To
Dr. Alexander J. C. Skene,
Professor of the Medical and Surgical Diseases of Women and the
Diseases of Children, in the
Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, N. Y.,
THIS LITTLE WORK IS DEDICATED,
as a mark of the high esteem,
both as regards his scientific attainments,
untiring energy, and the largeness of his heart, in which he is
held by
his old pupil and sincere admirer,
THE AUTHOR.
PREFACE.
The idea of writing this little work was first suggested to me by the numerous letters received from physicians at home and abroad, asking for information on various points connected with the symptomatology, prognosis and treatment of the various “habits.” While manifesting an earnest desire to become acquainted with the main features of the conditions in question, many presented a lamentable ignorance of the simple facts relating to them.
These facts I have endeavored to present in as comprehensive, yet concise, a form as possible. But little space has been devoted to the study of the hashisch habit, owing to its rarity in this country.
The statements as to the dangers and peculiarities of these conditions, aside from what I have myself observed, are based upon the literature of the subject, and the letters of nearly a thousand correspondents in various parts of the world, to whom I take this occasion for returning my hearty thanks.
191 West Tenth Street, New York City.