Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-08
GROWTH OF DRUG HABIT
RECENT ENGLISH COURT CASES
SHOW ITS DIRE EFFECTS.
On Incurable Disease Sufferings of
Morphine Victims When De-
prived of Their Potion.
From the London News.

From the London News.
Public attention has recently been drawn
to the drug habit by in the courts
Some time ago a man and woman were
placed in the dock together. Their condition
of nervous distress pitiable. and they
implored the magistrate to allow them to
have morphia. Their sufferings were
acute that the request eventually
agreed to. and the immediate result
marvellous. Their misery and detection dis
appeared. and for time at least they SEEM
ed perfectly restored. More recently a man
charged with dishonest dealing told the
| magistrate that he was victim to cocaine.
and while under the influence of the drug
did not know what happened. Inquiries
show that the vice is much more common
than is generally imagined. Naturally it is
intended to be a secret sin, but the victim
| of the habit quickly becomes mentally and
| physically demoralized to an extent which
renders the services of the doctor impera-
| tive.
On this subject DR.. Forbes Wnsow
speaks with the authority of one who has
made close study of the disease for many
years. To a reporter he entered into the
matter at some length. and during the in
terview quoted from number of works
which he has written on the subject. In
my opinion. he said, lone of the chief
causes of degeneration in the human race
is indulgence in opium, or the drug habit.
In China there are upward of three mil
lions of opium eaters. and the number is
gradually increasing. In one year the value
of opium which was sent into England was
over f4OOOOO One curious thing lin refer
ence to the drug is that 1T takes hold of the
individual absolutely; 1t degenerates him.
and makes him quite unfit for the ordinary
duties of life. The first symptoms are feel
lngs or content and slight excitement, fol-
lowed by laughter of an involuntary nature.
AT the first stage the smoker has feelings of
delight, while the temperature is increased
circumstances which happened long ago
present themselves in all their origi-
nanty, and the future appears bright.
AS the habit increases this feeling of exaI-
tation is followed by depression. At first
the complexion and particularly the eyes,
present brilliant appearance, but after
ward the face becomes intensely pale and
generally insensibility supervcnes."
Victims Of Cocaine.
DO these conditions apply also to those
who are addicted to cocaine?"
Yes. entirely: When 1 was in New York
some time ago I spent a good deal of time
in the Chinese quarter. and it was a most
ordinary thing to see European women
there who had become fascinated by the
habit hanging out of the windows They
had become its victims to such extent
that they were incapable of leaving the
quarter. Many Of them were ladies'.
Does the drug habit assume serious
proportions here in England?" Yes. it is
very common thing. chiefly among the
ladies' Usually 1t Is taken in the beginning
to allay pain. Without doubt a large
amount of laudanum Is consumed by the
upper classes In conjunction with alcohol.
1t is a hard and fast rule that dipso-
maniac is also addicted to the morphia
habit but not vice versa"
You mean that a dipsomaniac who Is
deprived of drink would try to get drugs.
but that a victim of the drug habit does
nh ale w
rs the habit increasing in this country?'
Very much AS long ago as 1872 no less
than 356.211 pounds Of opium were I'M
ported into England, and If the indulgence
was measured by this standard the decline
and fall of the social system might be con-
tidently predicted
Drug Visions.
what about the efrects?" well they
are many AS I have already stated, i'll
the early stages the drug produces beauu-
full feelings and visions. The feelings OF
the eater are not merely pleasurable he
experiences great delight and brilliant
fancies. which transcend all real and
healthy Impressions Without doubt many
painters have done fine work under the in
fiuence Of opium. At first only small
quantity Is taken. but as the fascination
takes hold Of the victim the size of the
dose Is increased. and among the most fire.
uuent effects are Authorizations of hearing.
The idea of being in communication with
Satan Is most common in these cases. But
eventually the victim becomes degraded in
mind physically demoralized and mentally
diseased. In some asylums in America 33
per cent of the patients were opium eaters.
There Is no doubt also that 1t stimulates to
crime. Frequently 1t happens that the vic
Tins of drugs will steal things when there
Is no inducement to do In Singapore 50
per cent of those confined in the house of
correction were opium smokers. and the
offenses of which they were guilty were
nearly all against property"
And the cure?'' THE usual method