The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-02
Narcotic POis0ns, &C.
, the Editor of the Dispatch


Whilst Il was expected that there would
he some opposition TO the restriction OF the
sale Of narcotic poisons by druggists, was
not prepared for such excited opposition
10 II by any member OF the medical pro-
fession Ms IL manifested in an article, COM
ing from Lynchburg, In your paper OF Inc
Goth. The anonymous writer claims TO be
can intelligent physician and member OF
the Virginia Medical Society,""
He denies that IL Is the unanimous sentI-
msnt of the intelligent physicians OF Nir.
ginia that such bill as is proposed shall
become law.
The statement made in my article in the
Dispatch Of the 18th was
..such is the unanimous sentiment of the most
intelligent physicians of Virginia in convention
assembled"
IL did not include those not thus assem-
bled. nor did II mean TO imply that all the
intelligence Of the Virginia medical pro-
fession was confined to that body. There
are doubtless many intelligent physicians
who are not members OF that body, and
also members who were absent, some
of whom may not have favored such
law; but IL is believed that those who OPP
pose it are o snail minority-the few who
NAV make up IN violent opposition for their
want Of numbers.
MANY OF the assertions OF the writer are
docmatic, and not sustained by reason and
facts, some OF which will be presently no
ticed.
As to the law proposed being class legis-
lation, for the benefit OF the few. its alb
surdity was shown. think, in my former
article. The anonymous writer admits
..that the opium habit Is an evil" Still he
saws, at never shoitens life, makes one
onrhndxr - How fhpn
is it an evil? In opposition TO the opinion
of this .'inteligent physician" will here
quote the opinion Of one no less distln-
guished certainly. ] allude TO Benjamin
Ward Richardson, NJ. D., A. NJ. f. X. >,
of the ROYAL College OF Physicians, and
member of various philosophical and scien-
tifc societies, as to the effects OF the eXceS-
sive use OF opium. He says:
The depression (after the excitement ceases
felt mentally appears as some great los OF intel
ectna power OF men9Iy or OF innosy 10 1o
ing horror of impending danger, which must oc-
and yet by the suspense CT ITS occurrence 'he
more Terrible
After which he continues:
.There Is absence of muscular power inability
10 speak with correctness and energy =
~inabihty 10 take, digest or a~imilate i0od; lhere
is wasting of the body: the muscles ar; extremely
wasted: the skin shrinks and shrivels, and the
Characteristics OF premature old age are deVei-
oped"
Again he says:
1.-THE final action OF opiun, when indulgence in
its use Is carried to extreme, is seen in the fail
ure OF the nervous power. The centres Of nervous
matter, as IL there, like the muscles. were under
going waste. lose their activities. and thus parlly-
sis OF some portion of the body Il resultant phe-
pomenon. The lower limbs 6rst fail. then the
muscles Of the back lose their etimulus and en-
ergy; and The body. lame and bent, falls into the
dccfepitude Of senile degeneration. Death from
insntion, owing to complete failure OF the diges-
tive power. clofes the scene"
Such are the sentiments of the diStin-
guished DR.. Richardson, who has long
studied the habits of opium-eaters and the
diseases produced by it..
But doctors will differ, even the most
"intelligent." But II Is believed that the
experience Of very large majority Of in
telligent physicians will coincide with the
sentiments Just quoted, and it is most sur
prising that any medical man should con-
tend that opium-eating does not cause dis
ease and death, and. too, that De Quincy,
the brilliant but erratic English opium
eater, should be quoted as authority as to
the effects OF opium-eating. His yagares
and Authorizations during the stage Of men,
tai eXatation the first effect OF opium
eating, preceding the mental depression)
are no criterion by which its effects shall!
be Judged in ordinary mortals. As well
NAV the drunkard be authority to decide
upon the i'll effects OF alcohol and the rene
dies best adapted to remove them. Neither
in oil probability would deem the effects
OF the one or the other Opium or ALCOHOL
injurious.
But the aforesaid anonymous doctor de-
fies me "to give an instance OF anybOdy's
life being shortened, any one being killed
or made to do wrong. by the excessive use
of opium"
have now in nv mind one OF bright in.
tellect and most admirable qualities in al
respects, who, after having the habit Of
opium-eating for few years, with gradu
ally undermined health finally sank into ;
premature grave from its excessive use.
knew q cultivated and refined person o.
high moral tone who, after the habit o.
opium-cating had been acquired, got alsC
kleptomania OF an intense type, TO the
great annoyance OF friends and the public
This person afterwards, under the contin
ued supervision OF a doctor, who forbit
the victim OF the habit 10 go TO the drug
stores, was cured by gradual daily dimi
mutton OF the poison. when the kleptoma
mia ceased and the person became again ;
useful and moral individual.
1 know a person, an 0pium-eater TO
some years. whose whole system Is dis
eased, whose nervous power is almost ex
harsted, confined to bed for year, witt
short intermissions Of few days, and who
in all probability, will sink into a prema
ture grave unless the poison be gradual,
lessened and finally discontinued.
Here there Is disease Of body. mind
and morals from the opium habit, and ais
dea.h. Aud but few physicians OF mucl
practice, presume, there are who hay
not had q similar experience. For obyiOu
reasons, names and places are suppressed
Our physicians, who 1t IL believed warml.
favor the passage OF the law to prevent ant
suppress this habit, will, think, bear M
out In these statements.
But II Is also said by the anonymou
doctor that failed to state that physician
II this be fact, It IL probably due to tn
great facility Of obtaining It, which Is ~
argument IN favor Of removing this facil
ity, at least as regards others, and In favo
OF the bill proposed II all cannot b,
saved from these ills, let as many as posi-
BILE be saved. But this writer SAYS VIII,
discriminate In favor Of doctors, 50 far u
opium-eating " concerned, when all il
this free country should be allowed 10 ea
II. All, suppose, should be allowed thil
glorious liberty OF poisoning themselves
OF committing, though slowly, still com
hitting. suicide / This is running trn,
liberty into license, into Nihilism
into Red Rcpublicanism. Whilst b,
the latter, during the French reyo-
bowed their neeks to the guilotlne, and
the soil OF France was red with their blood
80 here some Of Our best people-morc
A. a. -