The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-24
WHAT MoRPHINE o
A Habit which Explains Many Mys-
terious Happenings.

Boston Herald.
That the morphine habit is increasing
among the people of this country there is
no doubt. Physicians, druggists and the
importers and dealers themselves attest 10
this In one city so pei cent of all the
morphine used is purchased by persons
who use IL without a physicians order.
L n habit is usually acquired through
the victim having first taken the drug TO
allay pain or discomfort.
The fascination of the change from pain,
distress and insomnia TO ouietness. COM
fort and sleep is very intense. and over
comes all reason and judgment. After a
short time of repeated use of morphine the
reason is obscured. First the higher ethi-
cal brain succumbs, and all sense of right
and wrong slowly disappears.
The failure of veracity is the first symp-
TOM This goes on to extreme lengths. AS
ISOLATED with it is egotism. which grows
with the degeneration of the victim. Often
this Is the most prominent symptom. Sc
cretfveness and cunning also increases to
an astonishing degree.
Some OF the most dangerous among
forgers and confidence men are morphine
takers. Fortunately, the period OF great
mental acuteness along these lines is of
short duration. The unstable brain state
acts 10 be performed with equal cunning
and judgment. While the secretfveness
lasts, together with low cunning and sell
tshness. 1t is found after a time tina the
reasoning faculties become benumbed. so
that they cannot originate or adapt them
selves to new conditions.
During the first five years the morphine
hapit is often practically unnoticed. The
patient may be a little odd i'm some re-
spects-more bright or dull at one time
than at another. or perhaps now sensitive
and again indifferent. His ordinary occu-
patton may be carried on without notice
able changes. His habits will deterioate,
and he may explain them as due to some
physical condition.
Later. however. more marked changes
nnR2 fIha Cfnn ~ hAa~-N>z $500
liable and changeable, and the society
woman develops a taste for SANDER and
EXHIBITS unsual emotional changes, and
\ finally retires from society. The orkm
becomes unit and uncertain, and is dis
charged, or may be detected in some dis
honest transaction. The failure of the
higher brain takes away the former con-
seriousness of duty and respect for law
and order. Impulses to steal become very
prominent in some cases. Immoralities of
all kinds and senseless i%ntrigues follow.
Cnliolsn lying and foolish concealment,
with egotistical boastings, are often COM
mon.
Sometimes these faults are associated
with much acuteness, and the writings of
some authors have been marked by de-
lirious imaginations and egotistical concep-
lions which for their ~strangeness and nov
city have been considered original Curl
ously enough, these productions are not
uniform and vary widely. They are rarely
on the same key or of the same quality,
and have a decidedly insane tinge.
Many morphine takers, having good con-
situations, are able to use the drug for
many years and partially to conceal the
habit. They are likely, however, to become
invalids, or to seek seclusion, and the err
ratio character Of their brainwork and
reasoning suggests the disturbances going
on. Others become greatly broken down
or imbeciles, criminals, tramps or paupers,
and eventually die of some intercurrent dis
ease.
1t is a fact not well known that a con-
siderable proportion of the crimes and bust
ness failures which disturb the world are
the result of the secret use of morphine.
Scandals in society, intrigdes, divorces,
stupid. unreasoning acts among persons of
previously average sense, are often due to
the same cause. Trampism, pauperism,
prostitution and many other evils are very
often associated with the use of morphine
and excuses in other drugs. In most cases
the use of narcotic drugs has preceded
these conditions. In some cases the use of
liquor tends to indulgence in drugs. The
Harcotism which comes from beer and spir-
its very often finds an increased pleasure
and relief in morphine, and hence turns
to 1t.
Morphinism is the most fatal and de-
structive of modern nerve diseases, and
when once contracted is with great diff
Guilty escaped from.