The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14
Physicians Sound Warn
ing Against the Evil.
BRILLIANT MINDS FAIL
Agony Of Those Who Have FrightfuI
Habit Which is Concealed From
Closest Friends.--"The Banner of
Gold" Tells the Story of Res
cues From ThraIIdOm
of DruQs.
(The Banner of Gold.)

The alarming prevalence OF the use
of drugs is being widely discussed.
Able physicians are sounding loud
notes of warning against the growing
evil and earnest efforts are being made
to awaken the public to a full knowl-
edge of the awful danger. But ii
would seem that the warnings are I'M
heard or UNDECIDED for the ranks OF
drug victims are constantly recruited
from those who would have shrunk
with horror inexpressible from such
a bondage. Literary men, women,
and physicians furnish a large num-
Der of the victims of the treacherous
drug which deceives the ambition
with fair promises of greater achieve
ment and soothes the nerve weary ana
the oppressed with the hope of rest
and repoSe. Some of the most bril-
liant intellects have succumbed to its
fatal influence. Some of the most
charming society leaders have yielded
to it's witchery, ana some of the most
jealous workers In good causes, and
earnest literary toilers, have felt its
whitening blight. For whatever the
fascination of it's seductive promises
it has but one termination. Sooner
or later there comes TO each deluded
victim the same condition Of unbear-
able agony, the same hopeless longing
to break his cnalns.
Drug using mas none of the social
features of drinking, which owes
much of its popularity to this phase.
1t is a practice which is concealed
from ones most intimate friends until
the changed appearance anG general
condition of failure tells it own sad
story. Through careless prescriptions
physicians are responsible for many
of these poor sufferers. and others
| ~, To hn OF ar NJ
use of patent medicines. But what
ever may have led to the formation
of the drug habit, all must agree
with DR.. Keele- when he says:
whether the drug was first taken
| to assuage the tortures of disease, or
| just because it's intoxication was pleas
ant, or to produce physical endurance
and apparent mental vigor-sooneT
| or later it weakenS, debases, and al
| last destroys it's victim. No matter
what exhilaration and ecstasles may
| be experienced in the earlier stages OF
the habit there comes at length. as
surely as night follows day, time
when there is no pleasure in the
| drug but only torpor, inefficiency,
weakness and failure. Indulgence and
delight are the seed from which the
harvest of retribution must be reaped.
The pleasant genial friend becomes a
tOrturlnR lyrdnI, HOluIHS DOdy, hiiii'
and soul in bondage or degradation
and torturing pain
Comparatively little is known OF
thousands who have been rescued from
the thralldom of drugs. Their habit
was secret and their cure is care
fully guarded from the knowledge OF
all but their immediate family. Ana
while many know that years of fail
ing health have been followed by
complete restoration to health, they
do not know the cause of the trans
formation Fortunately there are
many great-hearted men and omen
who cannot bear that any should SUI
fer and they willingly tell the STORY
of their escape from the tortures OIL
opium bondage so that other sufferers
shall take heart of courage from tnelr
experience. - U,o,
A letter addressed to me heoIeS
Institute. Greensboro, N, e, VIII Sc
rure abundant proofs of their ablllty
TO cure this dreadful malady.