“Like a star which maketh not haste and taketh not rest, let each be fulfilling his heaven born hest.” THE ETHICS OF OPIUM HABITUES. BY J. B. MATTISON, M. D., Read before the Society of Medical Jurisprudence and State Medicine, June 14, 1888. “All men are liars,” said the writer of ancient days, and the revised version of modern times is, “All men—who take opium—are liars.” The writer—whose initial acquaintance with this question dates back nearly two decades, and whose professional experience for several years has been exclusively devoted to a large and enlarging clientele of this class—has long held this opinion to be a mistaken one. Years ago he wrote—“Clinical Notes on Opium Addiction,” read before the Kings Co. Med. Soc., 16th January, 1883—“Nor do we share in the opinion, largely held, that no reliance is to be placed on the word of opium habitués. That the habitual use of opium, in many cases, does exert a baneful influence on the moral nature we are well aware, but we also know that in the ranks of these unfortunates are those who would scorn to deceive, and whose statements are as worthy of credence as those upon whom has not fallen this blight.” Increasing attention to this topic has only confirmed that belief, and the recent statement—unwarranted and untrue—of a medical writer and teacher, that “no morphia habitué can be depended on to tell the truth,” with the courteous invitation of your honored President to present you a paper, has prompted me to offer some thoughts on this subject—the result of observation, reflection and applied common sense. Putting the query—why do men take opium?—the answer to-day is that made nearly twenty years ago by Dr. Joseph Parrish, Pres. Amer. Assoc. for the cure of Inebriates—“men take it for a physical necessity.” In an experience covering the history and treatment of hundreds of cases, I have noted only two exceptions. Let it be distinctly understood that my remarks apply only to the better class of habitués, who have become such by force of conditions beyond control. With those who, viciously indulgent and lacking alike in principle and purpose, take opium from mere sensual desire, we have nothing to do. This physical necessity, the great genetic factor in an opiate using, it need scarcely be said, has its rise in painful disorder of body or mind. For this opium in some form is given, which, when the legitimate need for its action is ended, entails a demand for continued taking that will not be denied.