The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-25
THE CURSE OF COCAINE
THE INs1DIOUs DRUG WHICH DRIVES
MANY MEN TO INSANITY.
Statistics Of Importation Prove that
POpuIar-Serfous Problem.
Washington Post.

In these simple figures are contained the
elements Of a warning sermon that would
startle all America. We seem TO be rapidly
becoming a nation of cocaine fiends. II the
| number of those addicted to the use of the
| dreadful drug continues to increase at the
| present rate the importation of what was
originally regarded as blessed alleviator
of pain will have to be classed with opium
| and its use prohibited BY law except for
medicinal purposes.
At present the cocaine fend can purchase
the drug without trouble, and the ease with
which it is taken is a fatal recommendation
to those who crave a nerve deadener. No
laborious cooking of pills over a lamp
cleaning of implements or troublesome
necessity for secrecy, as with the use of
opium. Cocaine can be taken at any time
with scarcely any trouble and without soul
besides the user being aware Of his being
in the tolls.
At first. that is. 1t will not be long before
every intimate friend will observe change,
a gradual and scarcely perceptible change
come over the appearance and general con-
duct of the cocaine fiend. If the one who
yields to the toxic influence of the drug be
a lawyer then it will be noticed that his
language as he pleads a case in court has
become particularly diffuse, while his argu-
ments are long-drawn-out and lacking in
logic. Others will notice this popularity
and wonder.
| The victim will be in blissful ignorance of
anything wrong, for another queer phase Of
the progress of cocaine poisoning is that it
lulls the user into delightful feeling of
self-satisfaction, and, whatever his short
comings, he is contented and happy-until
the influence Of the drug departs and leaves
him only with the deadly craving for more
that none can fight off.
The lecturer who becomes a victim Of the
cocaine habit will, to the surprise of his
audience, spend the entire period allotted to
certain subject on single insignificant
part of it, or seem to forget the topic en-
tirey and wander into something entirely
foreign. 1t will strike the listeners that the
learned lecturer has been drinking or is be-
ginning TO get feeble-minded There will be
| nothing in the appearance or manner of the
speaker to indicate that he himself has the
slightest knowledge that he has not been
treating the subject in the brightest and
most careful way. Cocaine is a drug that
deludes it's victims. 1t is the very devil
himself in the form of an innocent-looking
crystal and the way the much-to -be-pitied
cocaine-user is dragged slowly but with
awful certainty down to insanity and death
is a terrible tribute to the strength of the
demon that turks in the drug
This confusion of ideas and language is
the first symptom of the toxic influence of
the cocaine beginning to work. If you have
friend in whom these symptoms are no.
ticed it might be well to find out If he is
addicted to the use of cocaine, for at this
early stage the habit may be broken. Later
it is almost hopeless for the victim to try
and sunder his chains
BEGINNING OF THE HABIT.
Begun in many cases in a legitimate way,
as an anesthetic, the surprisingly pleasant
effect is sought for again by the one who
has had glimpse at the portals of the
Elysium. This is the beginning of the ter
rible habit The effect is a sense of exhilara-
ton followed by quiet, dreamy state that
causes the worried man to forget his troubles
and the sufferer his pain. Once this freedom
from physical and mental sickness has been
experienced the cocaine fiend will rob or Kill
to get the drug. Enforced nonuse of it will
not cure the victim. Sentence him to a
term of imprisonment. and he will go
straight from the Jail door to the nearest
drug store to secure cocaine before he eats
or sleeps.
casional use of the drug to Unsuitable crayI-
ing is the rational course of the cocaine tiend.
From thence to the insane asylum and the
grave is q swift and easy descent.
In his fall from health to physical ana
mental disintegration the cocaine flend un-
dergoes a terrible experience. When not in
the temporary heaven that the drug pro-
Vides the victim is in the lowest depths OIL
an inferno. He is subject to appIehensions
decisions and Authorizations. He suffers
from insomnia. anorexia and gastralglei
pains: dyspepsia chronic palpitations ana
will-paresis He is a terror both to nlmSeiL
and others. He knows it, and with TINS
knowledge staring him in the face, he
rushes for the drug and is happy for brlet
period under its influence It IS time In; some some
strung nation a drug so deadly. Clear
minded men have recommended its exclu-
incidentally should be foregone rather than
that such cursed temptation should be
placed in the way Of weak humanity.
PROBLEM OF ITS POWER.
What the real action of the drug is and
how to counteract its influence are at pres
ent puzzng questions to the medical fra
ternity. A leading member of the profession
to whom these questions were put replied
after careful consideration, as follows: It's
physiological action is practically unknown.
AS an analgesic, it is uniform in its action,
and this is due to the suspension of the
physiologic functions of the sensory cells
which it comes in contact with. Beyond this
it is an excitement of the cerebro-spinal
axis; later it has a peculiar action on the
physical phenomena. Beyond this a great
variety of widely variable symptoms APP
pear.
ties are excited to the highest degree. In
others profound lowering of the senses
and functional activities occur. Morphine
takers can use large quantities of cocaine
without any bad symptoms. Alcoholics are
also able to bear large doses without
danger. MOI lnIfCQueuLly the excitement
caused by cocaine goes on to commissions
and death. Sometimes it's action is local
lied to one part of the cerebro spinal axis
and then to another. In some cases we'll
marked cerebral anaemia appears and for
time is alarming, but soon passes away.
Few cases of death are recorded from an
overdose, as they are comparatively rare,
and the poisonous states which follow
usually give way to appropriate remedies.
Small doses frequently given are more read
lily absorbed than large doses. Habtues al
ways use weak solutions, the effects being
more pleasing with less eXctation. The NOR
phine and alcoholic inebriates very soon ac-
quire certain tolerance to large doses
taken at once.
DIFFERENCE IN DOSES.
The cocaine user takes large quantities,
but in small doses frequently repeated. He
becomes frightened at the effects of large
doses, and when he cannot get the effects
from small Ito him safe) doses, he resorts to
alcohol, morphine or choral In many cases
memories of the decisions and hallucina-
tions are so vivid and distressing that other
narcotics are used to prevent their recur-
renee. In other cases the recollection is very
confused and vague, and strong suspicious
~ exaggerated by the friends for some de-
terring effect.
In common with opium and alcoholics
there is moral paralysis, untruthfulness and
low cunning, in order to conceal and explain
the condition by other than the real causes.
The prognosiS is always doubtful when the
addiction has continued any length of time