The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-12-03
rYRANr MORPHINE.
The Work of the Deadly Hypoder,nit
Syrlnges--Drinling Imminent.


Notwithstanding oil that has been said
and written about opium and the evils re-
sulting from its indiscriminate use, the habit
still PREVAILS especially among women to
the extent that may be said to threaten the
very foundations of our social system. Be-
gun in many instances by the family physi-
clan who administers hypodermic iniec-
ton of morphine Gone of the most insidious
forms of opium) to allay some acute or
chronic pain, the patient is captiyated by
its medicinal effects. The feeling of exhi-
laration and freedom from suffering that
follows the introduction into the system is
so great that the dose will be repeated again
and again. Soon only very slight pre-.
text Is needed, until at last the habit Is
formed and the victim of the syringe will
resort to any means to procure what now
becomes necessary to her very existence.
Should the physician discover the danger
and decline to indulge the fancy of the vic
tim she will procure hypodermic syringe
and administer the doses herself. az have
known" said Brooklyn physician, "a
lady whose whole side was mass Of sores
from hypodermic injections of morphine.
DR.. Skene, of Brooklyn, in speaking of
morphine, said -" Its effect is the same
whatever the way it is administered. Hy-
podermic injections, however, are more
prompt in their action; hence more exhil
arating and fascinating to the patient. In
acute and chronic diseases there are opium
eaters who are SO in sort of Legitimate
way, but that physicians should be exceed
ingly careful in the use of the drug is a
point that is urged in all lectures touching
on opium in its various phases. Morphine
is the queen of cerebral stimulants when
given in the proper quantities. II differs in
one important respect from alcoholic
more you take of it the more your system
can endure. man can get drunk on the
same quantity of liquor without increasing
i, but with opium he would require more
each time. It is this peculiarly which
makes 1t so dangerous. Half a grain has
proved fatal, yet some opium eaters have
gone as high as twenty to thirty grains
IN day. Morphine should never be used
hypodermically except in cases where the
pain is so severe that it is necessary to give
the patient immediate relief, or where the
stomach refuses to retain anything. If in a
fatal and painful disease where the patient
takes opium of necessity, but prefers IL n.y.
podermically, the doctor INDUCES the fancy,
II is all right. But were recovery ia possible
a hypodermic injection should never be
used. One important point in the morphine
habit is that the victim will go to any OK.
treme to procure the drug and that they
lose all moral sense of right or wrong when
1t touches that subject"
Morphine" said DIR. Francis Quinlan,
of this city, is IN alkaloid of opium and the
,ne most extensively used. The preparation
Used is n Magendie solution containing six
teen grains to an ounce of water. The dose
Is about seven drops, and the effects last
from two TO three hours. Administered by
podermically, its effects arc felt at once and
is consequently more sought after by opium.
users. Its effect Is terrible. The viotims
lose all sense Of right or wrong, and will
steal to procure 1t. One of my patients, an
English lady, the wife OF prominent engi-
neer living in an uptown fiat, had a syringe
of her own. She broke the needle, and I
was called in to give her hypodermic in
lection. found her dull, torpid and nerve
less, md prepared my syringe, when she
said, Excuse me, doctor, but will take IL
myself. Thinking II a matter of delicacy
acquiesced. and she retired. She returned
in few minutes as active as possible, her
eyes bright, aud her manner rs animated rs
ever. She was so sorry she had broken my
needle She had stolen ii, and pushed her
own in my case. Her husband came the
next day with q new one, but, of course,
refused to receive it. The habit is fright
sul one sadly ended the doctor, and
numbers some Of our most brilliant society
ladies' among Its Victims"