New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-07
DOCTORS DEFEND
TWILIGHT SLEEP"
Deny Allegation That New
System Can Produce
Insanity.
HOSPITALS REFER TO
RECORDS OF SUCCESS
DR.. Gregory Stands by Charge,
but Only to Urge Care in
Use of Drug.

A statement attributed to DR.. Minas
5. Gregory, head OF the psychopathic
ward in Bellevue Hospital, that "twi-
light sleep" had produced mental de-
rangement in three cases, was vigor-
ously attacked yesterday by physicians
who have practised the method
At the Jewish Maternity Hospital,
where the treatment was first adopted
In this country, Superintendent Irwin
Arrow said:
1.-TWO women who received the treat
ment here were sent 10 Bellevue sur
fering from delrium. but it was not
due 10 twilight sleep methods. In six
years VIC have had twelve cases of de-
lirIum, an average of two cases year.
Last year we had three, and this
year the two referred 20 by DR.. Greg
DRY. There are many causes for men
tai arrangement following childbirth,
but scopolamin, administered IN the
quantities necessary for twilight
sleep could not possibly be respon-
sible for such a condition.
Says Drug Is Harmless.
"The average case calls for seven in
jections OF scopolamin at intervals Of
an hour and half. The quantity
p fN az ltANN II l-AOOu VI a am 0AAA
subsequent injections are never more
than l-4OOth of a grain each. The
quantity of the drug is never changed.
but the length of the interval between
treatments is determined By the con
dition Of the patient.
"ln view Of the fact that the drug IS
OF transitory nature and very easily
eliminated from the human system, the
quantities mentioned could not pos
sibly cause the insanity referred 10.
Also please note that 5000 eases IN
which twilight sleep has been used at
the Freiberg Clinic in Germany have
not brought forth any such statements
as those made by DR.. Gregory, al
though observed by physicians from
all parts of the world"
Or. A. j. ROngy, attending obstet-
rician and gynecolOgist at the jewish
Maternity and Lebanon hospitals, said
he was not an alienlst, but knew the
effects of any drug he used. lie called
attention TO a paper he read before the
Buffalo Academy Of Medicine on Dc
tober 81, in which he said:
I'm a series of 220 cases that have
recently come under my observation
two patients developed post-partum
psychosis on the fourth day. within
the same week two more cases oc-
CURED in my Obstetric service a. Leb-
anon Hospital.
FOresaw Danger.
Owing to my absence from the city
scopolamin was not given IN the two
latter cases. consider 1t fortunate
that this method was not used IN these
two cases. for | feel certain that the
mental arrangement would be at
tributed to the use Of the drug
The implication that twilight
sleep" as administered at the jewish
Maternity Hospital, could cause even
temporary delirium, was characterized
a. absurd bv Dr.. Kurt +. SchlOssingk
who spent several years az FrelDers
and first used the method here.
When Dr.. Mnas s. Gregory was m
formed last night that exception was
taken 10 his statement. he declared
That he had no intention Of condemn
ing the treatment.
Lesson Is Caution.
NV assertion that delirlum was
caused by the use OF drugs TO induce
twilight sleep was absolutely cor
rect" he said. 81 am sure Of my po-
sition in tho matter.
81 did not use the term insanity
hut called il deliuum. The patients
were sent to the Hospital for the In
sane. but that does not signify that
thew will remain there. | will have
nothing to say about those cases.
haven't even said where the patients
came from and I'm not going TO be
drawn into q controversy about IL.
Because the use Of scopolamln
brought about mental trouble IN a
few cases il does not follow that the
twilight sleep method should be aban-
doned. Any drug, If administered IN
improper quantities, will bring on de-
irium. Perhaps the patients were
Given an overdose. At any rate, the
lesson that such cases would bring
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