The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-30
OPIUM FOR CONSUMPTION,
Important Results OF Experiments by
a Leading English Doctorsio
From fhe london lancet. sIsxUB


From the London LdncetsJsNgB
Modified opium1s ruoking is suggested as q
valuable palliative in pulmonary tuberculo-
sis by DR.. John Gordon Dill, an English
physician who has been Investigating the
matter at some length The results of his
experiments seem to indicate that there is
sufficient merit in the treatment discussed to
entitle it to further consideration. DR.. Dill
| states emphatically at the outset that he
does not claim opium-smoking to be in any
sense cure for consumption, but that it is
valuable palliative, which may be of
service as an aid TO other measures used in
treating the disease.
DR.. Dill got his cue from the Chinese, OBJ
serving that in certain districts of that coun-
try where consumption was extremely
prevalent the opium-smoking population
was almost exempt from the disease. This
induced DR.. Dill TO try some experiments in
this line upon his own account, in order to
ascertain more definitely the manner in
which opium prevented or relieved tuber-
culosis. DR.. Dilfs plan has been to soak
tobacco in fluid containing all the compo-
nent parts of opium, the tobacco thus pre-
pared being given to patients to smoke
The preparation used was Battleyis liquor
opii sedativus, which is about so per cent
stronger than laudanum, and the tobacco
We1o III Avn DcAOt0 Gbiuk AhO LlOob Si4l-
Gent strength of the remedy was found TO
be the mixture of three huld drachms of the
liquid with one ounce of tobacco.
In giving opium saturated tobacco to the
patients they were advised not to smoke it
just before eating, and in no case was a
patient informed that the tobacco contained
opiu q. The most marked effects of the use
of this tobacco as noted by DR.. Dill are that
the opium eases the cough and acts as an ex-
Aa nh an
patients say. In an interesting case young
man was extremely emaciated and weak,
and SO short of breath that he even spoke
with difficulty. He was suffering with
hemorrhages. and had a prosuSe cough and
expectoration. Nov. 2S, 1890, he began to
smoke opiun-treated tobacco, and in Janu-
airy last improvement became manifest.
Feb. he weighed l3S pounds, and By
May he had increased to l5513 pounds.
The cavities in the lungs we're still very dis
tinct, but there were no moist sounds, and
there were no bacili in the patients eX-
pectoration. The patient seemed to be on
affair way to recovery, and wanted to 90
back to work.
Record is given in number of such cases,
taken from experiments covering period
OF about two years, and in nearly every
case the patients derived positive benefit
from the use of medicated tobacco. DR..
Dill speaks lightly of the danger of creating
an opium habit by such treatment, say
ing that in no case did any of his
patients know what was used III
indicating their tobacco. To this lie
adds that in his belief the dangers
of opium-smokin9 are greatly exaggerated,
saying that he has tried smoking the drug
in all strengths up to the pure article with
out.experiencing any further effects than
slgget giddiness, such as would have re-
suited from tine use of strong tobacco. In
none of these cases under treatment were
there any of the symptoms that follow the
use of opium Internally, nor was even
drowsiness caused.