Drugs that enslave : $b The opium, morphine, chloral and hashisch habits — John Shaqi
Drugs that enslave : $b The opium, morphine, chloral and hashisch habitsKane, H. H. (Harry Hubbell)
Science
Drugs that enslave : $b The opium, morphine, chloral and hashisch habits
Kane, H. H. (Harry Hubbell)
Drug addiction
The specific gravity of the urine varies according to the bodily condition
of the patient, the weather and the amount of fluid ingesta used. If sugar
is present the gravity is high; if albumen, _usually_ low. In nervous and
hysterical women there is a low gravity with an excess of the alkaline
phosphates. In nearly all cases the uric acid is increased after the drug
has been used for a time, the urea is very materially diminished, due
probably to the small amount of food taken, the congested and deranged
condition of the liver, and the impeded tissue metamorphosis. The
chlorides are always slightly, sometimes markedly, diminished in amount.
Levenstein concludes, from his observations on patients and experiments
on animals, in whom the continued use of morphia produced albuminuria,
that this affection is due to varying blood pressure in the renal vessels
through the nerves supplying them.
Contrary to the experience of Levenstein, I have found sugar in the urine
of some (four) of my patients. This, like the albuminuria, was permanent
in one case, and came and went in the other three. Its presence was
undoubted, it reducing the copper of Fehling’s liquor (previously tested)
and answering to the fermentation and bismuth tests. In three of the cases
it disappeared after stopping the morphia. The fourth patient is still
under treatment.
Levenstein finds that _acute_ poisoning by morphia, in men and animals, is
always accompanied by sugar in the urine.
Strangury and retention of urine is occasionally the result of the long
continued use of the drug.
The albuminuria of morphia-mania is sometimes accompanied by dropsy of
the feet and limbs, less often of the abdomen and pleural sacs. When thus
occurring the case is a grave one, and it will take time to decide whether
there is not real organic disease of the kidneys, in which case the
breaking of the habit may cause death by convulsions.
THE EYES.
It is a rare thing to find actual disease of the eyes that can be traced
directly to the abuse of morphia. It is usual to find the retina somewhat
congested. Blurring of sight and double vision are sometimes complained
of. Muscæ volantes, or specks floating before the eyes, are sometimes
seen. One patient of mine who had been near-sighted four years, during
which time she had used the drug subcutaneously, claims to have regained
full power of sight since the habit has been broken.
The pupils are, as a rule, contracted and regular, occasionally of normal
size and irregular.
THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM.
Locomotion is rarely affected during the continuance of the habit, save
from weakness. Twitching of isolated muscles, such as the orbicularis
palpebrarum of one eye, is sometimes seen. When the doses of opium or
morphine become very large, co-ordination is sometimes interfered with.
Wasting of the muscles is found in advanced cases, as also is trembling of
the hands.
RESPIRATION.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account