The evening times., 1898-09-09
FIGHTING COCAINE.
Dentists Are Urged to Cease the Use
of the Drug.
fFrom.the Chicago Time -HeEald.l

of the Drug.
(From-the Chicago Times Herald.)
Cocaine for anaesthetic purposes may
soon be abandoned by dentists because
of its too powerful effect on the patient.
Cases where patients have been paraiyZ-
ed or even worse by the use of this
deadly drug, have alarmed the profess
sion At the national congress of dem
lists, which has Just closed in Omaha,
the sentiment against the further use of.
cocaine was overwhelming. and as a re-
suit ii is being discOuntenanced
new drug, supposed TO be much
safer, is already replacing it to some ex-
tent Its name is eukane. 1t is slower in
its action than cocaine and not so salts
factory from the anaeSthetiC standpoint.
Safety is the great quality claimed for
1t by some, though others say that 1t is
yet an experiment, and that it is a
question whether 1t is any safer than
that which it seeks to supplant.
The alarm felt concerning the effects
of cocaine has at least greatly restrict
ed its use. Where 10 per cent solution
was thought necessary a few years ago.
2 per cent solution is now considered
strong enough, and even it is used with
great caution. Injection into the It's
sues of the gums has been abandoned
altogether. Every safeguard is now OBJ
served that the patient may not con-
tract the cocaine habit.
Chicago dentists OF the better class are
decrying the use of cocaine, except most
Sparingly. DR.. a. w. Harlon, editor of
the Dental Review, cited a recent case of
a young woman who had washed her nose
with only a per cent solution and had
died a few hours later from its effects
Cases of paralysis from this cause can
be seen among patients who come TO the
operating room of the dental schools.
Cocaine has peculiar qualities which
have baffied the profession. 1t was used
rather freely for many years before its
dangerous effects We're appreciated That
the Indians of the mountains of Peru and
Bolivia chewed the leaves of the small
coca shrub a stimulant and were bad
ly affected thereby was known. 1t re-
leves them of the feelings of fatigue and
hunger, and removes the difficulty in
breathing while climbing the high mount
aims. The habit enslaves its victim, how
ever, and gradually his constitution is I'M
dermined and wrecked
DR.. F. Ewing Roach, No. 902 Champlain
Building. who is a demonstrator in the
Northwestern University Dental School,
said that he considered cocaine very
dangerous drug. He said:
1T should not be used except with the
greatest skill and a knowledge of its evil
| consequences. 1t is used less frequently
| than heretofore and in milder form. AL
| though we would like something safer, /
| do not think that cocaine will be discard
| ed altogether. 1t is too valuable as a
| drug. When proper substitute is found
| which is absolutely safe it's use will no
| doubt be discontinued. So many cases of
| the cocaine habit having been formed
! have been reported that the drug is now
| administered very carefully and should
| be as much as possible without the
| knowledge Of the patient. It's use is dis
| paraged by the profession, but if you go
| into the offices of the best men you find
| it, though they handle it with care
1.-The doses have been very greatly re-
| duced and much greater care is taken Of
| late. | know of a man who clings to the
| old methods, who now uses a 50 per cent
| solution. Eight years ago it was thought
| that local anaesthesia could not be got
| ten without a 10 per cent solution. Now
| nothing stronger than 2 per cent solu-
tion is used. Even for the implantation
| or transpiantation of tooth where it is
| necessary to trephine into the aveolar
solution stronger than per cent Is not
| needed, andIin using that strength some
! thing is given to counteract the effect
"Eukane is new drug which is being
| administered in the place of cocaine by
| some. Its action. is slower, and it is not
so good an anaesthetic as cocaine. but
| some think that it is safer. 1t is an ex-
| pertinent as yet, and there is some uues-
! tion as to whether it is any safer CO.
| caine is no longer injected into the tissue
| but is diffused into the tooth by electrici-
| ty-a process called electrical osmosis. or
cataphoresis. The danger has been from
| injection with needle or with saturated
| cotton and allowing the patient to swaI-
| low the solution. Paralysis has come
| more from this careless use than from
| anything else" f
| DR. J. A. Freeman, 1901 Stewart Build
| ing. said: Experience shows that CO.
| caine is very unsafe drug. A doctor
| does not know the idiosyncracies of any
| patient or how he will be affected by CO.
| caine. 1t should be used only with the
| greatest caution and moderation. 1t af-
| fects the heart readily, and where there
| is rapid absorption the toxic effect is dan
| gerous."
| Dr. Charles r. Pruyn has written ex-
| tensively of cocaine's dangerous effects
| and most other Chicago dentists are
| agreed upon its restriction.