The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-18
WOMEN WHO USE MORPHINE.
Physicians and Druggists Agree that the
Number of Victims Is LeEiOn-ProbabIy
the Use of the Poison Is Increasing.

Number of Victims Is Internationally
the Use of the Poison Is Increasing.
The discovery of 100 empty morphine bot
ties concealed behind sofas. under the car
pct, and in various other out Of ths-way places
about the ladies' waiting room Of q largo retail
store has called attention again to tho alarm
ing prevalence of the morphine habit among
women. This habit has greatly increased since
the invention OF the hypodermic syringe. A
jeweller said recently. as q customer left the
store after depoSiting the little case with its
magic needle which charms away oil pain and
sorrow, slightly broken at the point and in
need Of adjusting: You would be surprised
If you knew how many Of those are brought
here to be- mended in the course Of year by
young. apparently vigorous men, as well as the
more infrm. and by ladies most OF all. Some
OF them only come few times before their
suffering is over forever. but the majority OF
them continue to bring US the little instru-
ments for repairs year alter year growing
themselves more untidy us to dress. more IN
reliable in mood. and prematurely aged in ap-
pearance." There seems indeed to be a fatal
fascination in the hypodermic-its rapid re-
lief from discomfort, its almost instantaneous
eXhilaration and stimulation of every fibre of
the physical being. its potency in drowning
mental pain as we'll transforming its victims
to q condition in which they are superior to all
petty Ills and annoyances.
Oriental people indulge in the use OF OPT
ates for purely sensual delight. but with
American women the diminishing power OF
resistance to pain. physical and psychical and
the consequent increased demand for some
powerful counteractinG stimulant. all have
contributed to a marked increase Of the habit
The demands of artificial life, which exhaust
more nerve iorce than is created; the dissipa.
and rest; continual excitement, strife for
place. the affections and disappointmsnts in
cident to woman's existence. together with
intense sensitiveness both mental and physi-
cal. resulting often in exquisite suffering from
apparently trivial causes, bring about CON
not tho fashionable disease. In varying de-
grees Of seyerity-to relieve which physicians
frequently recommend narcotics and stimu-
lants whose elect is SO welcome that the
woman herself prolonGs the treatment after
1t is said that % per cent. of morphinsts
trace the rigin Of the habit to some illness
transfers its administration to the patient. who
presently succumbs to the habit through her
INABILITY 70 control the appetite which each
additional dose fastens and increases. A prom
Using young artist, suffering from some slight
functional difficulty attended by some pain.
phne for relief relief, Alter Ate several visits the
soil in the notwithstanding Of the me,d,
Zine in Sa syeEv lime was RSSdless 10 call
time before tho patients one interest," in n'f lis
centred upon the medicine and how to obtain
it, His splendid physique became shrunkon.
his shoulders bowed as il with age. his dress
careless and disordcred, his expression vacil-
lating and anxious. his will power So COM
pletely shattered that his repeated attempts TO
abstain from the use OF the drug. Iastel only
while The stimulating effects OF the last dose
gave him courage TO plan but never to carry
out the euro planned SO enthusiastically
a once noted Delle now In an asylum for in
durable inebriates took morphine at first as a
girl to make her eyes bright. Later in ltfo,
when heavier care came or her children were
III, she took II to max her brave and strong in
bearing her sorrows burden, until the habit
themselves. This habit is. frequently found
among actresses. who as Il class arc intensely
nervous and depend largely upon stimulAnts |
OF some kind to sustain them during the per-
Torrance Of their roles.
- While as d rule women use morphine rs n re- |
lief from pain, and thus acquire the desire for |
1t. there are isolated cases among women OF |
enjoyment or inability to control an appetite, |
which is the outgrowth Of "a foobe organi2a- |
ton transmitted by hcradity. results in tho |
morphine habit. Asylums contain sldo by side |
inebriates and chronic morphinists. though the |
latter are less numerous in which inherited |
defective and demoralized will power is the |
primary cause OF ruin.
The morphine habit does not prevail among
women to tho extent that alcoholism 10 found |
among mon, Tor 1t Is confined chiefly to women |
In society and rarely found among the poor or
idiosyncrasies as to the amount consumed
some reaching their limit at TWO or throe
grains day and others attaining u maximum
Of sixty or seventy, grains IL is seldom that
habitues poison themselves fatally with tho
drug. apparently realizing instinctiVey their
Limitations and living lust within Ihom.
ing its use is SIMILAR 10 that seen in drunkards
but Is moro disastrous owing to the strong
element of deception which is popularity OF
the eject Of the drug The will power Is shat.