ABSTRACT
Cocaine has a special action on the sensory centers and nerves, depressing their conductivity and diminishing or cutting off the transmission of impulses. Its exact paralyzing action on the nerve centers and neurons is not clear, so that it must be studied largely from its effects. There is no drug so fascinating in its perfect relief of discomfort fatigue, mental worriment, and sense of exhaustion, and the impression which follows from its use is that of renewed vigor and unusual capacity, also that some new force has been added, or capacity for reasoning and observing of matters relating to the body and its surroundings. The alcoholic and the drug taker follow uniform lines of conduct that can be seen and anticipated to some degree. The cocaine addict is erratic, changeable, uncertain, always dangerous and likely to be a criminal at any moment. Cocainism among the intellectual classes is more concealed and is probably one of the most delusive addictions known.
