Dr. Schlaugenhausen, First Assistant Physician to the Lunatic Asylum, Hall, Tyrol, writes me that in a case of insanity he gave thirty grains of chloral every night, for six years, without any perceptible bad effect. He says that he has never seen a case where there was a morbid craving for chloral, such as is seen from opium or morphine. Dr. John Wirtinger, of Ybbs on the Danube; Dr. Reiman, of Kiev, Russia, and Dr. Fr. Akland, of Stockholm, Sweden, write the same.
Dr. A. Ady,[49] of West Liberty, Iowa, gave chloral in a case of chronic diffuse nephritis, for nearly a year and a half, without any bad results and with no tendency to the formation of a habit.
Bidlack[50] relates a case where this drug was used for a year, with no bad effects.
Lawrence Turnbull[51] gave chloral, in medicinal doses, for one year, as a sedative and narcotic. Its use was stopped at once, without any ill effects whatever. Dr. Blackwood[52] used thirty grains three times a day, in combination with bromide of potassium, for three months. No bad effects beyond slight conjunctivitis. No evil effects followed the withdrawal of the drug.
Dr. Carlos F. MacDonald[53] writes: “As regards the so-called ‘chloral habit,’ I can only say that I have used chloral very largely in my practice—commencing with its introduction to the notice of the profession in America—and I have yet to meet with a case.”
A physician, who does not wish his name used, took twenty grains at bedtime, for insomnia, for nearly two years and a half, without ill effect. Professor A. A. Smith, of Bellevue College, this city, writes me: “A lady of an extremely nervous temperament had it administered to her during an attack of typho-malarial fever. This was seven years ago, and she has taken it every night of her life since. Usually ten grains suffices, but sometimes she takes thirty grains. It has had no perceptible bad effect. She seems perfectly well. I have, time and again, tried to wean her from the habit, but to no purpose, and I am quite certain that the drug has never yet done her any harm.”
Dr. G. A. Shurtleff, Medical Superintendent State Insane Asylum, Stockton, California, writes me that he has seen a morbid desire for chloral produced by the taking of from twenty to forty grains regularly at bedtime, to procure sleep. It was easily broken, the desire passing away in a few days.
Dr. M. L. Holbrook, of this city, writes me of the case of a highly cultured lady, an authoress, now in Germany, who had taken thirty grains of chloral nearly every night, for eight years, without the production of a morbid craving or other ill effects.