OPIUM AS A FACTOR IN PRODUCTION OP DISEASES. 67 



impractical and dangerous, as coma and death from syncope frequently 

 occur. If bromide or alcohol is necessary at all, they must be given in 

 small doses, as these remedies are applicable only when the patient has 

 recently acquired the habit. In cases of long standing especially where 

 the habit has been contrated because of an ailment, the immediate removal 

 of the opium often leads to a recurrence of the former disease for which 

 the drug was taken, or it produces such intense misery and depression 

 as really to be dangerous. In such instance the gradual treatment, that 

 is the slow cutting down of the amount consumed, would be more prac- 

 tical and safe. In very bad cases strict observation in an asylum or 

 sanitarium is absolutely necessary. 



The treatment of opium habit by such drugs as cocaine and heroine 

 is worse than useless, because the patient merely breaks off one habit 

 to contract another which may be .worse. 



