Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-03-15
A VICTIM OF COCAINE
Gives His Experience with he Fascinat-
ing Drug-Nursed Back to Health.

iIs kUdIlto ~ biahAtt . hdiit hApt
came into undesirable prominence in No
vember, 1885, when he was arrested
charged with being insane through exces-
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 a fortnight's 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-
thralled 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 a 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 e~ndeavoring 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 a day. He was sent { o Bellevue
hospital TO die. There be was found by
the manager of the Christian home,
where he was nursed back 4 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 wa only known as a
practical anasthetic in operation by
ocuhsts. There was no method known
for 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 un-
fortunate for me. When / announced
my discovery physicians laughed and de-
clared ! was crazy. / wrote a letter to
Mayor Harrison asking him to appoint a
medical commission TO inquire into the
value of my discovery, which was the
administration Of cocaine hypodermic-
ally. / first utilized my discovery by
testing il on a. cat. / dissected a leg of
a cat, exposing tissues and muscles, and
kept the animal on my desk for hours
watching the circulation. There wa ;
pain, the drug exercising a soothing
effect.
Next ! began experimenting on my
self. found that the anesthetic influ-
ence of cocaine is limited. / 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 / tried actual cautery by ap-
plying to my body red hot irons, but |
felt no pam, and there was not the
slightest sensation as the flesh withered
under the heated irons. For three
months every day for a half hour | ex-
perimented with the drug, and often
passed several hours Of the night in its
study before a mirror, watching its eff
feet on myself. But / never realized
that it was obtaining a mastery over me.
IL fascinating powers were unknown to
the profession. Twas thunderstruck when
l found that the drug was absolutely
necessary to my mind and body. | be-
lieve l could have conquered the habit
then were it not for a misunderstanding
with the man from whom | rented my
home. He wanted his house, and when
/ refused to vacate 1t my weakness was
made a point by which | was dragged
into an insane court. Persecution and
publicity drove me TO desperate extremes.
At the Washingtonian home no one
knew how to treat my disease. Every
body knows the rest-how | went to the
gutter and lost everything"
with all your experience with co.
caine. how do you now regard itf' asked
the reporter.
II think it is a grand drug, with re.
markable properties, and destined 20 take
the place of ether and chloroform. It car
be used without danger Of death. II
produces no nausea or p~rostration. IL Il
a great specific for nervous diseases, fol-
certain diseases Of the spine, for paralysis
for tetanus, hydrophobia and other con
vulsive diseases. IL will unite with othel
anti-spasmodics and intensity their &C
ton. | think ! know more about cocaine
than most men, but | have no compre
hensive idea Of its possibilities. Sci
entists are only in the experimental stage
with It,"
"What are the effects Of the drug?'
ITO begin with. ii is like the effects OF
any stimulant at certain stages, but il II
not Supplying, as is opium. The person
taking it has a feeling that everything il
lovely and sesne, Of perfect content.
ment and universal satisfaction. All