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
M. Calvet[32] presents a physiological research of the action of morphine
upon the various functions of the organism. A clinical study of morphine
as a therapeutical agent, especially in the relations of acute to chronic
morphinism. In the first he observes that both intravenous as well as
subcutaneous injection of the hydrochlorate of morphine accelerates
respiratory movements, succeeded by a period of retardation, and produces
sometimes a momentary arrest or respiratory syncope. The same relative
effects occur with the cardiac movements; at first accelerated, followed
by retarded pulsations; sometimes even by cardiac syncope. During this
time animal heat exhibits analogous phenomena, namely, the elevated is
followed by lowered temperature. In fact, the absorption of morphine,
whether by intravenous or subcutaneous injection, produces a very marked
influence upon the reflex actions. In certain cases the period of
exaltation does not occur, but the temperature becomes lowered, and the
respiratory and cardiac movements are slower. Though he has not finally
completed his researches, M. Calvet advances the opinion “that the above
phenomena are the dyspnœa, dizziness, etc., sometimes seen during the
operation of intravenous injection of milk.” A study of these cases[33]
(milk injections) shows us that these phenomena rarely if ever present
themselves until a large bulk of fluid (from two to six ounces) has been
added to the blood, and that, therefore, the argument does not hold good.
An interesting and novel series of careful experiments on man and animals,
made by Dr. Gaspar Griswold,[34] then house physician in Bellevue
Hospital, this city, although not made with that end in view, seem to
demonstrate very clearly that a powerful and possibly irritant medicine
(aq. ammonia dil.) when injected into a vein in quantity does not produce
any untoward symptoms, but, on the contrary, were always found to have the
happiest, and sometimes a most marvelous effect.
Another question arises here: Is it possible for such phenomena as have
been ascribed to the injection of morphia into a vein to take place
without such puncture? I think so. Some of the cases reported would
seem to prove it; notably that by Dr. Tupper, where the symptoms did not
appear until ten minutes after the injection was made. Every insertion
of a hypodermic needle, of necessity, cuts across or opens a number of
capillary vessels, to which is undoubtedly due, to a certain extent, the
rapidity of absorption when drugs are given in this manner. The Committee
of the Medico-Chirurgical Society[35] came to the conclusion, from
experiments on men and animals, that absorption of a sufficient amount
of the remedy to produce decided symptoms took place in from four to ten
minutes.
“Experiments on a healthy man, aged thirty-two. One-sixth of a grain of
acetate of morphia was employed:—
Symptoms. Skin. Mouth.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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