Am.  Jour.  Pharm.") 
October,  1903.  J 
Acquirement  of  Drug  Habits. 
479 
Some  patent-medicine  manufacturers  want  to  impress  the  con. 
sumer  with  the  immediate  relief  idea ;  nothing  like  cocaine  for  one 
who  suffers  with  catarrh,  nothing  like  an  opiate  for  a  pain,  nothing 
like  a  stimulant  to  revive  the  patient  who  has  become  despondent 
over  his  supposed  ailment.  They  have  found  the  way  to  health  and 
tell  their  friends  about  it,  who  help  them  spread  the  news,  and  soon 
we  have  a  testimonial  and  a  picture  in  our  great  dailies.  If  these 
combinations  are  good,  and  in  reality  only  one  of  the  ingredients 
does  this  wonderful  work,  why  not  take  it  by  itself.  We  have  now 
created  an  habitue  in  embryo. 
A  physician  is  called  for  the  first  time  to  a  well-to-do  home ;  a 
practice  might  be  secured  which  would  be  valuable  if  he  can  only 
show  his  ability,  and  he  does — there  is  not  very  much  pain  in  the 
prick  of  a  needle,  and  the  result  is  so  quick,  so  calming — wonderful 
man — the  patient  begins  to  improve  at  once. 
Society's  whirl  demands  late  hours  ;  a  little  punch,  perhaps  salad  ; 
sleep  must  be  immediate  or  the  man  of  business  will  not  get  any ; 
there  are  medicines  that  will  produce  it  quickly ;  the  prescription 
can  be  refilled  as  occasion  demands.  The  next  day  a  severe  head- 
ache occurs — no  trouble  to  relieve  that,  so  convenient  that  many 
carry  it  in  their  pocket,  because  the  headache  comes  so  frequently. 
The  man  of  business  must  develop  the  idea  which  is  to  yield  an 
extra  profit  quickly,  gain  the  advantage  over  his  competitor ;  this 
may  make  him  nervous,  but  what  of  it  ?  That  can  be  remedied  by  the 
physician;  perhaps  he  saw  an  advertisement  of  a  remedy  in  the 
paper  that  would  do  it,  or  a  friend  told  him  what  he  is  using  for  the 
same  trouble. 
The  pain,  irritation,  itching,  inflammations  and  other  annoyances 
yield  to  the  influence  of  some  of  these  delusive  drugs  ;  an  ointment, 
a  spray,  a  suppository,  all  have  had  their  victims. 
A  medicine  is  perfectly  harmless  (?)  because  it  is  taken  at  the  soda 
fountain ;  it  is  easily  taken ;  it  makes  one  feel  so  bright. 
The  lawyer  must  have  his  brain  yield  its  utmost ;  the  preacher 
must  make  his  sermons  interesting;  constant  strain  evidences  itself 
and  this  must  be  corrected  at  once  and  it  can  be,  and  once  more 
they  exhibit  even  greater  fluency  than  before. 
Shall  we  carry  this  idea  forward  to  the  generation  which  follows  ? 
It  is  needless  ;  the  nursing  babe  absorbs  medicine  from  its  mother's 
breast  as  it  draws  its  nourishment;  it  becomes  an  habitue  with  its 
