The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-08
ANOPIUM-EATER'S STORY.
THE MORPHINE HABIT ACQUIRED
AND CURED BY A STRONG MAN.

a Description of the Sensations and
Sufferings OF One Whose Pains
Nothing But Morphine Gould Re
Heve-Methods Used to Be Freed
From the Drugs Power-Doctors
and Nurses Finally Dispensed With.
From the Ne,o York World.
The following narrative is, in all its es-
sential details. not only based upon the
truth, but is an accurate statement OF ac-
tual occurrences. The gentleman who tells
the story is we'll known and universally re-
spected in this city and widely known
throughout the country. He is willing that
his experience may be made public, in the
hope that it may help others, and only
stipulates that such fiction shall be used as
shall conceal his identity. Therefore he will
be known as Maj. Pembroke, and It will
be promised that In one of the charges at
Petersburg he received musket blow on
the head which at the time seemed slight.
The rest Of the story is in the majors own
words:
tFrom about 1870 have had attacks Of
pain which drive me almost delirious and
last sometimes three or four months
continuously Then l get better and do not
have them again for two, three and once
five years. But the pain has always come
back sooner or later.
"When the first attack came it seemed so
sudden that it fairly bewildered me. first
had pains In my head for few DAYS, but
they came and went and / paid but little
attention to them. But finally, one morn
Ing, my man wskeped me. He said l was
moaning and grooming, and he wanted to
know If l was i'll.
HI? Why, fairly shrieked with pain.
My man ran at once for the doctor. He was
gone half an hour, and when he got back
with the physician 1 had my razor out.
For long time the doctor came every
day. He tried everything that was known
to be helpful at the time, and since then.
when my attacks have come on, other phys
icians have tried everything else, but moth
ing answers but morphine.
"Of course | had heard of the danger Of
Its use but was careful to do precisely as
the doctor told me, and believed that with
my strong will power | could quit when the
attack passed away, as the doctor as
sured me il would sooner or later,
without serious trouble. l felt especially
safe as the doctor did not seem to think
there was any danger. So matters
went on for four or five weeks. l soon
found that the dose had to be increased
every few DAYS, and that all pleasureabie
sensations from the use of the drug soon
ulsappeared-I mean were not felt at all.
The medicine relieved the pain and enabled
me to 60 about my business, but did not
exhllarate or stimulate me. | bege to eat
less and less, aud presently l found that.
practically, l was living on morphine
then would smoke pipe and read paper
TILL got comfortable. For on waking was
always filed with strange uneasiness, be-
sides the pains, and did not want anybody
to see me till | had become normal
ak uRk civ ha6
passed, realized that my pains were gone
did not feel them any more. BY this time
was injecting as much as ten or fifteen
grams day into my system. At first l
used what is called 'Magencie's Solution; ;
atterward bought the drug in the powder
and made a solution much stronger. By
having 1t put up In two, three or five grain
powders l could tell precisely how much
was using
What gave me the greatest concern was
That found l was in danger OF becoming
the most internal liar on earth. The temp
tation to lie about all sort of thirgs, even
when knew that a lie would be more than
empowering. The effect on me was indie
ecrloable. l use to say to myself: Your
true nature is showing itself. You are not
only liar, but born coward. The truth
the vile.'
~ seemed as II there were TWO OF me
and that each hated aud despsed the other
-one the man you know; on the other hand
was this bringing, cowardlY, false and
TeAeherous thing that bore my name,
spent my money, signed my checks, dicta-
yea my letters and held me with iron hands
20 the awful, awful cursed habit | had
Finally l saw the doctor and told him
S4at was resolved to conquer the habit or
uie In the attempt. Helaughed contemptu-
Vusly' and said be had heard of that sort OF
Snlng oerore-that not one man in thous-
qua ever got over the habit.
" told him that he would find me the
oue man. He said time will tell / should
~ nome and send word TO the bank that
mouio be out Of town for q month. BE
Hould get couple OF male nurses from the
hhospltal and would do his best for me. But
~ plainly showed that he had but little
'0iVn In me or my chances.
- got through that day and night all
isus enough At 2 o'clock the next morn
lux the relief nurse came aud the night
Ian Ian went away. The doctor did not come
- pa me until after noon-about o'clock.
o. o.! 'uat time the uneasiness which had be-
~ early In the morning was very painful.
'slu not sit still, but walked the floor.
A. as the day wore on / grew worse, Of
arse Food was brought me at intervals