River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-11-02
VICTIMS OF COCAINE.
Their Number Is Increasing at a
Truly Frightful Rate.
How the Drug Is Administered
Its Terrible Effects ON the
Character and Habits of
Its Devotees.
Especial washington letter.


The temperance lecturers of the flu
ture will be obliged to enlarge their
scope of vision, increase their store of
facts and wage war against evils of an
alarming nature concerning which the
general public at present knows prac-
tieally nothing.
Scientists in the National museum,
the Smithsonian institution, the med
zeal staff of the army and navy and the
health congress have collected facts
which demonstrate that the cocaine
habit is becoming prevalent, and that
its effects upon its victims are even
more dangerous than the effects of al
cohol.
The best discoveries of medical sci
ence in all the ages have been alcohol
and opium. Alcohol has stimulated
many sinking and dying man, Civ
ing him renewed lease of life; so that
surgeons and physicians have been en-
abled to bring the sufferers back TO
health. Opium has quoted the pain,
saved the body from its racking raw
ages, and enabled the medical and sur
gical attendants to apply restoratiyes
which might have been unavailing
without the aid of the heart of the
poppy.
Both of these blessings of science
have been perverted, so that the vic
Tins of alcohol and of opium have COM
mitted crimes and debauched their own
careers, while spreading unhappiness
and misery throughout the world.
Mothers, wives and children have fallen
beneath the blows and curses of drunk
en- husbands and fathers, while whole
families have starved or gone to the
poorhouse; while opium eaters and
morphine fiends have wasted their sub
stance, weakened their intellects and
dreamed themselves into dishonorable
graves.
Another blessing of scientific discov-
cry is now being perverted into curse
to humanity. The history of cocaine is
given briefly by a writer of ability and
distinction, and every lover of humanity
should know that history, in order that
wise precaution, kindly foresight and
generous affection may provide against
the spread of the evil in our commun-
tiles. This latest blessing should be
used sparingly and cautiously by ply
sicians. Indiscriminate resort to its
use may tend TO disseminate the evil
habit which is already causing havoc
and dismay in happy homes.
Cocaine, like morphine, is a drug
capable of most beneficial results to
mankind, and it is only its abuse and
not its intelligent use which produces
evil. 1t is salt extracted from cocoa
leaves, the product of a shrub that
grows wild in South America. The
virtues of the plant as nerve stimu-
liant have long been known to the
Peruvian natives, who for many years
attrarted the wondering notice of trav
elers by the prolonged fatigue which
they were enabled to endure by simply
chewing its leaves. About 10 years ago
young German physician called the
attention of the medical profession to
the fact that a soluble combination of
cocaine with hydrochloric acid pos
sessed remarkable properties as a local
anaesthetic. 1t was found that when
this was applied to the tip of the
tongue that portion of the organ was
temporarily benumbed. a similar ex-
pertinent with the eye led to like re-
suit. 1t was found that upon the appli
cation of few drops of the solution
| the delicate nerves of sensation were
practically paralyzed and that the
most painful operations could be per-
/ formed without discontinue to the pa
! tient. For awhile the drug was little
used on account of its great expense
/ and the difficulty of obtaining pure
preparations. 1t was looked upon and
/ believed to be entirely safe, no matter
where applied and entirely harmless.
In time, however, the difficulties at
! tending its manufacture were removed,
and it came into more general use to
! duh the sensibilities of the nose and
larynx during examinations and oper-
atoms.
It's cost became so lessened that it was
! introduced into the wide field of pat