Morphinism and narcomanias from other drugs : their etiology, treatment, and medicolegal relations / by T. D. Crothers.

Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Morphinism and narcomanias from other drugs : their etiology, treatment, and medicolegal relations / by T. D. Crothers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    bold to recklessness, and then suddenly subside and fail to make their actions consistent, often appear as drug-takers after a time. Usually the morphinist is not a leader or in- novator in any department of work or thought. He may be a critic and doubter, but he rarely takes an active part in any original work. The increasing anesthesia from the drug makes him more and more disinclined to active participation in public affairs and more anxious for retirement and seclusion, yet in the early stages strange, erratic courses of conduct may be a marked peculiarity. The following is a typical case, illustrating the general symptoms of morphinism: A. B., a lawyer, temperate and well up to forty years of age, without any history of heredity, be- came disappointed at the failure of his election to a public office. A period of invalidism followed, ending in his becoming a secret morphinist. For five years he followed his profession with indus- try and energy, but his conduct changed. He was less reliable, and was either very brilliant or stupid, He displayed great energy over unimportant trifles and was indifferent to graver matters. He was harsh in his family relations at times and over- indulgent at others. Sometimes he would go away for a week unexpectedly, apparently wandering round without purpose or motive, then returning,