large number of per-
sons who were the victims of this habit.
As general thing, can tell from the
peculiar appearance and expression of
the face that they are :ne slave of this
vice.
Their skin has an unhealthy whiteness
and bloated look, resembling the effect
produced by the frequent use of alcoholic
stimulants When under the potent in
fucnce of this drug the eyes assume an
unnatural brightness, the action OF the
brain is quickened, and while the spell
lasts the conversation is marked by yivac-
ity and sprightliness. This condition of
the mental organization is followed by
terrible reaction, which produces Ian
guor of both mind and body, and in some
cases there is a great mental depression
and physical suffering, obliging the I'M
happy victims to renew the dose for the
purpose OF maintaining this stimulating
effect; and so it proceeds from day to day,
from week to week, from bad to worse.
The sleep Of opium eaters is fretful and