QUASSIA FOR THE DRINK HABIT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 746, 17 February 1915, Page 7

QUASSIA FOR THE DRINK HABIT.

All sorts of "cures" for the drink habit have been recommended, from the humble meadow herbs to bi-chloride ofgold, but one of the simplest remedies, according to Dr. T. D. Crothers, is quassia, that bitterest of drinks. For office or home treatment Dr. Crothers believes it is of the best. "I have found," said Dr. Crothers. "a concentrated solution of quassia to be tho most effective of all the remedies." He explains that an infusion of quassia should be made and then bailed down Dnce or twice in order to obtain double tho strength. It.should .bo given to a drinking man with strict orders to take half an ounce every two hours throughout tho day. Tho drinking man may drink his liquor quite as.usual, but under no consideration must he neglect his half ounce cf quassia every two hours. This remedy is, of course, best for the drink victim who is anxious himself to gain a victory over it. The way this-works is that in a short time a form of quassia poisoning comes on. This poisoning does not affect the victim in any way except to make all forms of spirituous liquors intensely disgusting and actually repelling to him. Ordinarily the result of this is at first surprise on the part of the drinking man when he discovers that he not only does not like liquor, but that it makes him deathly ill to drink it. Next he is pleased—that is, provided he is anxious bo cure himself —and while the bitter quassia is extremely unpleasant he sticks to it and takes Treasure in drinking it, knowing that a cure is being effected. From a strong dislike of liquor i>he moment he tries to drink it lie begins to dread trying to drink it, and finally all desire to make -the attempt has left him. "Invariably," says Dr. Crothers, "such a drink victim who honestly deri[ror, to break himself of the habit expresses his deepest gratitude to his physician after he has taken the cure."