The Mineral argus., 1883-11-15
4 MODERN EDWIN BROOD.

10 an tniiHlciN wreck Dy the ia
csssive Use OF Opiates.
srom the Louisville Courier-Journal.
81 wish that l knew some way Of
breaking myself of taking opiates. l
would be willing to go to jail-to do
anything, in short, so that l could be
placed in confinement until l had a
chance 10 cure myself of this terrible
habit. / never will be able TO do so, i'll
am left to myself"
These words we're addressed TO a re-
porter last evening by a man giving his
name as George johnson, who acknowl-
edged that he was a confirmed opium
eater. his appearance WIS a startling
one. His face had the aspect of a hag-
gard corpse; his eyes were hollow and
and sunken, but glitteTed with a half
maniacal fire, while a ragged growth OF
short black beard and long tangled hair
added to his wretched appearance. His
clothing was old aud diiapidated; a rag
ged coat was buttJned up to his chin to
hide Il coarse, dirty shirt, and a straw
bat, with a pair Of brogan shoes, COM
pleted a costume that would answer
equally well tor a tramp or a ioOtpad.
Yet there wa an air Of refinement that
chung to him, with all his rags, and his
hands, though sOiled and hardened,
Sere slender and delicate.
81 am a perfect slave to opium" he
continued, " and ] would hesitate at
nothing to procul G the drug when the
desire Tor it is on me. l will lie or
steal. l heard a friend say once
here he paused and looked signih antly
~ 81, w..,wNW-safha ha WrnT1ih Kill 81
man, il necessary to get morphine, and
| wouldn't blame him. / have fallen
from a respectable station down to what
you see me, and there is no telling bow
much lower l will get unless L have
help.
The amount of morphine | can take
mas not | suppose, eve been equalled.
One time ] took 80 grains, and it did not
iniure me. / think by gradually in
creasing the dose / could take twice as
much without danger. When l can't get
enough morphine to do me any good |
take crude opium or chlOroiorm, /
know you will hardly believe me when
| say that in one night | 4 used a pound
Of chemical chloroform by inhalation,
vet it is a fact. 1 have gone for three or
four DAYS at a time without eating in or
der 20 buy some morphine or opium
with the little money | had. / am only
| p. but l began using it when was p.
At that time | was q deacon in a
| Christian church; / never drank,
swore or gambled. l was
the owner of a refill drug store "a Hick-
| man, where | remained all through the
| yellow fever epidemic, Out Of a pOpula-
! ton Of ] 200, 2U0 died, among them eight
doctors, but ! came out of it healthier
/ than ever. When the habit took Il firm
hold on me l commenced going down
hill. l lost my p~roperty-lost my health,
my friends and my self-respect. l
| believe the knowledge Of it fastened my
fathers death; il has beggared me, es-
tianged the girl to whom | WAS to be
married, and it will prove my death. Il
hangs over me like the blacklist Ofnight-
mares; it has taken possession OF my ev-
erv waking thought, and usLrped every
dream of night. The horror of my situa-
ton has benumbed every faculty but that
| of dread. and every day ! grow nor
keenly alive 10 my awful condition. /
would part with anything, even my
mind. and be content to live the remain
der OF my life in a maniac's cell, If l
] could only be cured.
MY object in telling you this is in the
| hone that ITS publication may open some
avenue for my reformation. i am will
ing to be locked up in Jail if my friends
will only prefer a charge against me. /
will 20 to any place where | can be
confined and receive medical at
trntior. I am not begging, and when
! am cured l will pledge myself TO
work for years TO repay the expense
my care will incur. / can he re-
moved without help; | have tried it too
| often. There is strong oom in the
city hospital where ] would like to be
placed, and as a last resort will apply
TO Gen. TAYLOR or Mayor Jacob for a per-
nit to he taken there. Whatever is done
| am conscious must be done quickly,
for | am breaking fast in mind and body.
| have lived here for years, and old
friends whom | have RnOwn all my life
pass me without recognition, l am so
broken and changed"
The mans story was certainly a touch
ing one and there appears every ground
FOR believing its truth. His statement as
TO the enormous quantity of morphine
he had taken was c~orrObOTated by the
druggist who had sold 1t 10 aim lie
stated that he did not want money or
any relief except that which would aid
in his reformation. lie believes that he
cannot be cured without confinement. lie
did not give his address-it Is doubtful
ifthe poor fellow had any-but said that
# any way was devised for helping him
he would call at Crecelius' drug store at
Twelfth anu Market streets in "a few devs
where any communication might he let.
His real name the reporter ascertainCd
to be Bergman.