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Selected Messages Book 2
who have powerful constitutions can recover from abuses to which
they may subject the system. While others, whose hold of life is not
as strong, who possess enfeebled constitutions, have never recovered
from receiving into the system even one dose, and many die from no
other cause than the effects of one portion of this poison. Its effects
are always tending to death. The condition the system is in, at the
time these poisons are received into it, determine the life of the patient.
Nux vomica can cripple, paralyze, destroy health forever, but it never
cures.”
The third case was again presented before me, that of the young
man to whom had been administered calomel. He was a pitiful sufferer.
His limbs were crippled, and he was greatly deformed. He stated that
his sufferings were beyond description, and life was to him a great
burden. The gentleman whom I have repeatedly mentioned, looked
upon the sufferer with sadness and pity, and said,—
“This is the effect of calomel. It torments the system as long as
there is a particle left in it. It ever lives, not losing its properties by its
long stay in the living system. It inflames the joints, and often sends
rottenness into the bones. It frequently manifests itself in tumors,
ulcers, and cancers, years after it has been introduced into the system.”
The fourth case was again presented before me—the patient to
whom opium had been administered. Her countenance was sallow,
and her eyes were restless and glassy. Her hands shook as if palsied,
and she seemed to be greatly excited, imagining that all present were
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leagued against her. Her mind was a complete wreck, and she raved
in a pitiful manner. The physician was summoned, and seemed to
be unmoved at these terrible exhibitions. He gave the patient a more
powerful portion of opium, which he said would set her all right. Her
ravings did not cease until she became thoroughly intoxicated. She
then passed into a deathlike stupor. The gentleman mentioned, looked
upon the patient and said sadly,—
“Her days are numbered. The efforts nature has made have been
so many times overpowered by this poison, that the vital forces are
exhausted by being repeatedly induced to unnatural action to rid the
system of this poisonous drug. Nature’s efforts are about to cease, and
then the patient’s suffering life will end.”
More deaths have been caused by drug-taking than from all other
causes combined. If there was in the land one physician in the place