The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-06-24
Hydrate OF Choral.

Within the last three or four years q
new stimulant has been introduced into
the country, and is gaining ground, viz,
hydrate of chloral. and new class of
drunkards has been the consequence.
We need not describe the horrid drug
farther than TO say it is salt of burn
ing, pungent taste, having great affinity
/ for water; its basis is chloroform, into
which il is supposed to be changed in the
blood. In small doses it is stimulant
and anti-spasmOdic; in larger, narcotic /;
\ while an overdose produces death as in
staneously as flash of lightning. Like
opium, the dose must be constantly in
creased to keep up the same effects. The
results of smaller dose of the drug on
chlOral-eater land why we say " on a chic
ral-e ter" is because the medical profession
often err in judging of the actions of GER
tain kinds of stimulant narcotics, such as
| opium, Indian hemp, etc, for this reason:
! they take one or two doses of the drug them
selves, and base their opinion of its action
on the result produced on their own sys-
/ TENS, forgetting that the same medicine
may have totally different effect upon
one unaccustomed 20 its use person not
smoker might just as well expect,
10y taking one, one pipe. to to tel tel
vi ICculCoi biCu3 VI
a lesser dose on a real chloral-cater are
partly of stimulating, partly of sooth-
ing nature. The stimulation. however, is
not like that caused by opium or alcohol
il is not eXhilarating. and does not incite
to action either mentally or bodily. But
the subject of the influence rises for time
above all his cares, or sorrows, or fatigue,
and seems to look on life through the me-
dium of rOse-tinted glass. But while
care and sorrow are forgotten, and
strange dreamy sense of perfect ease, COM
fort, and happiness takes their place, all
affection and love are likewise banished.
He is apathetic, and cares for nothing
save his own sense of comfort. He is, if
we might so express it. merely living,
breathing vegetable. In this state the
confirmed ehloral-eater would stand by
the death-bed of his nearest and dearest
passive spectator, if not, indeed. actually
smiling; and for the same reason he would
stand quietly on the scaffold until execut-
ed. Ii the dose is repeated without the
ehloralist lying down, speech becomes in
distinct, the eyelids drop, and the gait in
walking is affected just a in drunkenness
from alcohol. The chlOralist, drunk in |
the first degree, is by no means an un- |
pleasant companion. A stranger could |
mark nothing unusual about him; he is |
genial, and although rather languid and
by. 10 means bright in conversation, he
is at all events a good listener. and is
easily pleased, although his smiles often
partake of the simpering or hysterical Or
der; and, too, he is at times easily reused |
into an outbreak offIlrious passion, which |
dies away just as suddenly as il came,
leaving no trace behind. But of course |
every one will not be affected precisely
alike, as much depends on the idiosyn- |
Grassy or innate peculiarities of the chlOr-
alist.
Yes, chlOral is, as it were, a new Jug
gernaut set moving in society, and thou |
sands annually fall beneath its wheels. |
God forbid we should seem to exaggerate |
the evil! But ask for yourself any whole
sale chemist, and he will tell you
that tons on tons of this dangerous drug |
are annually imported into England and |
America (from Germany and other parts) |
which are not prescribed By medical men,
but taken as stimulants by the people |
themselves. Ask your medical man if he |
knows off new disease called chloralism, |
or if he knows of any one that is addicted |
to choral eating, and see how gravely he |
will shake his head.
Hydrate of choral in every shape-un- |
less exhibited by the hands of skillful |
practitioners an insidious and fatal poi |
son. 1t is more tempting than alcohol, |
more insinuating than opium, and more |
terrible i'll its effects than either. An OPT |
um eater, baneful though the practice is,
has been known to live to.a goodly old |
age; no chloralist ever lasted over three |