Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-12-31
ARSENIC INEBRIETY.
Peculiarities OF nan Who Took from
Twelve TO Twenty Grains OF the
Drug Daily


Twelve TO Twenty Grains OF the
Drug Daily.
A typical example of class of cases
not well understood by the general
public-cases in which arsenic, like
alcohol or opium, is taken as narcot.
ic or silmulant-is detailed bv DIR.
L. ID. Crolhers in the Quarterly jour
nal Of Mebricty. An English veteri-
nary surgeon and trainer, who had Il
greatly exaggerated fear of death. had
commenced the taking of arsenic in
the belief that IL would protect fevers.
He had cont nued il on account of its
cumulative properties, and consulted
the doctor only after the i'll effects of
the habit had manifested themselves.
Up to 1880 he was in good health and
did his work well, although he was
then taking from one TO two drains of
Fowler's solution of arsenic every day
on account OF exhaustion or "bad feel
ing. For four years he wandered
from place to place doing service as a
trainer and horse doctor, and during
this time the use of arsenic had stead
ily increased, until he was taking
three ounces of Fowler's solution in Il
day. The Ordinary dose of the drug is
five drops three times day. He often
quantity of solution, so he commenced
to use the powder, of which he ate tif-
teen or twenty grains day.
His appearance ut that time was
that OF II man in good health. His
face was full, and the skin clear and
vii te. Tie eyes were brilliant, though
somewhat unsteady, and when talking
the facial muscles moved Unfortunately.
His cOuntenance showed no wrinkles
or marked lines. His walk had be-
come deliberate and hesitating, and
the sensibilty of his skin was dimin-
ished. He complained of rheumatic
stiffness, which was very pronounced
when he was deprived of his usual
dose of arsenic. At times he ate an
inOrdinaie amount of food. and then
he would abstain from eating for u
week or more. For year his sleep
had been broken by bad dreams; he
would wake up covered with perspIra-
ton. and h : mind was filled with
vague and depressing fears. When
ne awoke in the morning he
felt a sense of exhaustion and
pressure all over the body,
which steadily grew worse until the
arsenic was taken. One hour after
taking the drug all this bad feeling
passed away. and sense of quiet en-
hilaration prevailed, which formerly
shorter and less distinct. Breathing
became difficult through any general
eXerton before taking the drug. but
after taking it no such trouble was OBJ
served. The heart was disturbed
tunctionally, and he complained of
failure OF memory and Il general in
disposition to work. He was always
IN doubt us to what course OF action
would be best for him TO pursue, and
was filed with fears and dread of
mistakes, particularly when the effects
of the arsenic wore away. Even after
taking the usual dose the indisposition
TO work continued. He could not con
centrate his mind long on any topic ut
a time. AT times he would be very
emotional, laughing and crying at un-
important inc dents; then he would
become oblvious to all emotion.
Pride in dress and appearance seemed
to furnish the only pleasure of his life.
He would dress himself with great
care, and then pass his time in sta.
bic or on Il hotel stoop, gazing out
into space in silence. AS the effect of
the drug wore of he would become
boastful and eXcltable. At such times
his judgment was bad, but when he
had recently taken the drug his judg-
ment was generally correct.
He was very methodical in his hab-
It's, taking the drug twice a day in
secret He bathed very often to take
away II strong odor of the skin. which
was evidently caused by the elimina-
ton OF the arsenic. He was known to
his companions as very changeable,
eccentric man, who, early in the
morning and late in the afternoon.
was "half crazy" These and other
symptoms indicated "a general failure
or both body and mind, rapidly APP
proaching dcmentia At times he was
alarmed. and wished to give up the
use OF the drug; at others he was in
different. lie told the doctor that il
he could get this drug always he
never would abstain, but he found it
difficult to always keep supply.
An impression prevails among many
medical men of large practice that
the secret use of arsenic is rapidly in
crcasing. The peculiar tolerance of
4 a.