ABSTRACT
This chapter presents preliminary report confined exclusively to the study of morphinism among physicians. It provides some conclusions rather than tables, and general facts rather than exhaustive studies. The early user of morphine, chloral, cocaine, and other drugs of this class, who after a time stops all use of them, suffers later from varied and complex neuroses. Morphinomania tends toward acute mania and suicide, with the same impending acute inflammations. A certain number of morphinists have been wine, beer, and spirit drinkers, and while suffering from the effects of excesses have found quick relief from morphine. Morphinists are also prominent as writers on several topics in medicine, and report extraordinary gynæcological cases and many startling conclusions. Perhaps morphinism among physicians is rather a sign of the stress and nervous strain in the world incident to civilization, or common to the overcrowding and overwork demanded of the successful man.
