According to Mr. Cobbe,
there are in the United States upward of two millions of victims
of enslaving drugs entirely exclusive of alcohol. Cobbe mentions
several instances in which De Quincey's dose of 320 grains of
opium daily has been surpassed. One man, a resident of Southern
Illinois, consumed 1072 grains a day; another in the same State
contented himself with 1685 grains daily; and still another is
given whose daily consumption amounted to 2345 grains per day. In
all cases of laudanum-takers it is probable that analysis of the
commercial laudanum taken would show the amount of opium to be
greatly below that of the official proportion, and little faith
can be put in the records of large amounts of opium taken when
the deduction has been made from the laudanum used. Dealers soon
begin to know opium victims, and find them ready dupes for
adulteration. According to Lewin, Samter mentions a case of
morphin-habit which was continued for three years, during which,
in a period of about three, hundred and twenty-three days, upward
of 2 1/2 ounces of morphin was taken daily. According to the same
authority, Eder reports still larger doses. In the case observed
by him the patient took laudanum for six years in increasing
doses up to one ounce per day; for eighteen months, pure opium,
commencing with 15 grains and increasing to 2 1/4 drams daily;
and for eighteen months morphin, in commencing quantities of six
grains, which were later increased to 40 grains a day.
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