The morning times., 1897-01-10

"He who s.lps with the devil, must use
q very long spoon is weIl-worn say
lnE, but it's truth is realized more fully
when it is recalled what bravery, strength
o. character and love for humanity must
accompany a man WHO IN this material
age is willing o uamper with the unknown
in the hope of being able 10 add some
I quo ota TO the store of the worlds knoWl
edge Only occasionally is a man found
noble and unseIfish enough 10 take a plunge
into the mysterious for the Benefit Of
= mankind but such a man is with Us,
and. as a result OF hiS daring experiments,
4 Thousands Of persons may be spared years
O life III misery, and snatchec from tate
more horrihse than insanity, even more
dreadful than death itself.
new vice has sprung up among the
pCogle, vice more fascinating than the
dreaded needle of the morphine fiend,
more intoxicating than tie fumes Of the
opium pipe and more frightful in its ef-
fects than any narcotic known to the civil
fed world. The vice is young, the scourge
has taken root, and it was in the hope
o. checking tie growth OF this blasting
curse that induced Prof Weir Mitchell
10 risk all and pass through such tempta-
L ons as only the strongest, most fearless
man dare.
Prof Mitchell, though an American, is
an n. D., LII. ID. of Edinburgh, Scotland,
and one OF the most eminent medical lights
of the world. DR.. Mitchell is at present
sn Philadelphia, where ne has an ex tensive
practice. He is well Known ar an author
on medical subjects, and has quite a reputa-
ton in the line of poetry. He is an
honorary member of the British Medical
Association and an honorary fellow of
tile Royal Medical and Chirugical Society.
Incidentally, his experiments were brought
about through his friendship with DR..
prentiss, of Washington, II. c., fer ii may
be said at once that the origin OF this
latest curse lies at the door of the United
States.
DIR. Mitchell had heard and read much
OF the use OF mescal, 10y the Indians of New
Mexico. Quite recently he learned, through
Dr Prentiss, that the use by the deadly
Flower 1.-THE mescal buttonl was becoming
daily more general in the United States,
and it was there that the Edint orough ply
iEcian decided TO make his experiments
The first step was to procure from his
Washington friend small amount OF the
extract and attempt an analysis. This
iet oon realized would prove only theoretical
sequences, the Coctor decided to swallow
she drug and face the consequences, be
they what they may.
The strength of the extract was well
known To him One draChm and a half
Represented one mescal button, and the
do tor had been informed that two mescaI
but. .Ols swallowed at the same time would
ploiuce an effect so powerful that il could
not be shaken off for months, perhaps
years Face 10 face with the vial, with
knowledge hidden in the ruby depths OF
the drug, the temptation was too great,
and the thought that thousands of lives
depended on his act, decided DIR. Mitchell
He took the daring plunge, swallowed one
hnda halfdraehms OF the liQuidand anxious
ny awaited the results This was about 10
O'Clock IN the morning. The doctor was
3n his study. Inhalfan hour he experienced
slight gastric discomfort and following
a distens!on of the stomach. With care
be watched every change in his pulse,
and at ! O'Clock decided 70 take another
dose. Ii was only the knowledge of his
great responsibilities that prevented him
from swallowing another one and half
drachms, butthes had TO he considered, and
the doctor contented himself with a little
ever one drachm. The results of his ex-
pertinent are perhaps explained in the
doctor own words:
Between and 3 O'clock" he said,
'I noted my face was flushed; the pupils