iinc(3. Apr.. '04..
..!riking point of difference is that rr are few animals which cannot be a',.,11,olzed. while opium is innocuous to m,ny. Elephants, horses, dok.),-.s, monk e-.-s, and jelly-fish have been brought thP influence of alcohol.
In carefully-conducted scientific ex periments representatives of the brute creation have been slain prematurely by both acute and chronic alcohol poison ing.. On the other hand, pigeons live and thrive on opium.
Principal conclusions of experiments on eats for purpose of producing mor phinism are as follow: (1) morphine is always, and in all (loses, an excitant and convulsant to the cat; (2) this is mani fested by agitation, hyperexcitability, hallucinations, and a restless drunken /MSS; (3) contrary to what is observed in all species of animals in which this drug is an hypnotic, the pupils are di lated, the respiration and the heart are accelerated, the chilling of the peripheral parts indicates vasoconstriction, and there is an abundant hypersecretion of saliva; (4) the employment of largie doses produces an exaggeration of the symptoms mentioned, and a modification in the gait of the animal is observed,— it frisks about, and convulsive shocks follow; (5) when a dose of 8/6 grain per 2V, pounds of the animal is given, it is usually fatal to the cat, which becomes more and more excited, has violent con vulsions, and dies in a state of tetanic rigidity: (6) contrary to what is ob served in animals which morphine calms. the young subjects are less sensitive to it than the old ones, and in all the animals of this species in which mor phine is constantly excitant it is an ex cellent adjuvant to anmsthetics. Guinard (Lyon Med., Aug. 16, '91).
Organic lesions are comparatively rare. Even when premature death ends the succession of alternating .states of woe and bliss which constitute the opium-in ebriate's life, functional derangement, impairment of the nutritive process, nerve-exhaustion, a dried, wrinkled, ca daverous skin, general wasting and emaciation, and a bent form are promi nent links in the lethal chain.
Opium may be a contributory cause of paralysis, hut it does not act directly as a paralyzer.
Prognosis.—Opium transcends alcohol in the generation of a more irreclaimable and incurable diseased condition. Cured opium-inebriates are comparatively fewer in number. It is much more difficult to abandon the opium than the alcohol habit. In China, in districts where al most the whole population indulge to ex cess in opium, the people are (humanly speaking) beyond the pale of moral and religious effort. The perception is so clouded that they are not amenable to in tellectual and other elevating influences. Opium seems to take an even closer and more enduring hold on the human brain than does alcohol.
The morphinomaniac's only chance of recovery is to enter some hospital and put himself unreservedly into the hands of a doctor. Grelletty (Jour. of Mental Sci., July, '93).
Thirty per cent. of proper eases, prop erly treated, resulted in permanent re covery. J. B. Mattison (Jour. of the Amer. Med. Assoc., Dec. 28, '94).
In women the prognosis of morphinism is better than in men. Recovery takes place sometimes in apparently hopeless eases. J. B. Mattison (N. V. Acad. of Med., Oct. 24, '95).
In the young the prognosis of mar phinism is good. Every case—uneon fleeted with structural lesion or if nn trition be not too greatly damaged and if given proper care—can be cured. J. B. Mattison (Archives of Ped., Nov., '95).
Reports received from 937 cases, show ing 421 treated at sanitariums, with 63, or 15 per cent., cured; 35S, or 85 per cent.; failures; of the number of cures reported 33 proved relapses. Of 560 treated at home there are 298, or 32 per cent. of cures, and 48 per cent. of fail ures. Editorial (Med. Summary, Dec., '95).
The prognosis of morphinomania is favorable, although relapses are frequent. Editorial (Med. Rec.; 111111. of Pharni., June, '97).