More on morphine

Morphine was invented/discovered/synthesized by German pharmacist Friedrich Wilhelm Adam Sertürner in 1804, who named it Morphine after the Morpheus, the Greek God of dreams. Originally, it was used as a treatment for pain and opium addiction, but became an addictant itself, especially after invention of the hypodermic needle in 1853. Morphine is more powerful and more addictive when injected straight into the bloodstream rather than ingesting orally or smoking it. Morphine was a frequent ingredient in "patent medicines" which claimed to cure coughs, female pains, and other ailments. Patent medicines could be ordered, as well as syringes, through Sears & Roebuck catalog (see p 46 for the hypodermic ad).

Some symptoms of use: constipation, lack of appetite, blurring, double vision, euphoria, and many more, as catalogued here. This site also has a good description of addiction causes.

Here is another overview of the drug and treatment.

Treatment for addiction (as with all addictions) is difficult and painful. At this time period, the treatment consisted mostly of removal of the person from access to the drug, and from their surroundings. Much emphasis was placed on willing oneself not to want it.
This brochure, for families, gives an overview of treatment (modern, so not germane to period, but has good information)
Here is a testimony, from 1898, of recovery from morphine by a female physician from Canada
The house isn't so important, but the section on Charles Kile is helpful for looking at aversion therapy. See also Keeley Method or Keeley Cure.

Here is an interview (from 1955, but still relatable) with Bela Lugosi as he is coming out of a sanitarium, where he was being treated for alcoholism and morphine addiction


Sarah