Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-17
ARSENIC ,NEBRlETY.

ARSENIC INEBRIETY.
Peeuliarities Of . Man who Used the
Poisonous 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 mar
eotic or a stimulant-is detailed by DR..
I. D. Crothers. An English veterinary
surgeon and trainer, who had q greatly
exaggerated fear of death, had COM
menced the taking of arsenic in the belief
thatitwould protect him against disease.
He had continued it on account of its
stimulative 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 us work well, although he was
then ta&cng from one to two drains of
Fowler's solution of arsenic every day
or secoId day on account of exhaus-
ton and 'bad feeling" 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 steadily increased. until he
was taking three ounces of Fowler's
solution in day. The ordinary dose
of the drug is five drops three times q
day. He often found it difficult to pro-
cure so large quantity of solution, so
he commenced to use the powder, of
which he ate fifteen or twenty grains
day.
His appearance at that time was that
Of man in good health. His face was
full and the skin clear and white. The
eyes were brilliant, though somewhat
unsteady, and when talking the facial
muscles moved inordinately. His coun-
tenance showed no wrinkles or marked
lines His walk had become deliberate
and hesitating, and the sensibility of
his skin was diminished. He COM
planned of rheumatic stiffness, which
was very pronounced when deprived of
his usual dose of arsenic. At times he
ate an inordinate amount of food, and
then he would abstain from eating for
week or more. For year his sleep
had been broken by bad dreams; he
would wake up covered with perspira-
ton, and.his mind was filled with vague
and depressing fears. When he awOks
in the morning he felt sense of ex-
haustion and pressure all over the body
which steadily grew worse until the ar
senic was taken. One hour after TAX
ing the drug all this bad feeling passed
away, and sense of quiet eXhilaratiOn
prevailed, which formerly had been
marked. but at last was shorter and
less distinct. Breathing became diff
cult through any general exertion be-
fore taking the drug, but after taking
it no such trouble was observed. The
heart was disturbed functionally and
and he complained of failure of men,
DRY and general indisposition to
work. He was always in doubt as to
what course of action would be best for
him to pursue, and was filled with
fears and dread of mistakes, par.
ticularly when the effects of the
arsenic wore away. Even after taking
the usual dose the indisposition to work
continued. He could not concentrate
his mind long on any topic ut any time.
At times he would be very emotional,
laughing and crying at unimportant in.
cidents; then he would become obliviOus
to all emotion. Pride in dress and app
pearance seemed to furnish the only
pleasure of his life. He would dress
himself with great care and then pass
his time in stable or on hotel stoop,
gazing put into space in silence. As
the effect of the drug wore off he would
become boastful and excitable. At such
times his judgment was bad, but when
he had recently taken the drug his
judgment was generally correct.
He was very methodical in his habits,
taking the drug twice a day in secret.
He bathed very often to take away a
strong odor of the skin. which was evil
IDENTITY caused by the elimination of the
arsenic. He was known to his COM
panions as a very changeable, eccentric
man, who, early in the morning and
late in the afternoon, was 'half crazy"
These and other symptoms indicated Il
general failure of both body and mind,
rapidly approaching dementia. At times
he was alarmed, and wished to give up
the use of the drug; at others he was
Indifferent. He told the doctor that if
he could get this drug always he never
would abstain, but he found it difficult |
to always keep a supply.
An impression prevails among many |
medical men of large practice that the |
secret use of arsenic is rapidly increas-
ing. The peculiar tolerance of this
drug in some cases suggests the regu- |
larity of its use as stimulant or mar.
cotic.-London Journal Of I'aebriety.