Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-05-05
MORPHIA DISEASE.
Terrible COBsequencaaO OF the Abuse
Of Narcotics IN M0dePn society.

OF Narcotics IN Modern BOeteTy.
The vast abuse Of narcotics in
modern society is becoming, the
London Lancet remarks, a serious
evil. There is no denying the fact
that in countries where no admins
tratiye control of chemists shops
exists, as in England and America,
the public has too easy access to
such drugs. The report of the
medical officer to the Privy Coun-
Gil on the use Of laudanum in the
industrial districts of England, for
the purpose of keeping infants
quiet, startled itsreaders some years
ago. It's not long since a poiti,
cal weekly contemporary boldly
contended that chloral was to be
found in the work-boxes and bas-
kets of nearly every lady in the
West End, "to calm her nerves"
Chloral punch has become an
Constitution" in the drinking sa-
looms Of New York scarcely a year
after its introduction to medical
practice, Now we hear from sober,
orderly and paternally-ruled Ger
many, that there is such a thing as
morphia disease spreading among
its population. The easy,applica-
tion Of subcutaneous injections left
to the patients themselves or their
attendants by indulgent practition-
ers has proved SO tempting to per-
sons afflicted with bodily or mental
pain that they have taken to habit
ually practicing them, and, of
course, as in the case OF the con-
tinued and uncontrolled internal
use of opium, alcohol or chlOral, the
effect coon becoming weaker, the
dose has been increased, and, in
some cases related by the physician
Of the private maison dc sante at
Berlin in the Kin, Wochenschrift,
reached the amount of from twelve
to sixteen grains per diem.
The symptoms seemed to be very
much like those of opium eating.
One lady took to morphia mice
tions, after she had become ac-
Iquainted with their effect in an at
tack of gladstone collie during the
French war, when the anxiety about
her male relations in the field
weighed to heavily on her mind to
stand the mental stress. After she
had practiced the soothing opera
ton four years her face showed a
grayiSh-leaden hue, the pupils be-
came the size of pins head. Vio-
lent shiverings after the type OF
tertian fever, hyperesthesia and
neuralgia, dislike for meat diet,
great weakness, inability to pursue
any continued occupation, existed,
with unimpaired intellect and mem
ory in the well educated and clever
patient. She was cured indthe
space Of four weeks by gradual de-
Ipriyation Of the drug. If patients
subject to this kind of disease be-
come aware Of their state they are
apt to change it into alcoholism.
The wife of medical man who
saw in a book on Materia Medica
that alcohol was considered an an
tjdote for morphia became q con-
firmed drunkard. The author OBJ
served four similar cases. In two
!other cases the patients committed
suicide, end two died from maras-
mus. The last four had refused
medical treatment, The task Of
the physician seems to be always a
very difficult one, as tits impossible
to wean these patients from their
habit unless they are treated like
prisoners, searched before admis-
sion to the hospital or sick-room,
put under guard Of attendants in.
accessible to bribery, and cut oil
from all communication with the
outer world before the critical time
, has passed.
The most highly educated and
otherwise respectable will tell any
amount Of lies and perjure them.
} selves to procure the accustomed
| poison. Like dipsomania and
opium-eating, the morphia disease
/ daorddes the moral character.