The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-05

Evidently it was genuine one, for he
nodded assent, and turned to the long
stretches of Latin-labelled bottles behind
him. One long, slender vial was soon in
his grasp. 1t contained an opaque liquid
of dark and sinister green color. Reach
ing for graduating glass the druggist
poured out small quantity and was
about to transfer it to tiny goblet when
the bloated young man, whose consested
eyes had assumed an eyanescent brilliancy
restrained him with an impatient ex-
clamation:
"Don't," he cried, eagerly, "don't
waste time-give it to me at once"
In twinkling he gulped the liquid.
which emitted strong and disagreeable
odor, returned the graduating glass and
drained goblet Of soda which the drug
gist thrust into his trembling hand.
"Give me back the prescription, doc
tor, - said the customer, as he PAID Tor
the drug and began to totter feebly from
the shop tI'll be in for another dose this
evening "
Outside the drug store the young. man
sought the support of a convenient lam p
post, against which he hao leaned
minute or two. Then he Strengthened up,
and a most wonderful transformation
took place. All evidences of decrepitude
vanished. The sodden dizziness Of his ex-
preston disappeared ana was replaced by
keen sensibil1ty and intelligence. His
baggy form seemed to undergo alterations
and to conform more closely with those
lines of physique which one would natrr-
ally expect to find in person of his
youth and development. This metamor-
pEosis com pleted away he started at
brisk pace and was soon engulfed by The
hu rrying throng of passersby
''Jekyl and Hyde," murnured the re-
porter who had witnessed the transforma-
tion and foregoing incidents. What l.
the 1iauter with that young man-alcos
holism?'
"No,'' replied the druggist. as he re-
turned the bottle of green fluid to its
shelf, she is one of New York s thousands
of hashish eaters. Hashish, as you per-
haps know" he continued didactically
.is preparation Of hemp professionally
known as Canabis Indica. 1t is mar
cotic, further reaching in its pernicious
influences than any form of opium in the
favor of those persons who are constantly
in search of new sensations.
" Ten years ago New York was filled
with opium dens many of which were
palatiaL Forum IS were expended in tit
fairyland-like environment to correspond
with the rosaate visions supposed to visit
those who hypnotized tn emselves with
the fumes of opium. Where are those
Joints today? Where are those exclusive
dens that catered to patrons who wished
GUS -seclusion2 They have disappeared
one and all. Onlysmiserable, filthy joints
in side streets and remote purlieus are
now running.
SIT Is not that wave of reformation
has swept the high-class places away, but
the one-time frequenters and supporters
of exclusive opium joints have undergone
change of affections They have taken
up hashish as means gilmore thoroughly
satiatipg their appetites. 5"
"Do you know of any hashish joints
in New York?'' asked the reporter.
81 have heard there arestwo or three"
answered the druggist, "but certain Pc
culiar properties Of the drug narcotic
make such places unnecessary. When a
man first begins to eat hashish he finds
he has no need to repair to a secluded
place in order to prevent friends and as
sociates from discovering the fact He
can load up with good.sized dose and
50 about his usual employment without
any one being the wiser. There will be
nothing extraordinary IN MS actions ana u1
he will conform strictly with the usual
routine of his daily movements. In fancy
he may be traversing the wilds of Africa.
may be gliding tn rough the skies in
balloon five miles from the earth, but. at
the same time he is able to conduct con-
versation with an unhasihshed friend
without betraying his visionary flights.
In fact man under the influence OF
the narcotic figuratively, and frequently
consciously leads Edual existence. He
is sufficientlyaware of his physical actions
to separate them from the ever-varying
movements of his distorted fancy.
"Some men who use hashish regularly
and who come under my observation are
excited to pugnacity by the drug. Others,
and. indeed the majority. sink into
dreamy contemplation, inclineato more or
less gayety or maudlin sensibility. Near
ly all habitual hashish eaters become I'M
natural ly active and restless. In the last
stages drowsy stupor is characteristic.
Also restless muscular movements, .Jnore
or less insensibility to pain AID touch,
and very often impaired power of loco
motion. Hashish carries with it a vora-
cious desire for food. The invariable
physical end is blotched and bloated faces,
congested eyes. and weak and tremulous
limbs. 1t grad ually paralyzes both mem
tai and physical energies, and is far more
difficult to cure than the opium habit. h
''Hashish is a poison, and is sold only
by prescription. But you know how easy
1t is to obtain a prescription for anything
in New York, and how easy it is for any
person with a smattering of Latin to sit
down and write one which,, having the
appearance of genuineness, the druggist