360 THE HUMAN BOD7. 



persons have acquired the craving for it. Used constantly 

 it is as certainly fatal and the habit is perhaps even harder to 

 break; for it may be indulged more secretly and its effects 

 are not so readily recognized. There is also this to be 

 said: that most inebriates are originally of weak character, 

 wrecking themselves on a rock in full view, through lack of 

 a strong hand at the helm; while many a one of highest 

 gifts and noblest character, who would loathe the low vice 

 of drunkenness, has gone under in the insidious maelstrom 

 spread by opium for its victims. Using the drug at first 

 as prescribed for the relief of suffering, he (or she, for more 

 women than men are addicted to opium excess) is scarcely 

 conscious of danger before being swept on to destruction. 

 Most medical men now fully recognize the danger and only 

 order prolonged use of opium with great caution. Never- 

 theless tli ere are so many persons who habitually use opium 

 that it is important to point out the disastrous results. 



The Diseased Conditions produced by Regular Use of Opium 

 are fairly uniform. The first phenomenon is deadening of 

 sensibility, accompanied by mental exaltation if the dose be 

 small. This is succeeded by unnatural sleep, disturbed by 

 fantastic dreams. 



On awaking there is great depression of mind and body: 

 often associated with defective memory, and a feeling that 

 something terrible is about to happen. There is muscular 

 weakness; distaste for food, without actual nausea; and an 

 almost irresistible craving for another dose. 



If the habit be continued further, mental and physical 

 changes occur. Distaste and inaptitude for any kind of 



Why is opium more disastrous from one point of view? 

 What are the first phenomena following a dose of opium? What 

 is the condition of the person on awaking? 

 What results follow continuance of the habit? 



