The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-09-27

n physician, WHO mas pdiu long dblen-
ton to the matter of opium taking says:
l think it has very much increased dur
ing the last twenty-five years. In
to the number of opium
users great many are to be found
among the physicians. | know of four
cases among my own personal acquain-
tances. In one case the result has
been fatal in causing prostration, In
another the result has been suicide.
The other two are living, but ruined
men. Ali these men were physicians.
1t is strange that of all men the doctors
should become victims, but it is so.
The opium habit is far worse than the
habit Of the excessive use Of alcohol,
as regards the hold it takes upon one.
The liquor habit bears about the same
relation to opium that tea and coffee
do to liquor" Carelessness of physi-
clans in prescribing and the use of pat
emit medicines containing large pro-
portion of opium are powerful sources
of the formation of the habit. Opium
is one of the most valuable of drugs,
but mnst be prescribed with intelli-
gence, or it becomes one of the most
dangerous. have more fear of 1t than
of anything else. The majority of the
men who are addicted to the vice be-
come so through having taken the drug
to relieve pain. The proportion OF
opium users, however, isgreater among
women than among the men, and in
many cases women form the habit fol
the sake of the stimulus. 1t is more
convenient than liquor and less liable
to be detected. Ihave heard the state
ment made that factory girls in a town
in this State were in the habit of buy
ing three or four ounces of laudanuu
after they got paid off for the week
and with this they would have a regu
lar opium drunk
when man has the opium habi
the cure is not question Of weeks
but of months, and to be cured at al
he must be kept under surveillance s.
that he cannot elude his physicians ant
continue the habit. Otherwise his vii
power to reform is gone and his mora
sense is destroyed so that he will eve
steal in order to get the drug, TIL
only case l ever treated successful
was that OF a man who had been addict
ed to the habit for about three month!
had purses with him day and night
so that he had no chance to procure tn
drug, and in his case 1 stopped the SUI
/ ply at once. If l had case of thrt
or four years. standing 1 would war
| at least year in which to treat tn
, patient, and after that l would wal
, him to take long sea voyage, not mer'
+ ly as passenger, but with somethiI
} to occupy his mind. All these trea
ments would require money, and tho
r who have the means can have the trea
ment in private asylums. The publ
, institutions do not treat cases of tn
kind and it is blue outlook for tho
/ who are poor.
= with the exception of the case
: have mentioned all my opium patieu
: have gone away uncured. They won
{; remain for short time and leave, 50
k ing they were all right. 1 could n
y detain them and so they returned
v the habit. | do not know how t
d opium habit can be dealt with by la
/. Opium can be bought by any one /; a
n even If the indiscriminate sale of 1t We
/. forbidden, opium users would contri
. to obtain it. The only way in which
l. victim can be properly treated is
putting himself in proper care in sucl
is way that he cannot leave until go
lie result is obtained"