Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-11-13
THE STRYcHNINE HABIT.
A Vice That Il Gaining a FoothoId Amor
Women of All Classes

A Vice That Is Gaining a Foothold Among
Women of All Classes.
At the Monmouth Park races hap
pened to sit behind two elegantly
dressed ladies, whose richly-embroidered
| jackets opened on white satin vests,
with shirt fronts and collars in very
''mannish" style. Each of these bosoms
displayed diamond solitaire worth at
least $1,000 Their hats, parasols,
gloves and shoes were all in exquisite
harmony. l don't think ever saw two
women with more refined faces, moro
exquisitely cut features, particularly
the lips and chin. Hereabouts exactly
was 1t that there dwelt smile of en-
trancing power, a smile to catch and
hold mans love with that strength
which so often enables man to set the
cold barrel of a revolver against his
temple and joyfully welcome death
rather than live and see another man
in his place.
Alb, me! Well, as sat there asking
myself what sort of robes these two
women will wear in the sweet by and
by, one of them said to the other:
Blanche, darling, did you bring your
nux lozenges with you?"
Right here, for the benefit of my guile
less reader, must say that nux is the
botanical name for strychnine, one Of
the most virulent poisons known to the
materia medica.
why, what a question, Justine,
DEAR" replied Blanche; you know
never go out without a box of those
marvellous 'pick-me-ups' Here" and
the faultlessly gloved hand held out a
little round box in old silver, quantity
carved and jeweled.
Justine took one of the tiny white
tablets and placed it across her beauti-
! full lips There was moment of silence,
and then closing her soft, full, liquid
blue eyes, she murmered:
"Oh! what a delightful sensation.
Take ho,d of my hand. 1 seem to be
floating away on wings of down. There,
its passed now. Why. they must be of
extra strength, Blanche"
| Yes, they are. / ordered them ex-
pressly for our use. The old supply
only contained the thirtieth of gra n
each-the usual dose; but these contain
the twenty-fifth of grain. Amt they
heavenly"
Indeed they are, was the reply.
Presently the two beautiful creatures
| changed their seats and l lost sight of
them. But l didn't forget them
never shall, for sure as water runs and
smoke goes up shall some day read of
the sudden death of a beautiful victim
of strychna
| The strychnine habit has increased at
an alarming rate in the metropolis
| That is due to the remarkably tonic
powers of the dangerous drug. In the
considered remedy of great impor-
lance. Its power to restore tone to the
system after great mental or physical
debility has long been acknowledged
! but like other potent remedies, it be-
comes an instrument of terrible posi-
bilities in the hands of the ig-
norant who rashly make use of it
as a mere 'pick-me-up" or 'fresher'
to stimulate the system and brace up
the tired and shattered nerves Let me
| explain why. Its effects are cumula-
tive. That is to say the twenty-ffth of
a grain does not produce it's effects and
disappear from the system like glass
| of champagne. 1t remains in it. and
hence every lozenge carries an addi-
tional supply of this poison to the amount
| already stored up in the body 1t is
therefore mere question of time and
frequency of doses The strychnia
habit is fastening itself upon the most
diversified classes For instance, the
| ater-goers and church-goers, demt-mon-
DANES and women high in the social
circles, literary workers and gamblers,
sewing women and fashionable girls,
heavy drinkers and teetotalers. The
first effect of the strychnine bonbon is
delightful in the extreme. 1t destroys
listlessness and painful languor. in
creasing the action of the heart, toning
up the nervous system and producing a
condition OF pleasing hopefulness,, gay
ETY. and content. But beware of the re-
fiex action! That is bad, very bad; and
herein lies the danger, for the inclina-
ton is to send another of these poison
Gus bonbons across the lips to help out
the waning effect of the last, and it
would not be at all unlikely were the
fair head of the worshipper to be found
resting it's last sleep on the velvet
covered desk of the church pew-New
L ..