The Ouachita Telegraph

THE ABUSE OF NARCOTICS.

Without going so far as to affirm the sweeping proposition that "it is now the exception to find a man or woman of middle age who is not more or less addicted to the abuse of morphia, chloral, bromide of potassium; or other sleep inducers or pain relievers, we agree with the Lancet that such drugs are in too common use. We doubt, however, whether there is much profit in warning people against them. There can be few who do not know that a frequent resort to narcotics, whether for one purpose or another almost inevitably creates a permanent craving which at last renders the victim perfectly reckless of consequences. This is as fully recognized as that excessive indulgence in stimulants or tea or tobacco produces injurious effect on the constitution. In spite of that knowledge, however, men continue in drinking until they become dipsomaniacs, or smoking until nicotine poisoning sets in, while members of the other sex still ruin their nervous system by continual tea. Our cotemporary says a timely word, however, when deprecating the too frequent prescription of narcotics by medical practitioners. It is often the doctor who first teaches the bad habit and once taught it is as difficult then to shake off as opium smoking. That sedatives and anodynes are necessary in some cases is of course undeniable, but chloral is often ordered when there is nothing more the matter than some temporary disorder of this or that organ, consequent upon fashionable recketing. A few days of wholesome life, on the nearly bed, early to rise system, would generally effect a cure, but the sufferer refuses to make that sacrifice and the doctor thereupon exhibits some pernicious drug as a pick me up." - Exchange.