The habit of taking ether is induced by the same causes that lead to the use of morphine. The danger, however, is not so great, and the habit can more easily be broken up. At the end of the inhalation one experiences a little dizziness that is not at all disagreeable; the sight becomes a little blurred, and the ears ring; the mental conceptions become gay, charming; hallucinations are developed, generally very pleasing. It is not necessary to increase the dose, for one would then reach a state of excitement, or be thrown into a sound sleep, such as physicians produce. Those who use it know this well, and moderate the dose, in order to make the pleasure of long duration. After the inhalation the subject returns almost immediately to his natural state. There is a little heaviness in the head and a dullness of the mind. Morphine users can secretly indulge in their habit, but ether emits a penetrating odor. In London, where it is more frequently practiced, the keepers of public squares and large parks often find in the more retired places empty bottles labeled “Sulphuric Ether.” These have been thrown down by those who have left their homes in order to give themselves up in the open air to their favorite passion.
These victims commence by breathing ether. Then they drink a few drops—and after a while larger quantities. This burning liquid soon becomes a necessity; and some even go so far as to drink chloroform—a veritable caustic.
Can anything be done for these unfortunate people? Yes, certainly—but only on one condition—that they wish to be cured. The best method is to separate, instantly, entirely, the patient from his family; to place him in an establishment where his movements can be watched, where he can be debarred, suddenly or gradually, as shall be judged best, from the poison.
The Americans—a practical people—have already built asylums for the treatment of morphine users. The Germans have recently finished two, one at Marienberg, the other at Schönberg.
But unfortunately, the French law does not permit us to do this. We can place in hospitals only those poison users who have become maniacs or idiots.
If the French are to be saved from this rapidly increasing evil, it is evidently necessary to prevent its beginnings. In order to do this, the sick must be kept from procuring it. Its sale must be regulated so that it will be impossible to get it in any quantity, or to use the same prescription twice. The emperor of Germany, upon the proposition of Prince Bismarck, has issued a decree to this effect. Under such a regulation the law for the physician would be never to prescribe the use of these drugs save in cases of absolute necessity.
The reading of medical books by the people is generally pernicious. I would, however, permit them to read the recent accounts of the effects of these drugs. If they are of comparatively late origin, these two fashionable poisons have already destroyed more victims than in a whole century has all the poison used by assassins.—An Abridged Translation for “The Chautauquan” from the “Révue Scientifique.”