Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-03


phine they distribute over their counters in re-
turn for cash."
The speaker was well-known Washington
physician, who is even better known. perhaps.
as one of the most skillful members of staff CEN
nected with a leadi ms local hospital. His au-
ditor a STAR man. whom the doctor had
just invited to his private Office for consulta-
tion when the previous patient was bowed out
by the Office boy and the disciple OF Esculapius
continued: sometimes the drug is sold strictly
in accordance with requirements of the law,
but more often just the reverse, although the
druggists are well aware that their customers
want morphine simply because they are slaves
to the habit. OF course there are plenty of
druggists here who wouldn't sell the poison I'M
less reputable doctors prescription is pre-
sented. but there are likewise many who would
sell merely for the sake of gain under any cir
cumstances And LET me say right now that in
proportion to the population there is no other
city in the country where so great quantity Of
morphine is annually consumed as in Washing
ton. You may not have noticed many opium
eaters about, but l have, because a physician
can note the symptoms at a glance, and any
member OF my profession with wide experience
can tell the same story with truth.
''See this check" said the doctor, as he picked
from his desk a strip Of paper bearing the sig
nature of young married society man Of the
capital, whose absence from fashionable dinners
and dances would have been marked at once
during the season a year or two ago, when
matchmaking mammas still had an eye on bis
fortune before his marriage. The check was
! for 81 900 and the recipient explained: THAT
isn't the largest fee ever received. but never
| earned 81 900 more thoroughly, for nv work
| involved the cure Of one Of the most confirmed
morphine users that has fallen under my notice
In twenty-five years medical practice. The
man who Just went out when you came in is the
patient l refer to, and undoubtedly you recog-
nize the name on this check as belonging to a
member of one of the best families in Washing
| ton. don't mean to say that there are others
just like him in every local fashionable house
hold. but ] do assert that the better class OF
people here are most addicted to the poisonous
drug. and the effects in my experience alone
are something appalling There seems to be
only one way to stop the illegal sale of the drug
and that is for Washington physicians to make
joint crusade on druggists who violate the
law whenever they discover where their NOR
phine patients secured the supply. But like all
other desirable results that is not numbered
among the extremely probable things, and
meanwhile We pill prescribers can rake IN fees
slaves TO their instincts and craving for mar
cotics."
THE MORPHINE SLAVE s STORY.
Evidently the doctor was in reminiscent
mood, which the round-numbered check and
a glowing hearth fire heightened, and he
was easily induced to relate the story of the
society man who had the fortune scarcely moro
than two in thousand have-ttat of being
cured of their bondage after once becoming
habitual worshipers at morphine's shrine.
Some five months ago the doctors boy led
into his office dark, medium-sized man, whose
eager eyes and generally nervous air pro-
claimed him to be laboring under unusual
excitement. His complexion sallow and
pasty, and the unhealthy pallor Of the skin en-
phasiZed the strange appearance Of his eyes,
pupils of which were abnormally contracted.
The physician knew his visitor well, but had
not seen him for several months. To the
practiced medical eve the object of the visit
was at once apparent, but the patient was per-
mitted to tell his story without urging
Doctor. L have a confession to make" said
he. Il have been taking morphine for year
and half and am now under complete mas
terry of the drug. want to be cured. l took
ii first because | was very much troubled with
nervous headaches and had read of the pleas
ing effects Of the opiate. But nothing have
ever read equsled the reality.j My early expe-
rience was biissful beyond any power of mine
to describe. 1t seemed to me had never known
before what life really was. While WAS under
the influence of the drug there were no head
aches and no trouble in the world. but to get
these effects right along l gradually increased
my doses Of morphine, and when | was not
under the influence was more and more miser-
the effects of the dose have passed away am
in hell itself. l cannot attend to business.
am fit for nothing. l honestly want to be
cured. Will you help me?''
The doctor named as his conditions that the
patient must come to his Office for injections
and must not take morphine without the medi-
cal advisers knowledge. The conditions were
eagerly accepted and every day the doctor took
a hypodermic syringe and threw from eight to
twelve grains of morphine into the patients
blood. Day by day, however. he reduced the
amount until, within five weeks after treatment
was begun, the injections averaged only three
or four grains per day, where the patient had
once been accustomed to forty. Tonics and
nutritious diet aided the physicians efforts and
the patient was practically restored to q normal
and healthy condition Of mind and body. His
weight had advanced from Ill to lao pounds
and the man seemed to be on the high road to
recovery, when one day he burst into the doc
tors office. apparently in quite curious con-
dition of excitement as on the occasion of his
first visit.
II am going crazy, DOCTOR" fairly screamed
the patient land must have more morphine
than the pitable three or four grains you deal
out to me each day. ] cannot live without it,
and would rather die than be compelled to I'M
dergo this devilish torment and craving for the
drug"
The doctor assured him that he could by no
means accede to such a request, which seemed
to make the patient almost a rayIng maniac.
He demanded back his syringe and prescrip-
tions by means OF which he had been enabled
to secure morphine from druggists. and both
of which Re had intrusted to the doctor in the
first enthusiasm over his contemplated cure.
The physician, however, was firm and broke
the glass syringe into pieces upon the floor.
The man shrieked that he could easily get a
new syringe and morphine elsewhere, to say
nothing Of more accommodating medical men,
and rushed from the room. Then the doctor
cd ,Oh To- har
treatment and at once set of to see the erst-
while patients wife, father and brother. They
were enlightened as to the situation and told
that the only way to cure their relative was in
putting him under restraint
UNDER RESTRAINT.
decision was finally reached and kilograms
to Baltimore brought two trained male nurses
from that city in the next four hours. All
preparations were made. and when the NOR
phine maniac returned home at night he
walked into his room and found himself securely
trapped. The doctor and nurses were already
on hand and the wife and other members of the
family soon came in Now, said the doctor
kindly, 1--WE want to cure you, and the only way
to do SO Is to put You in some place where you
will be unable to secure morphine, except il is
prescribed to you by q phi ysician. II you will
voluntarily sign the necessary papers there will
be no trouble. Otherwise we shall have to ccm-
NIT you in proper FORM"
II will never sign anything and defy you to
commit me" yelled the man bitterly and wildly
and his gesticulation became 90 violent that at
q motion from the doctor the nurses seized the