Ruined by Cocaine. A Doctor Becomes Insane and Makes Invalids of His Family.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 138, 23 January 1886, Page 5

Ruined by Cocaine. A Doctor Becomes Insane and Makes Invalids of His Family.

Dr. Chablbs D. 'Bradlby, a Chicago physician, was taken to the Waßhingtonian Home on November 28, a mental and physical wreck, wrought, by immoderate use of cocaine. Not only theuatient himßelf, but his entire family; consisting of a wife and five children, have been practically mined by his excesses. ~ On Friday the patient was taken, accompanied by some friends, before Judge Prendergaat. It was shown thab Dr. Bradley, quite a prominent physician, had been addicted to the use of cocaine to such an extent as to render him practically insane. The story was told that the doctor had under its influence performed experiments on his fami ! y that have made them physical wrecks. His claim was that he could inject the hydro-chlorate without pain and remove the flesh without injury to the patient. He injected some into his own arm, and then with a red-hot iron burned it out without flinching. Some mere of it he injected into the wrist of his little three-year- child, and then with a knife cut it out, the little one apparently experiencing no pain. He used the drug promiscuously in the family, and became himself a slave to it, until in a little while his practice fell away and his family was reduced to waut. While under the influence of the stuff he claimed that he was its discoverer; that it would revolutionise medicine, and that the world would recognise in him a benefactor, whose name would go down to the ages. He became a fanatic on the subject, and a wild dreamer. He mortgaged all he possessed, even to his horse and buggy, to pursue his favourite study. His wile, an invalid, and his children were ruined in health, and their condition was heartrending in the extreme. The scene in the courtroom was drama ic t The poor victim seemed to realise his position, and suddenly raising his voice to a high pitch and becoming excited, called on God to help him convince the Judge and physicians present that his theory was right. Dr. Wadsworth testified that he believed the man was insane from the use of cocaine and morphine, and Dr. R. B. B rower, who attended him, corroborated Dr. Wadsworth, and thought that JL»r. Bradley should be confined in an institution. He said that he believed it was a hopeless case of insanity, but as an experiment, suggested that Dr. Bradley be sent to the Washington Home, where his case could be closely watched, and it was so ordered. The victim contracted the habit about last May, and it has grown on him gradually until its culmination in the ruin of seven people. Three of the children were sent to iSt Vincent's Hospital, and his wife and the remaining two children to !St t Joseph's. It is considered doubtful whether any of them will recover their normal" condition. When cocaine was first introduced to the public by Dr. Harrison it was said to be invaluable for operations on the ©ye— the effect of its exhibition being to enduce local insensibility to pain without causing general unconsciousness. It was then so expensive that surgeons were not tempted to use it where either spray or chloroform answered the de3ired purpose. When General Grant began to suffer acutely from cancer the surgeons in attendance tried the effect of painting the diseased surfaces with a solution ot cocoatine, and the result was satisfactory. The pain was dulled. It has been hinted that the resisting powers of the patient were diminished, but this is hard to say. The disease could only end one way, and whether the end was hastened or delayed by the use of the anaesthetic it is probably beyond the ken of science to decide. But ever since the profuse advertising which cocaine then received, its use appears to have been widely extended — simultaneously with a reduction in its cost which places it within the reach of ordinary buyers. Cocaine has no effect if applied to the skin. But when brought into contact with a tissue denuded of epidermis, in a solution of four parts of the drug to one of water, it produces local insensibility, and exercises a pecular influence on the brain, which reminds one of the fanciful tales we read of Arabian hacsheesh. Dentists use it in their operations, though it has not proved a success in stopping toothache. There is no doubt that it throws the consumer into a rather pleasant languor. But all physicians agree that, like other narcotics, its regular use is certain to be injurious. It checks the pulse, alters the globules of the blood, and tends to a disintegration of the brain matter. People who get into the habit of using it had better make their will while hey are still in a disposing mind.