I submit for your consideration a method for the treatment of chronic morphinism which has been, in my hands, very satisfactory, both to myself and patients. The principal advantage to be derived from this method of slow reduction is the lessened amount of discomfort to the patient. Usually there is no pain or diarrhea, no vomiting, no profuse perspiration, no extreme nervousness, and never anything like a state of collapse; in fact, there are none of the severe symptoms, such as described by those who have written on the subject of chronic morphinism.
It is a most barbarous thing to suddenly withdraw the morphin, as in the method described by Levenstein, and now called the Levenstein method. A patient with' knowledge of the symptoms which follow the sudden withdrawal of morphin who would then have the fortitude to place himself under that form of treatment, certainly must have the courage to face any event that one is liable to meet with in this life.