The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-08
SLAVES TO PEaNIcrous DRUG

cocaine Is Destroying the Manhood q
Thousand. of People DaiIy.
From the New York Press.
physicians and medical journals ar
remarking upon the rapid spread of tn
haoit OF using cocaine. About 80 year
ago this South American drug was I'm
troduced into this country as a medi
cine, but its active principle was no
discovered until few years ago bv DR.
Weman, German, who named IL co
! game. 1t gained approval at once
surgeons used 1t as local anaestheti,
Ior operations not extensive enough 4,
call for the chloroform or ether. Nov
physicians and surgeons, as well a,
their patients, have become habitua,
takers or the drug as a stimulant 7,
is one OF the most dangerous and one
or the newest of vices.
When injected under the skin cocaine
ooinpieteiy stops the sense of pain. Co.
caine recently has been used somewha 4
more freely by some physicians as a
local application to the nose for colds
or catarrhal troubles. 1t acts so quick
~ ana effectively at first that many be-
neved that at last a specific had been
ROUND Tor this common and annoying
condition.
1t was by this innocent use of CO.
came that many people came to learn
OF the peculiarly pleasing and seduct-
I've erect the drug has on the general
system In producing sensations Of
summation and comfort Numbers of
physicians have used or taken Ii for
TINS purpose, hardly realizing that II
mad any bad effects. Swallowing CO.
came, even when diluted, is not pleas
ant TO the throat. Those who have
learned to use 1T habitually make a
practice of taking 1t by .hypodermic in
Jectlons. The habit has grown RAPIDLY
In the last two years, because the first
result OF one dose of cocaine is an in
tense desire to repeat Ii, in order to
continue the effects, and the habit is
formed far more rapidly than that for
opium or alcohol. To-day every retreat
Tor the victims of alcoholism or NOR
phlneism has also its quota of CO.
calnists, who are the most difficult
cases OF all to treat. on account of the
desperate hold the drug seems to have
over them
1t has been discovered that white
opium Itself may be taken for a long
time without causing a loss of flesh or
breaking down the bodily vigor cocaine
ravages all the nervous system and the
tissues of the entire body. Instead of
soothing, like opium, il overestimates.
with a prompt reaction, a marked in
somnia and a terrible restlessness.
and eventually the mind is affected and
some form of insanity developed, which
not infrequently takes a violent homi-
cidal turn, rendering the victim a dan
ger to society
While practicing medicine in Mel
bourne, Australia, the writer met sew
eral cases of the cocaine habit. The
most striking one was that of a young
civil engineer. whose case was so typi-
,al that 1t was reported in detail to a
ocal medical society. The appearance
one who had seen victims of morphine
Or cocaine habit extremely Character
ste. He was thin, pale and yellow.
WITH hands that were tremulous cold
ina covered with perspiration. His
yes were sunken and glistening, his
)upils dilated and his breathing was
snort and hurried. He was restless. ir-
'esolute and careless of his personal
appearance.
lie was well known to every druggist
n the city, and from one and all he
vas In the habit of buying cocaine and
morphine whenever money or credit
permitted. Almost the whole of his
'ody was covered with needle scars.
L found him first in a barren, unfur-
lished room, mixing up four grains of
with two grains of cocaine.
n small vial Ga dose sufficient to kill
horse), and from this bottle he was
preparing to inject one syringeful after
mother into his body until the supply
vas exhausted.
He hardly noticed my entrance until
lie had finished the injections. Then.
s the subtle action permeated his
ystem, he seemed almost instantly to
hange from the shivering wretch I
lad been observing into a normal quiet
nan. The change was so SUDDEN as to
re almost startling. His mind became
o clear for a few minutes that when I
Undertook to question him he answered
ne readily and gave me, after fortify-
ng himself with an extra syringeful of
ocaine, the following account of the
ray he had acquired the cocaine habit
nd it's effects
Il was in the year 1885 serving in the
austrian army. l had experimental
nth drugs a little, having roomed with
medical student, and when suffering
rom the exhaustion and bodily fatigue
I my military work. / found II COM
lrting to take small doses of cocaine
hich was at that time a comparatively
ew drug The effect was marvellous.
liter 1O-hour march, though my ex-
rtions had left me with bleeding feet .
l took a grain of cocaine l felt neith-
: fatigue nor thirst nor hunger, but
bsolute relief from all sensations of ,
ain or discomfort.
when my term of service was COM
-udies. I took no more drugs and al
lost forgot the sensations and quite g
'rget the desire for it, :
In 1889. on my voyage to Australia.
saw the ships surgeon give a sick
lilor strong injection of cocaine.
18th such quick relief and such start
ng results, that 1 never forgot it. A
w weeks later, when stiff and hardly
Bile to move from rheumatism. l was
'dered TO take a gang of men several
Hes across the country to re- :
iir broken bridge for the railroad. .
the midst of a binding snow storm O
was weak enough to take my syringe
gain and to inject a heavy dose of
'caine. Five minutes later l was
ady to start on my horse for a long :
de over rough country, and / felt
either cold nor fatigue nor the driving :
eet.
From this time on l repeated the
'actice OF taking an injection OF CO.