The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-05-18
SOME INTERESTING FACTS
ABOUT COCAINE FlBNDS,

Talk about the 'fiends' who are add CT
ed to the use of soul and body Destroy
ing drugs said a clerk in local drug
establishment. II have had a lengthy ex-
perience in dealing with such persons
and am thoroughly convinced in conse-
quence that the cocaine 'fiend,' il the
most peculiar of them ALL
Ordinary events cut very small fig
ure with these misguided persons so long
as their supply of the baneful drug holds
out. Give them enough of the article
to supply their craving for brief period
and as long as it lasts every day is
Sunday to them. They're happy as
kings. and, for that matter, a good deal
happier than most kings.
'One remarkable thing in connection
with a cocaine 'fiend' is that he betrays
none Of the tresiaatisin so commonly wit
messed on the part of slaves to other
drugs. An opium 'fiend' or man or wo-
man with the morphine habit will walk
into store glancing to the right and
left as though an enemy was expected
to pop up from behind the counter at any
moment and make trouble. but a CO.
caine 'tiend' has no fear of this kind and
marches into an establishment as If the
place belonged to the public.
"A man came in here day or two ago
who forms new addition to the ranks
Of the local cocaine tribe. He was fairly
we'll dressed and to all appearance gen.
tleman of education and refinement.
VIII n he procured the small vial filled
with the dug the possession of Which
meant so much to him he gazed on it as
lovingly as a mother might on her child
ard involuntarily caressed it before plac-
ing it in his pocket.
This man was only one of large
number of the cocaile Fl ends to be fouad
in Butte. TIE existence of them all has
been blasted by the drug. The habit is
usually contracted as the result OF us
ing the cocaine for medicinal purposes
1t grows quickly and clings tenaciously.
Once acquired, the habit is seldom brok-
en-.
Cocaine is the hydro ehlorate of an
alkalOid obtained from cocoa. 1t is gen.
orally used hypodermically, first eXclt-
ing ard then benumbing the general sem
sii,ilit;es. 1t occasions confusion of
thought and of the senses. At first
pleasant sensation is sent throughout the
system, causing a general sense Of cheer
fulness and we'll bcing; later on comes q
sense Of giddiness ana a feeling as II
tn, subject were walking on ar
The effects of an internal dose Oh
about two grains VII last four or five
hours, during which time the muscul n
rover is increased and all sense of ia
tigue lost The appetite fails and the
pangs Of hunger cannot be felt even l.
the person using the drug has had moth
ing to eat for long period ON account
Of it's anolyne or anesthetic properties
cocaine is extensively used IN surgical
operations, especially o. the eye ear
ard n Sc ..eze
1T is related of cocaine 'hend that
during the recent legislative session at
Helena he entered restaurant Whlle
under the influence of the drug and tired
to lit a table containing quantity OF
dishes and other articles. All he sue
ceeded in doing was in upsattlng the Ia
be ard making himself debtor to the
PROPRIETOR of the restaurant for an ap-
rraciable amount. He felt strong out
was evidently not SO strong as he felt.
The current p~ine of cocaine IN the re-
teil market is $50 an ounce. However,
so small a quantity is required for eacn
hypode. mimic injection that all the
tends manage to secure money enough
for their supply in some fashion or oth-