New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-10
NOT IAJURED ~ COCAINE.
OF THE USE OF THE DRUG.


DOUBT CAST or THE STORIES OF EVIL EFFEcrs-A
GRFAr FALL IN PRICE.
At the September meeting Of sufferers from hay
fever some statements were made as 10 the alleged
injurious effects OF cocaine member OF the assoca
ton saying that mis- auditory had been rendered
useless by the drug. The well-known physician OF
this city VINO has already expressed his views on
cocaine in d conversation printed IN THE TRIBUNE,
and who is specialist in diseases affecting the air
passages said yesterday: d" Ny faith in cocaine re-
mains mistaken. As IN the case OF DR.. Bradley and
in that OF the Elmra physician who was found to have
breu on a proonged spree there have been sora'
aaoat Of the injury worked by cocane As matter
of fact there is wellauthentcdted case record
a. yet where cocaine has elected injury still hold
TO my conclusions that the Of the drug no
especial tolerance, grains producing as marked
constitutional effect twenty-five; that it creates no
habt that the local effect il great at the end OF
some mouths the hrst application; aud that it
gives no distressing local constitutional reaction.
As 10 the Use Of cocaine in cases OF fever another
years experience with it only suOsantiate
my views expressed year ago. In the case OF the
member of the Hay-tever Association who saws he
became deaf through the of cocaine that prob
ably a mistake. The cause of the ceafuess the
hay-fever itself There hundreds Of cases of deaf
ness produced by hayfever the disease tends TO clos
ng the eustachian tabe and often does close IT, There
Is no record OF OF deafness caused 10y the use Of
cocaine BY medical two charges have been
made against the OF IN hayever; that 1t Is
inefficient and that the reaction is as painful az the
original disease | have had Il large number Of cases
and have detected no distressing reaction any OF
them. Out OF 100 cases in ,nly there any re-
action and this was certainly not distressing. Many
OF my patients used the drug daily and 10 toer
ance has been created the effect the at the
last Grst-complete rehet from all symptoms of
nasal stenosis.
AS to the questions whether the of cocaine in
wolves any immeii danger to lie or health and
whether it creates a cocaine habit. would say that
the cases where alarming symptoms were said to have
followed the application OF tie drug to the gum sur
rounding painful tooth. and those IN which appar
ent y alarming symptoms followed the hypoferrnic in
lection OF cocaine certainly 10 the majority OF them.
could be explained a. ordinary attacks OF syncop-,
for which the have been responsible hut
probably No fatal case has vt been even
reported The introduction OF any new drug encoun-
tiers opposition and with imperfect methods of
clinical observation dangers are attr oured To II which
do not Justly belong to Il. think we may safely say
that If there any dangers attendant upon the local
Use OF cocaine they are yet TO be demonstrated
40 DANGER OF A COCAINE HABIT.
still thIuk there is danger OF cocaine habit.
The cases purporting to contradict this view have all
been shown TO have cases OF previous morphine
or alcoholic habits substitute OF that kind. even II
SUCH on. ht TO be a matter OF thanktulness.
81 have. naturally, expermented upon myself with
the new drug wishing to ascertain its effects. In my
second annual attack OF nay fever in August, 1855
used a per cent solution OF the drug applied to the
nose by an atomzer The relief immediate and
very great but it lasted than two or three
hours soon fell into the habit OF using it frequently
in order keen the symptoms under control. During
the night was usually tree from annoyance. used
IL fly fpaf nd fhaf
after using from grain to half grain experienced
the full constitutional effects OF the drug, which were
feeling of absolute peacefuness aud repose entire
immunity from worry care, aertness OF my intel
lectlal faculties with something Of an IndsposOn to
exrrton | enjoyed my cigar as | never had since l
was young In this way would SIT ana smoke
and read hours at a time. read with an avldty and
delight in my text entirely unwonted. went through
stout readings with pleasure found it no eo TT to
confne myself to the text aud no disposition to skip
sentences. Study under the influence OF cocaine be-
came a pleasure. For two months spent many con-
-ecutve hours daily reading and smoking and taking
cocalne-tne later Of course being compulsory on &C
count OF the distress oi my hay-fever. soon took
from five eignt grains OF cocaine daily. had re-
freshing seep at night. with DO unpleasant symptoms
in The morning. The worst effect experienced was
the temptation to smoke too many cigars.
AT TINS time there we're newspaper reports OF the
alarming effects of cocaine and many OF my patients
came to IN excited state about them For this
and other reasons | began taking the drug Ia large
quantities. carrying the dose ~ high On ohe occasion
As twenty tive grains which took between dinner ana
bedtime Let say distinctly | dd not make
practice OF taking twenty-five grains day; TINS
amount was reached only that occasion. Since
thru have used the drag only sparInsy. TOOK ID
all in the two months and halt about an ounce In
addition 10 the conclusions have already stated ar
rived at these that there no local nor eonstitu
tiona reaction. After INV widest cocaine deOauch
| awakened next morning as July refreshed IS II
had taken the drug.
The value OF cocaine "a ccal anesthetlc ana "a
ccustrlcCr Il the observation-disclosures yessrls be ing
expanded in hay fever and catarrh-has been Iniy
demo nstrated to my mind have found II a NEST
admirable general Tonic
GREAT CHANGE N THECOsI OF COCAINE.
Aso the fall in price at the drug since the use
ot this alkaoId took leap ia the autumn OF 1854,
the physician said. he tapped vial OF the
auesthetc: " Two years ago had TO paw $500 toe
that amount this - The demand for the
article accompanied by improvements in machinery
for it, manufacture the this reduction
IN price. The natives OF South America chew the
leaves about three grains of the alkaOid day, as
tome IL IL sand that laborers it constantly
develop Some Ol the deieterou- effects
charged against undOu OtedIy arise from the
patients administering Il himself some taks II N |
tablets solution. some IN this way ana soinS 1"
that IL ought To be used except administered
by a physician under his special direction" mere
are four firms now ufacturns the drug IN this cy
aud brooklyn and in Boston. member oil one oil
these firms that hts house sold the drug two years
ago 70 cents q gram and nj $50 an ounce no"
the price l. 80 20 an ounce Ihe hnprOVemeh's IN
machinery manufacturing the drug from the leai,
he sates have great and this. with the demand,
the present prices Two years ago whole
sale houses sold the drug by i've fifteen grams
o. an order IL n sold Oy the ounce Coca leaves
then cost from 40 TO 90 cents poand, from 20
70. The leaves carefully assorted. the high
leaves beng selected by careful manufacturers
The leaves lose part Of their strength IN packing and
fran.