The opium habit, with suggestions as to the remedy.

  • Day, Horace B., 1819-1870.
Date:
1872
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The opium habit, with suggestions as to the remedy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    ing, and of awakening in the confirmed victim of the habit the hope that he may be released from the frightful thral- dom which has so long held him, infirm in body, imbecile in will, despairing in the present, and full of direful forebod- ing for the future. In giving the subjoined narratives of the experience of opium-eaters, the compiler has been sorely tempted to weave them into a more coherent and connected story j but he has been restrained by the conviction that the thousands of opi- um-eaters, whose relief has been his main object in prepar- ing the volume, will be more benefited by allowing each suf- ferer to tell his own story than by any attempt on his part to generalize the multifarious and often discordant phenom- ena attendant upon the disuse of opium. As yet the med- ical profession are by no means agreed as to the character or proper treatment of the opium disease. While medical science remains in this state, it would be impertinent in any but a professional person to attempt much more than a state- ment of his own case, with such general advice as would nat- urally occur to any intelligent sufferer. Very recently indeed, some suggestions for the more successful treatment of the habit have been discussed both by eminent medical men and by distinguished philanthropists. Could an Institution for this purpose be established, the chief difficulty in the way of the redemption of unhappy thousands would be obviated. The general outline of such a plan will be found at the close of the volume. It seems eminently deserving the profound consideration of all who devote themselves to the promotion of public morals or the alleviation of individual suffering.