Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-23

It is curious to observe that the average
weight of the brain coverings and fluids
is highest in the insane, while the weight of
the brain is lower.
BATTLING AGAINST BAD HABITS.
Strychnia has been brought into promi-
nence as q remedy for alcoholism among
Russian physicians. 1t is recommended in
all forms of alcoholism, especially the
nervous varieties. The drug MethyIal de-
scribed In 1889 is brought to notice by vari-
GUS doctors, who praise it for the best seda-
tive employed. as it does not depress the
heart or produce any unpleasant after-efects.
1t is useful in delirium tremens, insomnia,
neuralgia, insanity, and is the best antidote
TO strychnine, used simultaneously. Aver
beck US that the effect of cnloral on the
brain is more pernicious than that of NOR
phine.
The cocaine habit takes its place beside
the morphine habit, with symptoms of mar
asmus, delusions and hallucinations of
frightful appearances and small living
things creeping on the skin, together with
insomnia and loss of appetite. The symp-
toms of cocaine poisoning are more obstinate
than those OF morphine, and may last for
months after the cessation of the drug. The
experiments of DR.. Dudley show that car
of cigar smoking, and more in jury results
from cigarette smoking than cigars. be-
cause more smoke is inhaled. A wise old
Oriental, who smokes from 60 to 70 cigarettes
day, gives the advice, "Always use cigar
cite holder, with plug of cotton wool dip
ped in lemon juice, changed every time with
the cigarette" The alleged immunity of
smokers from infectious disease is not a
mere fancy, as it is shown the tobacco smoke
destroys microbes, or delays their develop
ment. Attention is called to the injury to
the infants of the poor in their crowded
apartments by tobacco smoke, the symptoms
being sunken eyes, listless ways, restless
nights, nausea and loss of appetite. which
disappear on removal of the cause. Tea
poisoning is most common with the young
and anemic though it affects those with
good constitutions, toxic affects being pro-
duced by about five cups q day. The
symptoms are nausea, dyspepsia, palpita-
tion, nervous excitement, and even maniacal
attacks with pains OF the heart radiating to
the arms and chest.
EFFECT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.
The opinions of doctors on alcoholic bev-
erages have sufficient variety. Laborde at
tempts to show that the artificial bouquets
used to flavor wine are far more poisonous
than pure ethylic alcohol. The so-called
essential oil of wine," of which there are a
French and German preparation, the latter
being most toxic, is made by the action of
nitric acid on oil of cocoa, castor oil, butter
or other iatty matters. A small amount is
sufficient to give bouquet to large guam
tity of wine, and little of it injected into
the veins of dog will kill it in an hour.
Commercial alcohol also contains several
agents which are toxic in high degree, pro-
aft oIra Tba
tlal bouquets OF various liqueurs also have q
convulsiyant action, similar to absinthe and
vermouth. Another dangerous substance is
the essence de noyau, or almond essence,
from benzoic acid, SO volatile that alarming
symptoms were experienced by Laborde and
his assistants in the laboratory, from its un-
avoidable inhalation in their experiments,
vertigo, faintness, proluse perspiration, pal
pitation and trembling resulting.
Experiments were made upon dogs BY CIV
ing them alcohol made from wine, from
corn and from beets. The Intoxicating
effects were slight with alcohol of wine,
more with corn alcohol, and most with beet
alcohol. The translator of an article from
the Spanish states that "good mature
cognac, 20 years in cask, has really about
three times as much of the reputed madden
ing agents, and quite as much fusil oil as
that ordinary potato spirit which, colored
and favored, is sold for genuine French
brandy. Good silent spirit in the form of
rectified spirit of wine, containing 81 per
cent of alcohol, is almost absolutely pure,
and with the necessary coloring and flavor
ing with enanthic ether, makes about three
times the bulk of brandy, or with little
turpentine and old oil Of lemon four times
as much gin, and as far as purity is con-
cerned is immeasureably better than the
hast n viz hat pAr i
us. So that we have the anomaly that the
Fictitious article is really better and purer
than the genuine at one-fourth its cost.
INEBRIETY A NERVOUS DISEASE.
In articles written by six physicians here
and in England, great stress is laid on the
theory of inebriety being the result of
diseased nervous system, rather than a
vicious habit, and the asylum treatment is
deemed indispensable. Remarkable claims
are made as to the durability O. such cases
under asylum treatment. DR.. Forel, who
has become an earnest advocate of the total
abstinence movement, failing to induce the
patient to join temperance society or sign
a pledge, has resort to hypnotic suggestion,
to bring about the desired result, and be-
lieves that in hypnotism we have a valuable
aid IN treatment of drink. In morphinism,
the cure by immediate cessation of the habit
10 COuSluCiCo NdhSClOuS W llICs Lie mOSL
dangerous symptom on suddenly breaking off
morphia is collapse, in which the patients
life is actually in danger. This can only be
controlled by prompt hypodermic injec-
tions of the drug in quantities Of three
tenths of grain, to be repeated two or three
times if the symptoms of lowered pulse and
breathing, pallor and faintness do not im-
prove. By the rapid method the morphine
is not discontinued abruptly, but reduced
as rapidly as possible, consistent with safety
to lie, 6 to II days being occupied in
gradual withdrawal OF the drug. The most
distressing symptoms last but few days,
while gradual weanIng prolongs them for
weeks.
To think of the fight which good doctors
wage against the physical forces of evil in
their protean forms, their searchings be-
tween soul and body, their bold attacks
upon the powers of death itself and the
worse appetites and habits of men, is to
glorify the profession and the intellect Of
man which work such results.
SHIRLEY DARE,