Milford chronicle., 1888-03-16

fortunate for me. When I announced
my discovery physicians laughed and de-
I clared / was crazy. / wrote a letter to
Mayor Harrison asking him to appoint q
medical commission to inquire into the
value Of my discovery, which was the
administration Of cocaine hypodermic-
ally, I first utilized my discovery by
testing it on q cat. / dissected a leg Of
q cat, exposing tissues and muscles, and
kept the animal on my desk for hours
watching the circulation. There was
pain, the drug exercising a soothing
effect.
'.Next ] began experimenting on my
self. found that the anesthetic influ-
ence Of cocaine is limited. I 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 chat the effects Of the drug were
similar to those ofBmorphine. To dis
prove this / tried actual cautery by APP
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 half hour I ex-
perimented with the drug, and often
passed several hours Of the night in its /
study before q mirror, watching its ef- /
feet on myself But ] never realized /
that it was obtaining a mastery over me.
lis fascinating powers were unknown to |
the profession. was sthundersduck when
found that the drug was absolutely
necessary TO my mind and body. I be-
Ieve 1 could have conquered The habit
then were il not for q misunderstanding
with the man from whom l rented INV
home. He wanted his house. and when
| refused to vacate it my weakness was
made q point by which I was dragred
into an insane court. Persecution and
publicity drove me TO desperate extremes.
At The N2shingtonian home 10 one
knew how to treat my disease. Every
body knows the rest-how l went to the
gutter and lost evcrytiing.n
~ i'm all your experience with CO
,aine, how do yOu now regard it3' asked
he reporter.
II think it is a grand drug, with re-
-larhablo properties. and destined TO take
he Place Of ether and chlorofoIm. It can
be used without danger of death. Il
produces no nausea or prostration. It
/ great specific fer nervous diseases. for
certain diseaseso the spine, for paralvsis.
or tetanus. hYdrophObia and other con- g
'ulsiye diseases. 1t viii unite with other I
nti-spasmodlcs and intensity their ac- ]
ion. ! think l know more about cocaine
han most men, but 1 have no compre- ,
Iensive idea Of its possibilities. Sci
ntists are only in the experimental stage g
With it,"
.NFhat are the effects Of the dlug?''
ITO begin with. it is like the effects OF h
ny stimulant at certain stages. but it is 7
ot stupefying. as is opium. The person q
liking il has a feeling that everything is T
lvely and serene. of perfect content y
lent and universal satisfaction. All u
lings seem perfect. There are none. of | r
he trightful illusions which come from n
quor or other stimulants. Excessive i
lantitles, though, cause great irTitabil- q.
s.. The duration Of the effect is about
70 hours, and is succeeded by a feeling
depression and exhaustion. But there
none of the disturbance of the mind OF
arvOus system that follows drunken NJ
ass. The victim loses all strength after n
.ch indulgence, and there lies the chief
inger in using cocaine. It weakens the
'tion Of the heart, making sudden strains GO
eXcitements dangerous. as was cx-
nplilied in the sudden death Of a physi- fa
an, who engaged in a quarrel with a re-
-rber last year and fell dead during the nc
larrel. He used cocaine. The effects
tho habit are degrading. twill deaden ~,
mans perception of right, Just the
me as whisky, and pull victim down N,
the lowest depths of low cunning and o. o.
tiousness. Chicago News. Il,