Not knowing until afterward of the work then undertaken by that society, I prepared and sent out some ten thousand circulars, containing a series of questions upon chloral, one of which related to the habitual use of the drug. To this circular I received over four hundred replies, one hundred and seven of which related to the chloral habit.
One hundred and seven physicians reported 135 cases where the long continued use of the drug had led to a more or less marked craving for it.
An analysis of these cases may prove of interest.
The ages of the patients were obtained in ninety-four instances, and show as follows:—
| From 20 to 30 | 12 |
| From 30 to 40 | 25 |
| From 40 to 50 | 27 |
| From 50 to 60 | 19 |
| From 60 to 70 | 11 |
| 94 |
The sex was obtained in one hundred and thirteen cases, as follows:—
| Males | 77 |
| Females | 36 |
| 113 |
There were among the number clergymen, physicians, editors, clerks, prostitutes, mechanics, farmers and hospital nurses.
The majority of the females were married women, suffering from painful uterine complaints. The majority of the males, persons who had been or were addicted to the use of alcoholic stimulants. Some, both males and females, formed the habit through taking it for insomnia and mental depression, dependent on family troubles, business failures and the like. Some through hearing or reading of its magical effects and trying it to satisfy themselves.