Citation

Beane FD. Buffalo medical and surgical journal 1884; 23(10): 445-451.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1884)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

36663572

PMCID

PMC9401313

Abstract

Having suffsrfd from general neurasthenia for a couple of weeks, and annoyed by pain for which I did not care to take opium or morphia, I took, about 9.45 A M. of March 5th, just seven and a half (7%) minims of "normal liquid" cannabis indica and twenty-two and one-half (22minims of "normal liquid " ergot, samples of which had recently been received from the manufacturers, Messrs. Parke, Davis & Co. About 10.15 A- M., while sitting in my office, I felt a mo mentary dizziness pass over me, accompanied by a peculiar lightness of the whole body. The sensations were repeated. I laid down the medical journal I was reading, arose from my chair, but again came the phenomena, with increased power. I walked up and down the room, experiencing an indefinable nervous depression in addition to the sensations before alluded to. Stamping my foot, I chided myself for allowing this "nerv ousness" to master my attention. The dizziness increased. I threw myself upon the sofa, thinking to dissipate these feelings by a better supply of blood to the brain. I had before expe rienced slight vertiginous attacks after prolonged mental work, and was not alarmed. On assuming recumbency the symptoms at once increased, immediately followed by a peculiar and inde scribable dread, and general muscular weakness.

Satisfied that I was to experience the peculiar physiological effects of Indian hemp (a vivid description of which I had years ago read, in Dr. H. C. Wood's "Materia Medica," I think), com bined with those of ergot, I descended to the dining-room, swal lowed half of a wineglassful of port wine, but could not the balance, inasmuch as I felt I had only strength sufficient to climb to the second story,where my wife was. Ascending the two flights of stairs with the greatest difficulty, on account of the lead-like heaviness in my legs, it seemed as though at the next step should fall backward. On entering the room I informed my wife what was to be expected; I was walking about in an aim less, half-dazed way, when she led me to the bed, whereon I threw myself, removing the pillow from under my head. Grad ually increasing darkness came on, accompanied by a swim ming of my head, a sinking feeling at the praecordial region...

Language: en