The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-08-31
THE OPIUM HABIT,
Disorder which Threatens to Become Ma
iionai--h fleets of Opium on the systep,--
Ho~ the unblt is Acquired.

A Disorder which Threatens to Become Ma
iionai--h fleets of Opium on the systepi--
H"~ the unblt is Acquired.
Mo'ph ne eating has increased with
wonderful rapidity, writes druggist to
an exchange. Ounces are sold now to
where grains were sold when went into
the drug business. A great many per-
sons use it habitually. Especially
among what are termed the better
classes it is used to fearful extent.
Generally speaking, the habit is first
begun through the prescription of a
physician. The soothing, ]ulling effect
it has upon the physical pain first at
tracts the attention of the sufferer, and
when the pain recurs, morphine is re-
sorted to without the prescription or ad-
vice Of a physician. 1t grows upon
what it feeds, and the habit is soon
formed. Once fixed, it is impossible to
break it up, and the poor victim drags
out a miserable existence, alternating
between the pleasures Of elysium when
under the influence of the customary
dose and the horrors of hades when de-
prived of it. Sulphate of morphia is
the preparation generally used, though
ture OF opium or audahum. The daily
quantity varies greatly With some but
a small quantity only is necessary to get
up 70 the opium eaters heaven, while
others take enough to kill dozen peo-
pie.
The largest quantity I ever knew a
person TO take at dose was an ounce of
solid opium. A man came into my store
one day and purchased an ounce of
green opium. 1 wrapped it in O paper
and he paid for it and started out. Be-
fore he got fairly outside the door, he
unwrapped it and put it in his mouth.
thought he was trying to commit sui
eide, and | ran out and took him by the
throat and compelled him to disgorge.
AS soou as he recovered sufficiently
from the effects of tine choking land I
did not handle him very gently he
confessed that he was an opium eater,
ana that an ounce was his regular daily
dose. Further observation convinced
me that he was telling the truth. He
was teamster, and had been wounded
III scufh5 with a co1nrade. His physi-
clans gave him opium to relieve the
pain and kept him under the influence
OF it tor some time. When his wound was
healed the habit was firmly fixed. He
could not sleep without it, and continued
to use 1t Ill increased quantities until
he had reached tho enormous dose of
one ounce per day.
Not long afterward saw him on an
extremel y cold day without a coat. So
terrible had been his appetite for opium
that he had pawned bis coat to get money
to buy opium. The rigors of tempera-
tnrc below Zero were less painful than
the horrors of deprivation of his daily
dose. He realized his condition and de-
sired to be cured, for in his case it was
a disease, and 7 b~aceeded in getting
him into hospital, and the last | heard
OF him he was improving, with hopes Of
recovery. The medicinal dose of NOR
ph!a is from one-eighth to one quarter of
a grain, and of opium from one TO two
grains. At first it produces sedative
effect, and dries up all the secretions.
After taking it little while it ceases to
affect the bowels. A person in the habit
OF using it, when deprived of it, be-
comes nervous, restless and unable to
remain in one position any length of
time. If the deprivation ia continued, |
TINS extreme nervousness continues till |
it amounts to delirium. L never saw
any one who took morphine or opium
for the taste. 1t is always for the effect.
1t soothes pain, and puts a person in
dreamy, comfortable state. When under
the Influence of the drug, they have no
desire for food, and if they work it is in
mechanical sort of way. The habit
cob9 them OF all energy aud ambition.
Il they can only get their daily doae
hey care for nothing else. 1t is really |
more demoralizing than liquor in its |
fleets. 1t blunts the moral sensibili- !
lies. 4 person usually honest and truth
'ul in other matters will lie ard steal to |
get morphine. L never knew a NOR
ohinc cater who got morphine on credit
20 pay for it.