The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-04
SLAVE OF A DRUG.
The Frightful Experience of a Co.
caine Victim.
c From the Newark On. j. Can.

Many articles have been written de-
scribing the effects of opium and the ex-
periences of the poor victims under it's
baleful influence. AS yet very little has
been heard on the subject of cocaine. 1t
is to this particular drug and its various
effects on the human system that this lit
tie sketch relates, and it is written by one
who was once a slave to its use. The mo-
tive of the writing is that these words
may be read by some unfortunate who has
possibly used cocaine on one or more occa-
sions, Just as bracer, you know" that
he may learn, while it is not yet too late,
the insidious action of the drug.
1t was in 1889 that the writer received
his first dose of cocaine. Being engaged
in work that placed a heavy strain
on the mental powers, an extremely
nervous condition and incapacity for duty
were soon brought about A physician
during one of these attacks, suggested he
could relieve it. A call was made at his
Office, and a solution then unknown to the
writer, was sprayed into his head through
his nostrils. The effect was both magical
and instantaneous. All pain and nervous
ness disappeared, and for hours l worked
without the slightest feeling of fatigue
But the reaction soon came and l was
worse than before using the medicine.
| again used the drug as | had seen him
do, and so secured the desired effect, I'M
aware of its harmful properties. My work
increased, and in order to accomplish all
l desired to do, l repeated the visits when
ever l felt tired My appearance soon
denoted to the physicians practical eye
that something was wrong, and he
accused me with using cocaine. Pointing
to the bottle on his stand. 1 said:
ttFTbat is all | hov mead
''My God, mani" the doctor exclaimed,
quit using that stuff 1t is cocaine and
will kill you.n
readily promised what he desired,
and went about my business, congratulate
ting myself of my fortunate escape,
Soon the old feeling came over me, and
thinking, like many others, that 1 could
stop when felt Like it, l secured a small
quantity of the drug, to use as a bracer,
menced the use of the drug / would take
it at night before retiring, and for hours
would lie awake in state of bliss
Bright visions of a glorious future would
float before my eyes and felt as free and
happy as the birds of the air On arising
in the morning would be haggard and
pale, and feel like man who had been
on an alcoholic spree.
As the drug saturated my system these
ceeded by the most horrible Nightmares.
My sense of hearing became intensely
acute. The slightest sound was magni-
fed hundred fold. l would start up in
bed terrOr-stricken, imagining some one
was in the room. The idea that some one
was watching me was constantly with
me. l placed putty in my keyhOle and
stopped up all the cracks with paper. On
the street | would stop and look at people
al hot
they were following me.
That was the commencement of the
trouble. l began to like cocaine and re-
sorted to its use on the slightest pretext
AT last decided to break off, when to my
horror | discovered that | was no longer
my own master. l must have cocaine or
suffer the worst kind of torture and
gave in. From small doses gradually
increased the quantity, until was using
enough to kill a dozen ordinary men.
This was, of course, done in secret, and
the constant fear of discovery added
greatly to my suffering. In six months
time | was reduced from hale and Wig
orous man to a perfect wreck, both ply
sically and mentslly. l was totally un-
fitted for business, Stunned my friends
and old associates; in fact became a
pariah and outcast from all respectable
society.
caine became more frequent. These illu-
sions could only be dispelled by its use,
and the effect of its dose would not last
more than an hour, in some instances
only fifteen minutes. Ihave been on
street car when the craving came oVerme
so strongly that l was obliged to get off
the car, go into some saloon TO use my
syringe and secure relief During all
this time imagined no one but myself
lr,,n 81 hn IA &c of hn
effects of the drug. With my eyes dis
tended and glaring, my lips, ears, face
and hands fairly black from its use,
would Indignantly deny to my best friends
that was using any drug.
These "reminiscences are decidedly pain
full and l shall bring them to close,
out before doing so will tell of night
had shortly before | was taken in hand
by a physician who eventually cured me.
The narrative will also show the folly of
suddenly depriving a man in that condi-
ton of his much needed stimulant.
/ had been on a ten-day spree, using on
an average 100 grains Of cocaine a day
When | returned home | was LOADED to
the guards" and still had plenty of the
stun with me- My people locked me in
a room and took all the cocaine away.
Soon my agony began. There was
large screen near my bed, over the top
of which | saw the face of man, who
seemed to be initiating my actions when
taking cocaine. l could hear people talk
ing outside my door. took the counter
pine from ths bed and hung it from the
TOP OF the door to keep them from seeing
me. Rats soon began to get in the bed
clothing, and that was consigned to the
floor. MY prayers and imprecations for
cocaine v ere denied by my folks and the
agony increased.
Sleep could not. Oh, the horror Of
chat night! At.last imagined that some
one was blowing chloroform through the
.fevbole of the door. / began to choke
ana smother, and, with 3 scream, fell
lack on the bed, TO awake the next day
on a cot in a hospital having been uncon-
5cious for several hours.
Such are a few Of the many experiences
passed through, and my advice TO the
reader is 20 shun cocaine as you would a