MORPHINOMANIA AND OPIUM HABIT.
Definition.—Morphinomania and the opium habit may be defined as an irre sistible craze for morphine, opium, or any of the preparations of the latter drug. The term "morphinism" is applied to the symptom-complex resulting from the un due use of morphine.
Symptoms.—Though the effects of the drug may be somewhat modified by the idiosyncrasy of the individual opium habiine, there is a certain train of symp toms which usually follows the consump tion of a dose sufficient to procure the characteristic action. A few minutes after the dose, with a shorter interval when given hypodermically, the face is suffused with a blush, with probably a well-defined hectic spot. The eyes sparkle with unwonted brilliancy. The countenance is ruddy and the expression animated. This is the stage of excite ment or exhilaration. The pulse beats faster and muscular activity is increased.
This exhilaration gradually subsides into a sense of complete happiness, satis faction, and repose, with a slower pulse rate and muscular quietude. This con stitutes the second stage.
A vacant look, with an occasional gleam of momentary consciousness, ushers in the third stage. The opiized gradually sinks into a state of torpor, from which lie is with difficulty aroused. The only effectual means of arousing him is to administer a fresh dose of the narcotizing agent. The face looks pale or dusky, the skin is withered, the pupils are contracted to the size of a pin's head.
The vascular system is relaxed in the first stage and slightly tightened up in the second, this contraction being in tensified in the third. The awakening from the third stage of torpor-prostra tion, and apparently impending death, is wretched. Tremors are succeeded by growing restlessness, and with returning consciousness there is an overwhelming sense of intolerable uneasiness, distress, and depression, which imperiously craves for a renewal of the bewitching soporific. In this state of reaction the agony, or desperation, is sometimes so acute that suicide or homicide has been the issue.
Case of a morphinomaniac, who was affected with somnambulistic spells, when lie would get up during the dark ness of night, resume Ids official work in his office, and indite papers full of figures, all found accurate when he awoke to consciousness. Brazier (Alien ist and Neurologiat, July, '92).
The quantity taken is sometimes enor mous. In one ease of female addiction I have known as much as one pint of lauda num drunk daily; and in a male case 150 grains of solid opium eaten in the same period, and 31 grains taken at one dose. One male patient injected 20 grains of morphine per diem in divided doses tqa.ur Ili, skin. Another took (30 grains t aNerage eath day. But the ordi nary amount of the narcotic usually tAktit lay opium inebriates is very much -s than any of these extraordinarily ex . ,s,a,e quantities. In my observation :I t Int rage daily allowance of laudanum l•as lat•en rather over 1 ounce, of opium a .out 30 grains. and of the hypodermic 'el I-administration of morphine salts ti out ts grains. These quantities, as well a- the more excessive. have sometimes col taken daily for periods of months aml ytars.
Case of physician's wife who, after 40 grains hypodermically and one or two 5 grain doses daily by mouth, advanced to from 60 to 73 grains daily of mar 1 bine by the mouth only, and at one dose. Afterward she resumed the hypo dermic injection of 40 to 50 grains. One laudanum-taker of twenty-two years' standing reached nearly a pint per day.
B. Mattison (Tin-.es and Register, )..t. IS, '92).
Case of double addiction (morphine and cocaine) whose daily ration was 60 grains of morphine sulphate and 70 grains cocaine hydrochlorate hypoder mically; and one of laudanum, 17 fluid cunces being taken daily. S. Lett (Time.s and Register, Oct. IS, '92).
My experience is that among male adults the increase is chiefly in opium ,inoking and morphine injection, and, among females; mainly in laudanum.