Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-03-02
A VICTIM OF COCAINE
Gives His Experience with the Fascinat-
ing Drug-Nursed Back to Health.


vember, 1885, when he was arrested
charged with being insane through Excess
sive indulgence in morphine and cocaine.
the latter a powerful narcotic of which
up to that time little had been heard He
was taken before Judge Prendergast, was
declared to be insane, and given a sem
tence of three months in the Washing
tonian home. After fortnights stay at
the home DIR. Bradley went to Canada,
his old home. where he gave himself up
entirely to the demands of the drug, the
destinations of which completely en-
tlralled him. Practice and home were
gone, and he gave free rein to his vice.
He returned to Chicago and was sent to
the insane asylum, where complete cure
was effected, and he resumed his practice,
only to find himself deserted by his
clients and his reputation impaired
Consolation for the reverses came with
cocaine, to which he again became a
victim, and there were months when he
absolutely lived in the state of mind it
produced. securing it by hook or crook
until his last possession was gone and his
family beggared.
The physician went to the gutter, and
a year ago was begging for cocaine ut
drug stores or securing it by fictitious
orders on druggists. Then he disap-
peared. He was occasionally heard from
in Canada and the east until last fall,
when the papers recorded his arrest in
New York city for endeavoring to obtain
a supply of cocaine by representing him
self as a messenger sent from one ply
sician to another. In the police court
the gaunt, emaciated, ragged man told
his story of want and woe, and the
causes which brought them about. At
that time he was using sixty grains of
cocaine day. He was sent to Bellevue
hospital to die. There he was found by
the manager of the Christian home.
where he was nursed back to mental and
physical vigor.
DR.. Bradley was reluctant to dwell on
the episodes thus briefly given, but con-
versed freely on other circumstances of
his life.
Until 1885 there was nothing to dim
my prospects," said DIR. Bradley. 1T
was in that year that cocaine was first
brought to notice through a German
physician, but it was only known as a
practical anasthetic in operation by
ocullsts. There was no method known
Tor using it for other purposes. / was
the first man to discover that it could be
otherwise used-in fact, to take the place
of ether or chloroform. That discovery.
so important to the world. was most I'M
fortunate for me. When l announced
my discovery physicians laughed and de-
clared l was crazy. l wrote a letter to
Mayor Harrison asking him to appoint a
medical commission to inquire into the
value Of my discovery. which was the
of cocaine hypodermic-
ally. l first utilized my discovery bv
testing it on cat. l dissected a leg of
a cat, exposing tissues and muscles, and
kept the animal on my desk for hours
watching the circulation. There was II
pam, the drug exercising a soothing
effect.
'NeXt l began experimenting on N.Y.
self. found that the anasthetic influ-
ence of cocaine is limited. l expert
mented on myself again and again to see
just how far this limit extended, and
learned just where, when and how to
give injections. Physicians then be-
lieved that the effects of the drug were
similar to those of morphine. To dis
prove this I tried actual cautery by ap-
plying to my body red hot irons, but
felt no pain, and there was not the
slightest sensation as the flesh withered
under the heated irons. For three
months every day for half hour l ex-
oerimented with the drug, and often
passed several hours of the night in its
study before mirror, watching its eff
'ect on myself. But l never realized
hat it was obtaining mastery over me.
It's fascinating powers were unknown to
he profession. was Thunderstorm when
found that the drug was absolutely
necessary to my mind and body. l be-
ieve l could have conquered the habit
hen were it not for a misunderstanding
With the man from whom l rented nv
home. He wanted his house, and when |
refused to vacate it my weakness was |
made a point by which I was dragged |
ntO an insane court. Persecution and
publicity drove me to desperate extremes.
1t the Washingtonian home no one |
new how to treat my disease. Every
'ody knows the rest-how l went to the |
,utter and lost everything"
with all your experience with CO.
aine. how do you now regard it," asked
he reporter.
Il think it is grand drug, with re-
properties, and destined to take
he place of ether and chloroform. 1t can
Ne used without danger of death. 1t
PRODUCES no nausea or prostration. 1t is |
! great specific for nervous diseases, for
certain diseases of the spine, for paralysis,
or tetanus, hydrophobia and other con-
yulsive diseases. 1t will unite with other
lnti-spasmodics and intensity their ac-
ion. think / know more about cocaine |
han most men, but have no compre-
,ensive idea of its possibilities. Sci
'ntists are only in the experimental stage
With it"
'What are the effects of the drug7r
'To begin with, it is like the effects of
my stimulant at certain stages, but it is
lot Supplying, as is opium. The person
aking it has feeling that everything is
ovely and serene, of perfect content
nent and universal satisfaction. All
Kings seem perfect. There are none of
he frightful illusions which come from
liquor or other stimulants. Excessive