Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-10
DANGERS or COCAINE.
The Drug Easily Fascinates Users by Its
Pain Deadening Qualities.

The Drug Easily FascinateS Users by Hts
Pain Deadening Qualities.
Few drugs in recert times have received
more general commentator than cocaine.
Its advantages rs a local an2sthetic, re-
ceived with some incredulity when it was
first introduced, have been so abundantly
proved that there may be tendency to
overlook the fact that there are certain
dangers attendant upon its too frequent or
reckless employment. Asa local an9sthet-
ic it has won golden opinions where small
operations were required upon superficial
parts. In ophthalmic and laryngeal sur
gerry it may fairly be said to have revolu-
tionizcd the methods of a few years back.
But every now and again warnings are
brought forward which indicate that with
cocaine, as with opium and other modes Of
producing local or general anIsthGsia, there
is danger in the familiarity which breeds,
e not contempt, at least disregard of ordi-
nary precautions. Ncrdicts Of msadvcn-
turo are no consolation to those concerned,
if there is an underlying conviction that
the fatality might never have occurred if
there had been any due appreciation Of
danger.
Cocaine is drug which shares with
opium and many others the questionable
credit of developing bit''-that is, Of
leading, by the bencficent effects expert
enccd after small doses, to a desire for the
repetition of the relief, and rs consc-
quenco the dose employed tends TO become
greater, and the precautions which perhaps
were taken at first are gradually relaxed
"Cocaineis1n" is not so well recognized in
this country as in America, but it IN
HOnhtpGlV pyigts sac a AZ Gnlf Il
gence or as a practice which, like morphin-
ism, originally employed as means of al
leviating some chronic trouble, has ulti.
mately developed into a form of self indul.
gcnce in which the need of restraint and
of precautionary measures are entirely lost
in the fascination of the relief afforded by
the drug. In recent inquest, the evidence
showed that the drug had been originally
prescribed fer the relief of pain in tho
gums, and the symptoms Immediately pre-
ccding the termination were merely those
of collapse. There was no indication of
the amount employed or taken. In most
eases collapse is the most marked feature.
and this symptom may arise when the
drug has been employed as local applica-
ton in the form of a hypodcrmic injection
or spray, and may frequently call for slim
ulant treatment after employment of the
spray in laryngeal examinations
1t must not be forgotten, however, that
true cocaine habit may be developed
when the drug is taken internally in any
quantity, and that this condition is occa
sionally marked by curious Authorizations
and perversions Of moral sense, which, if
the use of the drug is not discontinued.
may lead to more serious central disturb
ances The summary of the whole matter
may be expressed in the proverb that fire
Is good servant, but a bad master" Co
caine or any other drug which allays pain
has its limitations, and these are reached
when the craving for the relief afforded
leads to disregard Of the attendant dan
gers.-London Lancet.