Milford chronicle., 1889-06-28
MORPHINE FOR LADIES.
HOW AND WHY THE PARlSIENNES
USE THE DEADLY DRUG.

Learning How to Operate the Hypodermic
Syringe a simple NIatter-The Most Dan
gcrOus of All Habits-It InsIdiously
Takes Possession of It's Victims.
The ladies of Paris today apparently possess
what Macbeth desired for his wife. He de
manded from her bewildered physician ''sOme
sweet obliyious antidote" to cleanse away
''the perilous stuff which weighs upon the
heart" At that period opium in all its forms
had not been discovered as poison to be used
by murderers, or in minute doses to deaden
pain and soothe agitated nerves Morphine
injected under the skin is the fashionable drug
of the day This is one of the most highly
concentrated forms in which opium can be
given, and is, of course, a deadly poison. 1t
is communicated to the system by little
syringe, which at the point is about the size
Of large needle, and the operation is almost
as trivial and painless as the process of vac
cination. After having seen it done by a
surgeon, sometimes without any teaching, a
lady can do it for herself, and thus this most
dangerous, because most seductive, of all
forms of narcotization may become secret
and deadly habit,
CAPACITY FOR EXCITEMENT.
fashionable lady, wearied by the vigils of the
ball room; the actress, overpowered by the
excitement of the footlights, and others over
whelmed by drinking too deeply Of pleasures
cup.n One writer in the French press inn
plores the doctors to Interfere; morphine, he
says, is daily numbering dozens Of Parish
ennes, and the drug is about to reappeaf
under the name exalgine'" For, while in
comparatively large doses this powerful
poison is narcotic, it can be used, it seems, as
a kind of stimuant. If the patient resists
sleep, then the drug exckts and excites the
whole nervous system. The person who has
taken it feels able to say with Romeo: "My
bosom's lord sits lightly in his throne. And
all this day an accustomed spirit lifts me
above the ground with cheerful thoughts"
In fact an exhilarating form Of intoxication
is induced, and the same result was recorded
some years ago, when the people of a village
in the north of Ireland adopted methylated
ether as their customary drink. They could
laugh and boast and swagger after it as if
each had received that day some joyful news
This dangerous habit is peculiarly perni
cious to such persons as the ladies Of Paris
They are not robust; they inherit from their
progenitors a capacity for feverish excite
ment; they are not fond of exercise. They
are pleasure seekers almost from birth, for a
French child shares much more of her moth
er's life than any English boy or girl. The
power of stimulants or narcotics is much
greater in such cases. 1t will be said, how
ever, by the fair slaves to the bad custom,
that they require it most because they are
physically weak and nervously excitable; if
they were calmer, they could go to sleep
without it; or, if stronger, brace themselves
for the coming fete without any such arti-
fetal stimulant. Why, then, should they
not use what they above all people most
wantl Now, no doubt, there are cases where
Opiates have been prescribed by the physi-
clan when it is necessary TO secure absolute
quiet for restless nerves, when the mind is
wearing out the body, or when pain banishes
sleep. Yet, even when doctor is thus COM
PEELED to inject poison in order to gain time
for something that win really cure, there is
considerable danger.
THE AWFUL REACTION.
The first effect of morphine is either de-
hcious fOrgetfulness of existence, doubly well
come after hours Of pain, or an uplifting Of
the spirit after days Of deadly depression;
but these effects are and must be temporary.
Then follows reaction, and the dose is repeat
ed but after the doctor, seeing the danger Of
continuance, cuts OFF the supply, the suffering
Of the patient is redoubled, and there comes
on him or her fierce craving sfor the old re-
lief. If this Is secretly INDUCED all hope of
happiness must be abandoned unless the man
or woman, which is rare, has a strong will
and can stop ON the downward slope. Every
body knows how difficult it is to cure an
habitual female tippler; but the charm of
alcohol is nothing to the charm Of morphine;
and here Is the danger to the unfortunate
women in Paris who have begun to use this
mind and the will, and reduces what was
once vigorous, virtuous, intellectual wo,
man into a bundle of restless nerves, to be |
composed at intervals into lethargy or sleep |