Strychnine is a valuable drug both as a tonic and a stimulant, but should not be given alone except immediately after the withdrawal of the spirits. T. D. Crothers (Penna. Med. Jour., Apr., '98).
Nothing gives results equal to strych nine. One patient will do well on grain, four times daily; another will get worse on so small a dose as '/„ grain. It is most important, therefore, to study each ease. The proper dose can usually be determined in two days. Patients gain from 5 to 20 pounds in from three to four weeks. If no improvement oc curs, either too much is given or not enough. G. de Nike (Med. World, Feb., 1901).
Having found liquor ammonim acetatis in acute alcoholism, and strychnine (both by the mouth) in subacute and chronic alcoholism, quite as effectual as the sub cutaneous administration, I eschew the latter method. The simpler and safer the remedies used, the more permanent and helpful will be the treatment to the sufferers.
Hypnotism has been lauded as a cura tive agent, but I cannot recommend it, having seen many cases in which it has failed and some in which it has left mental injury. Still less can I advise recourse to alleged remedies, or remedial processes, the composition or particulars of which are kept secret. I have seen substantial mischief after the use of various "cures" of this description.
Hypnotic suggestion successfully em ployed in twenty-three cases. Bushnell (Times and Register, Sept. 14, '95).
"Gold-cures," whenever analyzed, con tain no gold whatever. Gold is non and inebriety is not reached by drugs alone or by special, concealed plans of treatment. In many cases of inebriety which have been cured in gold cure asylums, there is concealed periodic ity. There are no facts to show that gold has any value in the treatment of this disease. Crothers (Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc., Oct. 8, '98).
The strong claims for the efficacy of a remedy for drunkenness led to a curi osity to determine what it contained. Some of these remedies, as is well known to physicians, are merely alco holic preparations, others contain tartar emetic. The article in question sells at one dollar per box, containing twelve powders, weighing about 9 grains. The powder gave no evidence of any of the ingredients expected. On being heated
in a platinum crucible, it charred. emitted an odor of burnt sugar, and finally burned away, leaving but a trace of ash. No antimony nor mercury com pound was present. Ammonium chloride was detected. There was no alkaloid nor alkaloidal salt. The only materials that could be found were milk-sugar and ammonium chloride. Henry Leff mann, Laboratory of the Philadelphia Medical Journal (Phila. Med. Jour., Jan. 24, 1903).
To Produce Distaste for Liquors. Time, patience, control, and study of individual peculiarities are required. Strychnine, sometimes atropine, judi ciously employed, are at times useful; but there is no specific.
Small doses of atropine, less than V,,,,, grain, hypodermically, three or four times a day, produce distaste in from one to five days. Carter (Med. News, Mar., '95).
Same effect produced by ipecac, 20 minims of the fluid extract used as all hypnotic. Waugh (Med. Age, June 25, '95).
To overcome longing for drink, due to irritation of gastric nerve-supply:— R. Chlorinated water, 2 drachms. Decoction of atima, 5 ounces. Cane-sugar, 2 drachms.
M. Sig.: A tablespoonful every two or three hours. Zdekauer (La Med. Mod., Jan. 12, '95).
Disgusting an inebriate of alcoholic intoxicants is not to cure the disease of inebrity, or narcomania.
Excessive irritation following the re moval of alcohol is often very quickly removed by the bromides. They should he given in large doses of at least 2 drachms every four hours in large quan tities of water flavored with peppermint or tincture of cinchona. As soon as the bromidial effects are noticeable, small doses of bitartrate of potassa and sul phate of magnesia should be given, with warm shower-baths, twice a day. Bro minism is usually very slight after this, and only the slight sedative effects re main. Bromide of sodium seems to be the most powerful and prompt in its ac tion. In vigorous plethoric inebriates, with a high degree of mental irritation and delirium, the sudden withdrawal of spirits and the substitution of bromide of sodium, 100-grain closes every three or four hours, is followed by rapid recovery.