CHLORAL. 361 



exertion; greatly impaired digestion; deficient secretion of 

 bile; sluggishness of the muscles of the intestines, causing 

 constipation. The muscles waste, the skin shrivels, and 

 the person looks prematurely aged. The pulse is quick, 

 the body feverish; the eye dull, except just after the drug 

 has been taken. 



The final result is failure of the nervous system. Incom- 

 plete paralysis of the lower limbs is followed by a similar 

 state of the muscles of the back. The victim crawls along, 

 bent like an old man. Death finally results from starva- 

 tion, due to complete failure of the digestive org.-ms. 



Morphia. When morphia is used, a solution of it is often 

 injected under the skin by a fine syringe. Prolonged use 

 of it in this way is followed by all the symptoms of chronic 

 opium-poisoning above described. The digestive organs 

 are not, however, as soon attacked; but the punctures of 

 the skin repeated for weeks, several times a day, cause in- 

 flammation and ulcemtion. 



Danger of administering Opiates to Children. Children 

 are remarkably sensitive to opium and all preparations con- 

 taining it. Opiates should never be administered to children 

 except by order of a physician. Many an infant has been 

 poisoned by a few drops of paregoric or of some soothing 

 syrup given by parent or nurse to check diarrhoea or pro- 

 duce sleep. 



Chloral, The chloral habit is in this country at present 



What is the final result? 



In what do the consequences of injection of morphia beneath the 

 skin resemble and differ from those of opiates taken by the mouth? 



How are children peculiar as regards opiates? Under what condi- 

 tions only should they be administered to children? What often re- 

 sults from giving opiates to infants? 



Compare the frequency of the chloral and opium habits in the 

 United States. 



