258 THE NERVOUS SYSTEM 



able as are those of alcohol, but the mind is more deeply stirred 

 and the flow of ideas more copious. 



79. Danger from Opiates. The use of opium for relieving 

 pain has been known for hundreds of years. The enchanting 

 sense of relief to suffering wrought by opiates leads to the mor- 

 phine habit, commonly called opium-eating. It will be seen, 

 therefore, why such great care is exercised by physicians in 

 administering opiates, lest their patients afterward fall into the 

 habit of taking them without medical advice. (Bead Note 20.) 



80. Physiological Effects of Opium. The frequent use of 

 opium disturbs and weakens the stomach as well as the other 

 digestive organs ; hence we invariably find the opium-eater to 

 be a lean, yellow, sallow person. His muscular and mental 

 powers are impaired, and his will is terribly enfeebled. This 

 dreadful habit can be broken only with unspeakable suffering 

 to its victim. 



81. Chloral Hydrate. Chloral hydrate, commonly called 

 chloral, is produced from alcohol ; but its power as a sedative 

 was not generally known until within the past twenty years. 

 It also is a destroyer of appetite as well as of digestion, unless 

 prescribed in proper doses, and the unfortunates once given 

 over to it find themselves unable to sleep without its continued 

 use. It should never be taken except under the direction of a 

 physician. 



20. "The opium-eater loses none of his moral sensibilities or aspira- 

 tions ; he wishes and longs as earnestly as ever to realize what he believes 

 possible, and feels to be exacted by duty ; but his intellectual apprehen- 

 sion of what is possible infinitely outruns his power, not of execution 

 only, but even the power to attempt. He lies under the weight of incu- 

 bus and nightmare ; he lies in sight of all that he would fain perform, 

 just as a man forcibly confined to his bed by the mortal languor of a 

 relaxing disease, who is compelled to witness injury and outrage offered 

 to some object of his tenderest love ; he curses the spells which chain 

 him down from motion ; he would lay down his life if he might but get 

 up and walk ; but he is powerless as an infant, and cannot even attempt 

 to rise." De Quincey's Confessions of an Opium-Eater. 



79. What the danger ? 



80. What effect upon the system ? 



81. What do you know of chloral hydrate ? 



