Evening star., 1950-08-30
Sleeping Pills Cause
FuIse DeIirium Tremens
Effect Of Chronic Use
Is Tested by Public Health
By Thomos Z. Henry

Chronic intoxication and pseudo de-
lirium tremens caused by sleeping pills
have just been demonstrated at the Pub
lie Health Services research hospital for
drug addicts at Lexington, KY.
Or. Harris Isbell and his associates Of
the Public Health Service staff conclude
as the result Of their experiments with
volunteers, who were cured drug addicts,
that the type Of sleeping potions
known as barbiturates are "habit-forming
drugs" addiction to which is "in some
respects more dangerous and undesirable
than addiction to morphine"
The problem is by no means academic.
they report. A total of about 325 tons
OF the barbiturate type of sedatives was
sold in the United States in 1913, the
last year for which accurate records are
available. This was enough to make more
than billion capsules, or about "a for
each man, woman and child in the United
States.
Involved in Many Cases.
About rs per cent of all poison cases
admitted to hospitals are barbiturate poi
soning. and barbiturate poisoning is re-
sponsible for more deaths than any other
kind OF poisoning. It has been recog-
Ava
biturate intoxication may result from
long use. 1t is characterized by sleepiness.
irregular gait and emotional instability.
When the supply is greatly reduced or
stopped altogether quite suddenly, there
is likely to be q period of conyulsions
and hallucinations.
Five persons, former patients volun-
teered to take sufficient phenobarbital or
amytal to induce the state of intoxication,
little different from chronic alcohol in
toxication, for from 90 to IA days. The
results were notably impaired mental
ability and emotional instability.
When the drugs were Withdrawn the
symptoms were quite like those OF mild
delirium tremens. The symptoms de-
creased and recovery was complete after
about two months.
Two dogs without brains survived more
than year at the United States Public
Health Service experimental hospital for
drug addiction at Lexington, KY.
Their behavior has just been reported
by DR.. Abraham Wikler Of the hospital
staff, who was in charge of the expert
ment.
These dogs were among a group from
which the cerebral cortex, or top Of the
brain, was completely removed in some
drug behavior experiments. In the op-
erat1ons some Of the underlying brain
structures also unintentionally were de-
stroyed The cortex, however, is the area
generally understood by the term brain"
the latest part to develop In the course
Of evolution and the site Of all con-
SciouSneSs. When it is removed, most
animals die in short time.
Adapt Themselves in Time.
Gradually, DR.. Wikler reports, these
dogs that survived through careful NOV
ing began to adapt themselves slightly
to some elemental situations. They
showed considerable adaptation in swal-
lowing food placed in their mouths, in
avoiding the circular walls Of their pens,
extricating themselves from corners,
escaping from the grasp of attendants.
and even attempting escape from their
pens.
Apparently. dislike of restraint is one
OF the most fundamental, deeply seated
animal reactions which must have pre-
ceded the development of the higher
brain itself
Strangely enough, the brainless ami
mails never showed any recognition OF
food itself, although they must have had
some sort of dim vision. They also never
recognized a needle used to make injec-
tions in their veins, although the actual
needle prick always aroused intense rage.
All attempts to produce conditioned
responses to sights and sounds used as
stimuli were complete failures.