The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-04-26

one who subscribes himself " 4 Vic
tim 60 the use of opium has recently
asked what he cam do % conquer the
habit lie has my sincere sympathy,
SAYS u correspondent m reply, and !
gladly give him nn instance ui u success
ful and radical cure. / had the mis-
fortune 10 pay all the bills for years Of
an opium user, aud know well-hy thou
sands Of dollars squaudorci through thv
mental luIirmtics ougcudvTcd from the
use Of the drug-how terrible It's results
can be- The patient WAS uf a robust
constitution. and Uf more thau ordinary
mental ability The reasoning powers
appeared o. be little injured but there
was serious pcryerbluH ul the moral
senses Five years ago the patient WAS
using opium at the rate Of three ounces
"a week, or three drAchms Of morphine.
sometimes diminishing thtrd, and again
sometimes doubling the average quauu-
~ Talk and persuasion had never
uyuil,d. bat at last something reused the
uufurtunatcs self respect, aud | re-
cciyrd voluntary offer 10 quit lis use,
but / am free 10 say that / listened with
out any hope.
As L live lu village, il was easy to
notify the druggists not % furnish my
household amy more ~ the drug, but /
knew that ID WAS easier for nay patient
% promise than 10 perform, and took the
prrcautluu % IutcrrogAtc those who came
about thr house that | Was not sure al
what their business was, aud If not certain
70 refuse them admission With the eX-
s. . D
tluusly introduced, l succeeded / first
reduced the amount of opium a.
an ounce week, and then 10
half the amount When convinced
that the victim was in earnest,
/ called in q competent physician and AN
ablr-bodlci nurse. The dcathly pallor
and cold skin and sweating ON the fore
head. which Indicate that the effects II
opium have passed oil, occurred at four
o'clock ina the afternoon, and not until
the thinl evening did lie down ta sleep
The first evening the iaiut.ug fits and
collapse of the system were checked 10y
jLe use OF wine ANA brandy, mixed, and
during the night We gave bromide ~
potassium frequently, which produced
an irregular stupur. the nearest APP
prIach wa could make toward securing
sleep for the patient Ia tAe morning
and through iLe day wg used very strong
coffee. which | believe is about the only
remedy rcsortod 10 by humu-spatAIsts IN
such cases. The bromide and the coffee
we're continued for about a month as the
mann remedies o. Hllay the nervous lrrl-
liability. To oiuduce sleep our physician
would ordinarily prescribe hydrate at
clloml. frequently substituting uuc,urv
uf Indian hemp. ia order % avoid amy
injurious effects Of the chlurL The
sufferer WAS uu invalid Tor fully three
weeks. and lt WAS about two months be-
fore natural sleep could Boz fully restored
without the aid Of narcotics Bat little
attention WIS paid 90 the food. the
patients fancy being usually deferred
b.. Once or twice during unusually ez-
cltcd nervous conditions assuiu,ida Was
used with happy effect.
saw "a " 4 Victim. FRANKLY, that the
first struggle i- terrible one. and that
it will he followed 10y weeks uf acute
nervous agony. when hc will wish HIM
self dead and ont uf the way. But Il hc
will place himself uura-yryedly and
irusturly iu the hands 81 JUiiciuVs
physician and his family lac can sue
crel / think hg had better Let the men
who advertise 10 cure tac habit entirely
alone.