212 
Investigation  into  "Husa." 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm . 
May,  1899. 
stimulant  known,  acting  immediately.  It  is,  owing  to  these  two 
last-mentioned  properties,  that  it  has  been  found  to  be  so  efficient 
a  remedy  for  the  opium  habit.  I  have  tested  it  beyond  question, 
and  in  every  case,  without  one  single  exception,  it  is  found  to  be 
a  perfect  cure.  It  takes  the  place  of  opium  or  morphine.  Sup- 
porting the  patient  fully,  it  is  sedative  but  not  narcotic.  It  pro- 
duces slight  elation,  but  no  somnolent  effect.  To  use  the  illustra- 
tion of  one  physician  who  cured  himself  of  the  opium  habit  with 
it,  a  habit  of  twenty-three  years'  standing,  and  using  40  grains 
sulph.  morph.  daily, '  It  makes  a  man  feel  just  as  easy  and  comfort- 
able as  one  feels  after  a  satisfying  meal.'  As  soon  as  I  learned  its 
properties,  I  sent  some  of  the  husa  plant  to  several  doctors  I 
knew  who  used  morphine  ;  they  one  and  all  pronounced  it  '  a 
perfect  success.'  I  have  never  known  of  a  failure  when  the 
patient  wanted  to  be  cured.  In  the  hands  of  a  careful  physician 
this  remedy  will  be  found  efficient  in  the  worst  cases  of  drug 
addiction.  *  *  *  With  husa,  physicians  can  cure  their  patients 
addicted  to  the  use  of  opium,  morphine,  etc.,  instead  of  letting 
them  get  into  the  hands  of  quacks." 
The  paper  ends  with  the  statement  that  "  Any  physician  inter- 
ested in  this  matter  will  find  me  willing  at  all  times  to  give  him  all 
the  information  I  possess  on  the  subject." 
Soon  following  this  came  a  leading  editorial  in  The  New  York 
Medical  Journal  (April  16th,  p.  538,  1898),  based  on  the  foregoing 
paper  from  The  Texas-Coutier  Record,  in  which  the  editor  finally  re- 
marked that  "  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  botanists  will  give  us  some 
information  about  '  Husa/  and  that  its  medicinal  virtues  may  be 
inquired  into  systematically."  Succeeding  this,  The  New  York 
Medical  Journal,  June  25,  1898,  gave  place  to  a  personal  contribu- 
tion from  Dr.  Winthrop,  who  added  as  follows : 
"  It  has  an  acrid  taste  when  chewed  in  a  recent  state.  The  tinc- 
ture, according  to  its  strength,  is  a  diffusive  stimulant,  causing  a 
gentle  excitement  to  pervade  the  entire  system,  making  one  inclined 
to  talk,  laugh  and  1  have  fun.'  The  active  principle,  husin,  consists 
of  white,  very  light  flocculent,  minute  crystals  which  agglomerate 
into  lumps  when  exposed  to  the  air.  It  is  poisonous  as  atropine  or 
strychnine,  ^  of  a  grain  causing  violent  beating  of  the  heart,  as 
though  it  would  pump  itself  through  the  thorax.  The  blood  rushes 
through  the  blood  vessels  with  a  resilient  sweep  that  can  be  fol- 
