, 1888-12-08
MORPHINE IN PARIS.
The Abuse of Anesthetics by Society Ladies'.
Unfortunate Consequences.

The Abuse of Anesthetics by Society Ladies'.
Unfortunate Consequences.
The practice of employing subcutane.
Gus injections of morphine as one of the
many forms of opium poisoning has be-
come a formidable social evil in the latter
part of this century, which has SO much
upon its conscience. 1t is one Of the vices
which science has taught, and of which
the list Is certainly not exhausted. The
vulgarization of anesthetics justifes as
much alarm for the future OF the race as
the vulgarization Of chemical science in
the preparation of explosives does for the
future of our public buildings. Ladies'
now talk of morphine, cocaine and anti.
pyrine as they talk of frills and fur
bellows. Their language reminds one Of
the jars and phials of n chemists shop.
Doctors In the first instance initiated
them into the mysteries of anesthetics,
and now the faculty has nc secrets to
withhold from them on this head.
The abuse of anesthetics, although not
confined to women, is a vice which they
have seized upon-at all events, in this
part of tho world-as though it were
specially intended for them. There Is
something In the nature of woman which
makes her liable to respond to the fas-
c~inating power of these drugs with fatal
readiness, and which breaks her will to
resist their spell when it has once OBJ
tanned n hold on her. What this some
thing is, others may perhaps explain.
The Prazel needle has been the death Of
many u woman in France. Tho vice is
one almost wholly confined to. polite
society. Lack of stamina and high ner-
yous development 80 Characteristic of the
ladies who move-who are always on the
move-in the upper circles of Paris life are
the conditions which almost invariably
lead to 1t. Women 80 organized, and who
lead such lives. arc typical subjects of
neuralgia In all its forms, from %toothache
to those intercostal pains which make
many people believe they have heart dis
ease.
The woman who lives for society-I do
not mean who sacrifices herself for society
in a noble sense-looks upon pleasure as
her right, and fercely resents pain when
1t comes. She will take 1t asa warning
to change her habits, but insists ON hay
ing II quelled Immediately by her doctor
SO that her plans may not be upset. The
doctor can do it-doctors can do wonder
full things nowadays-although in con-
quering disease they are not much moro
advanced than they were 1000 years ago.
Physic has triumphed over pain, but
death still triumphs over physic. The
little piqure in the arm sends away the
.N6Nb ANbtN 10 "a W hIaElS III WIN
Is more wonderful, instead Of the pain it
gives u delightful sensation of perfect
vitality-a happy mind in n healthy body.
What a pity that the sensation does not
last very longl 1t may, however, be re-
newed by having recourse TO tho little
needle and by gradually increasing tho
dose Of morphine as the body grows &C.
customed to the poison.
The unfortunate consequences of this
habit in some notable cause.-the death,
for instance, of the Duchesse dc Chaulnes
n few years ago-produced q wholesome
fear Of morphine, and although this fear
did not cure those who were already fas.
cinated by the eyes of the seductive hend,
it kept many from following their exam
pie. Moreover, another pain killer came
into fashion; it was young, and conse-
quently had no bad reputation. This was
antipyrine, whose praises DR.. Camille See
has sounded in the Academy of Medicine.
Already some disquieting reports aro
'afoat respecting tho effect of this drug
upon those who nave habitual recourse to
1t, and who have come TO look upon 1t Us
absolutely necessary to their existence.
We shall probably hear moro about it
soon.-Paris Cor. Boston Transcript,