New-York tribune., 1890-01-02
MEDICAL AND SANITARY NOTES.

CHRONIC COCAINE POIsONING.--some cases OF
chronic cocaine poisoning brought TO the atteh'iol
Of the societe de Biooge in Paris possess peculiar
interest. Among these cases that Of a business
man. age forty eight, who had begun to treat him-
self with morphine for collie In 1873, changing thS
practice in 1886 to the Of hydrochorate OF cocaine
Of which he soon came to take fifteen grains DAY
after two months Of this, he began to have many
and various halucnations-he saw things moving
around him. heard strange sounds which frighteheu
him. and was in a state OF abnormal excitability, his
muscles often jumping and starting. He now gave
up cocaine and resumed morphine, but only for SIX
mont when, returning to cocaine, the halluclnatlohs
ais. lu.ncd, and he began to have sensations as Oh
soLrng under his skin; after little while, ne had
a Wcll-marl,ed epeptic attack. Another case lhao
of a druggist of forty-sX' who had taken morphine
for cole and turned to cocaine, exhibited similar
phenomena and results. as did also third NJ MAJ
nan draws the conclusion that "A chronic cocaine in
with previous general disturbance OF the senSeS G
10 is in fact, like the action OF acohOl OF ao
snthc, and may be attributed to similar action on
the cerebral cOrtcX but action slowly eAteluins
from the occlpltal region forward and not in the
reverse direction as with alcohol and absnthe
STEAM AND GAS AS PRODUCERS OF THROAT
TROUBLES.-ph Physicians of wide professional eA-
pericnce and observation do not hesitate to assert
that in the OF colds the huskiness and loss
Of power of articulation then prevalent are largely
due to the use OF steam for heatingthe steam falling
of proper regulation. and the temperature thus De
coming too high under these circumstances, person
living in such an atmosphere has all the cells Of the
lungs opened and, when passing into the open ar 10
undnIy cxposed-ths afiiction being quite common
among men who occupy Offices in the new buildings
which are fitted with all modern Improvements
Further the substitution of electric light for gas has
wrought a change TO which people nave hot yeC
adapted themselves that Is, the neat arising iom . a
number of gas Jets VIII quickly raIIe c T pon t6at
md upp
means Of heating TO some extent cry niue walnI., ~
howeye is bv an Sincandescent light feeling
Of chillness Is experienced Brleny, 700 hQt , y.
the day and too cold at night are the cohui'loiS
be avoided
NEW INVESTIGATIONS OF sLEEP.-In a paper
pnblished in a French medical magazine, Dr. brown
scouard adduccs some OF the reasons that have led
him TO tho conclusion that normal sleep Is the euecI
Of an nhbitory act, instead of depending as COM
monty assumed upon a vascular contraction taking
place I'm the cerebral lobes experiments plainly snow"
ing that sleep may exist whether there Is htte OF
whether there much blood in the vessels OF Tie brah
That the loss OF consciousness in sleep as IN numerous
other accidental pathological circumstances Is the
effect Of an Inhibition Of the ceretsal faculties Is 10
he believed Dr. Brown Sequacd argues, because OF
rect proofs showing that the loss Of consciousness
I'm the case Of a puncture Of the bulb. and III other
cases also is beyond all dispute due TO an lnbltory
act and also Of all that IS known OF the CIR
cumstauccs which prcccde or accompany Steep. INC
broad statement made by the author IS tlat there
exist when sleep and as long a II lasts rrlla
tlOu. AT A distance from the organs IN WHICH llc
cessation of activity takes place Among tc proofs OF
tho existence Of such rritatons, the following are
cited What Is called the need of sleeping, "hch
consists iu certain sensations. and particularly iecl
ing of hcavincs, I'm the eye, persistent contraction OF
The pupu contraction Of the pllpebra 0rbcular
uu5rie, contraction of the inner and upper rcclls
muscles and contraction OF the blood vessels OF the
retina and Of the cerebral lobes.
EFFECT OF CLIMATE UPON CANCEROUS DIS
EASES-An English writer presents some Interesting
facts and observations relating 10 the geographical
distribution of canccrous diseases In the British Isles
There IT, he asserts abundant evidence IN that land
10 show that cancer does not thrive IN mgh' dry
locates where the soil is kept sweet by the absence
of floods and the nature Of the rocks which either
undcre il or form it, principal constituents ana that
on the other hand. il docs thrive and become very
fatal whore floods prevail, where their emanations
are sheltered and intensified where vegetation Is
He'd and dcc0mp1,ed. and where, after the HOODS
have passed away. a rank hcrbage springs up, COM
p,ed ~ sour ga, and bitter plants, which scour ahd
thcr disease the horses cattle and sheep tat leeu
uDon them This writer maintains, therefore, ulat
those who wond give themselves the best chance OF
avoiding those local conditions which are colncldet
with A hlgh death rate from cancer, should surely
study the varlou, factors above named, and whch
characterize different districts.