The Dickinson press., 1883-04-28
NOBLE VICTIMS OF OPIUM.
A High Life Sensation, True in all
Particulars. Except Names.

can III the west End OF London was
summoned to attend a very urgent case.
AS the carriage drew up at the door, he
observed that there was an awning and
a carpet extending from the portal to
the curb, aud on reaching the hall he
found that the house was thronged with
people in evening dress. The messen-
ger, speaking to a white-haired, mill
tary looking gentleman who sat alone
before the fireplace, said;
"Sir Hugh, this is DR.. Fielding" and
withdrew.
The gentleman addressed rose from
his chair, and as he stood in the blazing
light of the sea-coal fire he seemed a
mon in whose splendid physical pres
ence the doctor at once recognized the
person of a famous naval commander
whose deeds of personal proves in the
Pacific and in the China Sc 8 had won
for him something more than a national
reputation.
"Be seated. DOCTOR" he said, pointing
to a chair, "My daughter was to have
been married to-day. [ have sent for
you because l know your reputation for
the treatment of nervous diseases is very
high"
"My professional skill is at your ser
NACC, Sa40 liz 0OCIOT.
"Your answer is frank and to the
point" returned the baronet. The
marriage of my daughter has not taken
place: To-day she passed from a state of
vivacity and apparent happiness into
one of stupor. All our efforts to arouse
her have proved unayailing. In order
that you may comprehend the entire
situation, l shall be forced to detail some
Of my own and of my family history.
Her mother was a native of the East In
dies, l married her after O brief court
ship when | was a Flag Lieutenant in
the East India squadron, many years
ago. She was a daughter Of missionary
who had given over his Jealous ambition
gone into trade. In short time his for
tune had reached an incred-
ible amount. There were vague rumors
that the greater part OF 1t had been
gathered by transactions in opium. The
young lady herself was beautiful and tai
ented, and the sole heiress of her faith
err enormous wealth. Among the
many suitors who came l was the sue
cessful one, and our wedding was in
many respects a most remarkable affair.
J Our only child was born some years later,
and shortly after 1 was ordered to an ar.
duousservice in the Coriscan waters. On
aus COillpl fI!Ju 1 felullcu VI F.lgl Hu W
fnd my Wife broken in health and the
of disorders. Il was necessary to allay
her pain and to do this morphia was re-
sc~Aed to. She fingered on and died.
Befors her d,ath size told
me in a lucid IN that she had
j. learned the use of opium in her child
hood, and that, while she had never be.
come q slave to it, she had nevertheless
taken it with regularity, and she had no
DOUBT that her illness resulted from the
..ahit. In this view the physician who
attended her concurred. Now, sir, my
shil appears to Inc to have been using
s.#Ge drug. | have no reason to believe
.iiat she is q slave TO a habit of taking
opium in any of its horrible forms, but
my heart is ,urdcned with the gravest
Ap~prehensions. Should you discover
shat she is. the wedding ceremony,
which otherwise is only postponed, shall
never take place. The bridegroom is
the son Of my dearest friend, and l can
have the prospect Of a life
.sof misery, such as mine has been
the more 80 for the reason that there is
no way to insure Il life happiness for
her"
They passed out through the hall, up
the staircase, encOullteflnS the guests
WHO had been biddcn to the marriage
feast taking their departure. some Of
them gave looks of curiosity, but all OF
them had a word OF sympathy or a pres
sure of the hand to bestow upon the
stricken father as he passed by.
On reaching the landing, the Baronet
stopped for q moment to recover his self
possession, and then gently opening a
door, uSlered tile doctor into the pa
tieut's chamber. The sight that greeted
the doctors eyes embraced as its central
feature the form of a young lady clad in
dress of white SATIN and lying OH Il bed.
4 A bridal veil OF delicate lace trailed its
luxuriant length over the back ola chair,
on which also hung a wreath of orange
blossoms.
In a moment the man of science saw
that the fathers worst fears were justi-
fed. A mere glance ut the swollen eye
lids whose unnatural yellow color was
heightened by the dark blue veins that
~traversed them, showed that the young
lady was not only the victim ola larger
portion thar she had been accustomed
to take, but that the custom itself was of
old standing.
"Well, Doctor" asked the ~baronet,
anxiously, 'is it opium??"
owe must first save her life," replied
the doctor eNaSlVely.
Proper remedies were administered
50 successfully that in a few minutes the
victim was aroused from the state of
coma into which she had fallen, and
brought to her feet. Then began the
heroic treatment. She was beaten with
hands, pricked with sharp points and
subjected to repeated shocks frow. a
galvanic battery, while her stomar'. was
attacked with the most powerful emetics,
and all the while she vas Kept walking
no and down the room, despite her
pleadings to be allowed to lie down and
close her eyes, 1t took many hours be-
fore the danger passed away. Then the
doctor sought the Baronet in his library,
and said without preface: Your
daughter, cir, is confirmed opiulneat-
er; not only has she used the drug in
that form, but mas taken it ~sub-cutane-
ously."
This is horrible news" moaned the
father. Gan not this frightful habit be
checked and finally stopped? II you
can stop it, or if you think you can, re-
~linquish your career to devote yourself,
TO the task, and l will give you my
whole fortune; nay, even my life"
DR.. Fiel!ing shook mis- head gloomily.
"No," he said, "science has not done
that. Even in paradise appetite roigned
and ruined.n
That night the doctor pored over his
books and finally, asst possessed ofsome
new impulse, he fastened to his labor
atory, and selecting from Its shelves a
bottle, carefully measured out a portion
OF morphia. He was about to conduct an