The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-01-19
THE DRUG HAITI.

Those drugs that are taken habitual-
ly for their pleasant effects belong al
most universally 10 a class OF poisons
possessing the curious property OF grad
ually accustoming the human, system
10 their results. The amount of NOR
phine sometimes taken daily by con-
firmed opium eater would kill person
unaccustomed 10 it's use, and the same
is true of alcohol, cocaine hasheesh,
and even tobacco. Recent researches on
this interesting phenomenon of "habi-
tude" or adaptation" in drugs, which
is at the bottom of the alcohol
problem and every other sim
liar problem are Treated OF in an article
signed Il. NJ" in Cosmos. Says the
writer:
Aptitude endure drugs Is some-
times in relation with circumstances
other than continued use sex, age. and
state of health have much to d6with
IL. Thus qunine causes roaring in the
ears, which doubtless is lessened in
some degree by use. but which never
takes place in subjects attacked by in
termittent fever. even when large doses
OF the drug are taken, or which at least
takes place with n very slight degree of
intensity. 10 seems, I'm such cases. that
the curative action replaces the physi-
illogical effects says the Literary Di-
gest.
"The diminution Of poisonous action
is not the only consequence OF habit: its
effects are infinitely more complex, and
the physiological properties of a drug
in such cases seem 70 be notably mod
flied. a substance that. at the first dose
seems 10 make an impression. so to
speak. on the entire organism, acts, at
the end OF certain Hme, only on some
particular portion OF II, so that of the
effects OF the initial doses. some weak
en- and finally vanish, while others re-
| main and keep on manifesting them
selves. at least under certain conditions,
during the entire period of administra-
tion OF the poison. Thus. sub
| jects who take morphine for the first
! time have CASTRO intestinal trouble, ,ver-
| tigo and general discomfort which
symptoms disappear completely as they
go on; but the sensitive and psychic
centres continue 20 be Influenced brain
| excitation. excessive ideation general
| well-being and the auietng of pain con-
tinue. and this during a very long
time"
"The effects OF habitude are not In
| definite, and IL has. i'm all cases, a linn
| IL that cannot be passed with impunty.
| OF course. II we stop at n medium dose.
even II this would be poisonous to a
| healthy subject. II can perhaps be borne
easily all .ones life. This is what hap
pens daily with Tobacco and even with
| alcohol and opium. But use almost al
ways degenerates into abuse; the re-
! suit is slow and chronic poisoning
whose symptoms differ entirely from
those az the aetFtea raFAeta and ff1t-'t -
| remarkably alike in the case of differ
| ent kinds of drugs.
ITO cure n case Of poisoning there Is
no other way Than the suppression Of
| the poison: but here we often have grave
complications 10 deal with. From this
point of view. drugs OF habit NAV he
| divided into two classes, Those OF the
first class do not produce undue mental
! activity and never become the object
| OF an irresistible passion: the supDres-
! sion OF these NAV cause no injurious. or
| even Dainful. result This Is not the
case with drugs th~r hoco'-'o O. i~''@-
pnnseble 10 the organism that the sub
iect cannot do without them thev e~o
| for him. IN some degree. true foods
with the distinction that we may de-
urive ourselves. II necossprv of nour-
| ishment for time while the poison. as
soon as it's effects have passed off. de-
| mpn1s immediate renewal.
/ "If the habit hos not lasted very long
| aul the doses of the drug have been
| moderate cure may he brought abou,
ordinarily with reasonably great ease
| but when we have 10 deal With an in
4 veterate habit. and when the ORGANISM,
I has been accustomed 20 large Sosee ~
! tho noieon. the rfrrrn 10 health takoe
place only at tho end ~ lon0 treatment
nd death o. mentai alionat'or may he
The result Even when the disease has
hoe, cured wo rNuvt not for~rt that
/ thera ore he"tqii6a~s a~d that the
siiehtost pretext often Suffice 20 produce
them"