The evening times., 1898-08-10

New York. Aug. 1o.-New York
physicians differ greatly as to
the effects on the system Of hypoder-
mic injections Of perfume. which Is said
to have developed into a fad In Paris.
The idea was introduced By popular
French actress who was addicted to NOR
phine Applying hypOdermic injection of
smelling waters, she became delightfully."-
perfumed and could use a different fra
nounced that the fad was dangerous. as
Impurities in the fluid used would cause
blood poisoning.
In the opinion of a medical expert and
chief of staff of one of the largest city
hospitals hypodermic injections Of per-
that is reported. "All perfumes" ne
said. "are due to volatile oils. They con-
tain alcohol, and will act as a stimulant.
Only those volatile oils which are exhaled
by the lungs would give perfume to the
person. Very few volative oils capable of
giving perfume pass through the pores. SO
that subcutaneous injections would only
give an OuOr 10 the BREATH
Large quantities would be necessary
to give any distinct odOr. This amount
OF volatile oil. which is an active irritant.
injected into the system would cause dan
ger / do not believe that in a strict
sense the danger from blood poisoning ex-
lists. Blood poisoning would not arise
from these substances. because most voia-
tile oils are antiseptic. Irritating proper
ties of the oils or lack of cleanliness Of
the skin of the hyDodermic needle
used would produce a dangerous result"
An expert dermatoiogist on the staff of
another city hospital. who has had ex-
tensive practice abroad. said yesterday
that the fad Is not a new one. II is prac-
ticed in the high court circles of Russia
and France. and in the Far East. 1t was
an art known to the ancient Romans.
Perfume used under .skin,'" he said
Twill have toxic or poisonous effect
Tie impurities 1t contains. the alcohol
the arsenic or the cocaine are absorbed
by the lymphatic glands and blood ves-
sells. producing poisoning. not only on
the external covering. as the skin and
its appendages. but also In the internal
organs. II deranges the nervous system
and causes pains and twiiching.
Perfume hypodermically injected
should be used to a less degree than
when externally applied. In external ap-
plication the odor is quickly carried
away by the atmosphere By subcutane-
Gus (" injections Of perfume the odor is
thrown out through the pores The per-
fume issues from the pores gradually.
and is not wasted.
Certain strong medicines taken inter-
nally produce the same effect. The odor
remains about the patient for many
hours afterward. The use of perfume
will nave the
dermic medical Injection. plus the odor-
Gus effect
Volatile oils. although antiseptic, may
also be toxic. For example, the poison
in the Ivy leaf is produced by a volatile
OIL Yet contact with this plant produces
the toxic effect"
-' Dr. J. E. L. Davis. q No 743 Madison
Avenue. expressed iittie faith in the
pleasing effects of perfume injected hy-
podermicaliy. 1T is just like injecting
any drug into a person." he said. 1T de-
pends on the constitution of the person.
but is apt to produce an abscess which
might cause blood poisoning.
Noticeable effects could only be pro-
duced by large quantities and frequent
injections. Perfume would be more like
ly to reappear in the lungs, since the
blood Is more rapidly circulated through
these organs than through the cutaneous
tissues. There would be no permanent
alcoholic effect.
This fad may produce a stimulating
effect which would be pleasant or agree
able. according to the sensitiveness of its
devotees. Upon many it would have a
medicinal effect and might act as
drug
DR.. H. L. Purdy. Of No 1s3 East Seven
ty-first Street. said: Anything injected
internally IS taken up into the .circula-
ton. and is a dangerous procedure in the
hands of the layman. Perfume is more
or less cleanly because 1t contains alco-
hol. 1t is not absolutely inert. however.
unless sterilized
1T would seem that a large quantity
would be necessary to cause a p'easing
odor. because the circulation is so great
and the tissues so numerous. Blood pois-
onins would certainly arise from the in
lection unless conducted with the utmost
cleanliness"