The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-08-09
: OPIUM AS AZ MEDICINE.
Institution Opened for Treating Ills by
q. the Pine, e. ~. .ys

institution opened Tor IreaIlng Ills Dy
~z r. the Pipe, e. r,}.t ~
The bare announcement that an in
stitute for the accommodation of those
who would smoke opium has been es-
tatolished in the prosaic neighborhood
of Red Lion square, London, is cal
cuIated to give rein; the fact that 1t is
discreetly titled The Pyrolitic 20. -P.)
Institute" suggesting a theatrical
flavor to those who are not acquainted
with all the possible meanings of o. p,
is enough to make imagination take
the bit between her teeth.
There would naturally be found
within the dull shell riot of luxurious
elegance, One could see mirrored,
gilded rooms with thick Oriental
carpets on which the foot fell noise
lessly; soft, subdued light from shad-
ed lamps; dangerous couches that in
vited ecstatie dreams, and of course,
beautiful hand maidens fitting to and
fro bearing light refreshments.
The reality: A waiting room, like a
thousand other waiting rooms, in which
paints glare at each other before they
see the doctor, and a consulting room,
rather more bare of furniture than
most, with couple of not easy chairs,
a small table, on which is spirit lamp
and two or three opium pipes, and it
were permitted to give the name of the
doctor who receives you 1t would be
that of a most distinguished physician
and surgeon of the highest possible re-
pute, who has gained fame for his
treatment of one terrible disease.
1t has long been, known that the
Chinese opium pipe so much abused in
that country and elsewhere, is yet of
very considerable therapeutic value. The
late DR.. J. W Shadichum endeavored
some years ago to introduce it into the
medical practise of Europe, prescribing
it extensively for chest complaints,
neugralgia and other ma1adies involv-
| ing pain, Spasrn or progressive wasting.
Although ''pyrolitie inhalation as this
mode of administering medicinal Sub
stances is termed, is said to be often
more effeetual than any other, his at
tempt failed, partly on account Of root
ed prejudice, partly because the medi-
/ cal faculty were not conversant with
| the peculiar art of smoking the pipe
With stringent precautions against
misuse, there is no apparent reason,
| according to the eminent authority who
| has established the institute in Red
Lion square, why the opium pipe
should not be resorted to in suitable
cases. AS matter of fact, he says,
the effect of opium vapor is stimulant,
not narcotic. At each Whit the
quantity of morphia which is conveyed
to the lungs and thence into the system
is extremely minute. An excessive dose
is utterly impossible, as a voluntary act
for opium smoking is a slow and rela-
lively tedious process. The knack of
accomplishing it at all demands in
telligence, and even when this knack
has been acquired considerable time is
needed for the absorption ofavery tiny
dose Of the opium allkaloids. 1t thus
presents an emphatic contrast to all
lother methods of administering these
substances.
Numerous distressing maladies, it is
Icontended, can be more successfully
treated by pyrolitic inhalation than by
any method previously known. Nervous
sleeplessness is counteracted at once
and the most direct and useful effects
are produced in spasmodic and con.
vulsive affectations of the nervous
lsystem. In cancer it has been tried
kith great success, but merely for al
leviating pain, but with the object o.
holding the disease directly in check
London Chronicle.