The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-20
THE VICTIMS OF MORPHINE.
What = Physician says About It-Steps
Toward n Cure.

! portions. Ii will suffice here to say thst
the victims of this habit amount to many
thousands in the United States alone.
Professor Ball, of the Paris university.
reckons the number of victims the world
over at hundreds of thousands.
Those predisposed to contract the NOR
phine habit are of n highly nervous or
C;lnization, suffering unexpectedly from
exhaustion upon any unusual fatigue, or
exhausted. perhaps, by any ordinary ex-
ertion or distracted by long watching or
bv sorrow. These find in morphine n
temporary sOlace. But the repeated re-
sort to this relief soon becomes a snare
/ The habit is formed. The dose Is pro-
gressively increased to insure the de
sired effect. Soon any attempt to reln-
quish f. or even TO prolong the intervals
of its use, results in degree Of physical
and mental depression which seems in
supportable. The sufferer loses all self
control He cannot do without his fatal
solacc
The physician is not seldom to blame
for the formation of this habit IN his
patients. Says Professor Bal, in giving
cautions on this point: Il would not
deny morphine To the ataxic patient,
racked with pains beyond endurance;
nor to the victim Of dyspepsia when he
/ BEES for some assuagemeut Of his agony
nor in cases of neuralgia. where the suffer
inc is extreme. But would be romorse-
less in denying it to hystoric patients, to
/ hvDochondriacs, TO homeopathic subjects
of every kind Above all, |
take care not to let the patient make the
I injection himself, nor to put into his
hands the means Of doing 90
These cautions to practitioners reflect
none too severely upon a professional
carelessness that is far too prevalent. It
should be noted that they relate 10 cases
of chronic ailment. There are certain
chronic diseases. rs dySentry and pcriton-
tits. in which the quick sU5duing Of pain
is essential 10 the saving Of life. But in
such cases the remedy. having accom-
plishod its end, can be at once with
drawn.
The first effects Of the morphine habit
are no doubt agreeable Depression
passes away and a feeling of comfort
takes it, place The barometer rises.
Ill things look well. Tint which was
lacking in the normal force is supplied
bv an artificial force Il resembles the
lash and the spur without their sting.
! But the sting is sure 10 follow Il Is not
! long before the victim realizes that ne Is
/ in wretchcd snare. FROM which, Il I'M
aided. he is powerles3 to free himself
Even before the physical effect Is
known to be pernicious the moral effect
is noticed as deplorable. The habituate
who in his normal condition was con
,cientious. high minded and sensitive.
/ becomes morally insensible and knows
that he Is SO. The character is com
pletely altered. Like the insane who
| know that they are insane ne is the most
wretched of beings. The consciousness
Of moral perversiOn IS the nemesis that
/ follows him.
Equally pernicious physical effects are
presently realized Ii may be after
few weeks or only after a lapse of months
that digestion becomes impaired. This
result more quickly follows the use OF
morphine per orem than when used by
podermically. The sleep Is disturbed
with visions. Imaginary voices pursue
| him-at first recognized "a delu.iye, but
finally believed The brain loses it,
activity, and in some cases severe ncu-
raleia comes on. Still the habit Is chung
to, or more properly the snare holds MS
victim.
The extent TO which the daily allowance
( is carried b. those long haOltuated to
morphine is simply amazing when we
consider the potency Of this toxic agent.
1t is Not unusual To find persons con
suming thirty. forty or even sixty grains
daily. These quantities are, Of course,
reached by slow increase. else they
could not be borne
The first requisite 10 cure IS submls-
sion to restraint. Without this any at
tempt at cure Is certain to result in fail
ure. The power Of self control and de
termination IS not adequate TO the case.
Moreover. it the habit has been at all
prolonged there will be- q degree Of dis
! turbance during the first period of alb
stinence and degree Of illness and
petulance following. For these reasons
seclusion is requisite, and seclusion under
restraint. Following the perturbation Of
the first eight or ten days degree of
well being Is experienced. The sufferer
has passed the turning point and IS be
ginning to mend. During the early
period it is essential that a skilled and
willing nurse be in attendance both day
and night. The case should not be with
out watching for single moment.
There are many alleviation5 within
reach Of the attending physician. Abuad-
ance Of uourshmeut, regularity OF Gin"
organic functions and al right means
for quoting the nervous system are allie
via,ilg conditions individuals G.llcs
/ greatly in tAei- recuperatye power. bn,
/ from one 10 two weeks ia bed vil bo
requisite in ali cases. In attending T.
the diet mills m1stno, bloomfield Even
| after leaving the bed and rcsuminr his
place ut table, m.ll should La allowed
/ the rauut atmdantiy and often and