Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-01-27
The AgonIes OF an Opium Eater.

The Agonies OF an Opium. Eater.
The New York San contains long
account of a confirmed opium eaters
ten years struggle with the terrible
drug. The writer tells how he became
ddicted to the use of opium and how
he mastered bis craving for it. De-
scribing his sufferings he says.
had reduced the dose after horrible
suffering TO one grain and quarter.
But every effort TO get below THAT
amount was futile. II seemed too much
for human endurance. | decided TO
come down TO zero at once and put
opium entirely away. The struggle was
savage one. All that | had before
undergone would bear no comparison
with the awful burden OF mis-.
cry which crushed me then.
For thirteen days and niyhts
| did not sleep "A moment. could not
remain in any place or position for more
than minute at IA time. | flew from
one locality 10 another with "A command
ing intensity OF nervous excitement.
Depressed, desperate and suffering from
the very incarnation OF anxiety I passed
from room 70 room in condition 10
which all the horrors OF strictly or
thodox hell would have been powerlegs
TO give an added agony. Every breath
was drawn by the violent exercise oil
villa ton weight was upon my chest
and WAS fastened TO me with hands of
steel. 1t was only by theIutmost energy
Of self-control that kept myself from
throwing my suffering body out upon
the pavement below me. On the morn
ing OF the fourteenth day | took a half
rain OF morphia, and obtained three
hours OF sleep. This last effort decided
the battle. Opium, the conqueror, was
AT last conquered, for did not afterward
exceed the half grain, and soon reduced
that dose by sixteenihs, and was free
free from the opium habit, but not yet
free from its consequences, for months
OF suffering were yet before me.
AT this period temptation came
which nearly cost me my cure. At
twelve o'clock one night ! heard a
strange noise; some one was throwing
small pebbles at my window panes.
Raising the sash | saw a boy about
sixteen who beckoncd vigorously and
pointed to the front door Greatly
astonished ! dressed. and, crawling
down the stairs, confronted my strange
visitor. He placed his finger on his lin
snd said, hurriedly: I've got adrachm
Of it-right here-a whole drachm-
don't you want 1t ?n
Want what ?" whispered in a sort
OF terror.
You know" said he, morphine" 4"
Great heavens ~ exclaimed in my
sgony, who told you / wanted it ?"
"Oh, I've heard the doctors talk in
our drug store" said he, land / know
you want il; you can have 1t for five
dollars 1t was worth about eighty
cents.
] do not want it, / said, astounded
at the proposition, "and now you 90 /;
what is your name ?"
At this question the boy took 10 his
heels, and more dead than alive
crAwIed back to bed TO count the
minutes before daylight.
IL WAS narrow escape, tor had
failed then | would not have consented
to the hell of another cure. have since
learned that some OF the youthful
sharpers Of drug stores watch for these
| opportunities and use them. House
hold servants also minister, when well
paid, TO the cravings of the opium
eater, and his path of cure is beset with
every kind Of thorn. Another fact in
this connection is worth recording.
Certain OF the weather class OF opium
eaters, who are periodically falling into
the hands of their friends on account OF
the habit, often arrange with a drug.
gist's clerk in such a way that II the
victim does not call at the store for his
regular doses, the clerk shall 90 TO the
patients house, and If lac secs certain
prearranged paper figure pasted upon
the window pane, he shall tring around
a dIachm of morphia at midnight, and
be literally re warded.
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