BLOOD CONCENTRATION IN MORPHINE ADDICTS

¹ Passed Assistant Surgeon, United States Public Health Service Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky

The effect of maintained morphine addiction with strong physical dependence on the concentration of the blood was studied in man by obtaining data on 136 samples of blood from 18 well controlled addicts. These data were compared with data on samples from 189 post-addicts living in a well controlled institution environment. A smaller number of samples was obtained through the withdrawal and early post-withdrawal periods, and data were obtained on a group of 55 normal male employees of ages comparable with those of the patients. Values are given for cell volume, specific gravity of whole blood and plasma, and water content of whole blood and plasma. It was found that the blood is hydrated during addiction, becomes relatively less hydrated during the withdrawal period and returns to the addiction level in the early post-withdrawal period. The post-addict group was found to be comparable with the normal employee group.

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				C. K. HIMMELSBACH CLINICAL STUDIES OF DRUG ADDICTION: PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE, WITHDRAWAL AND RECOVERY Arch Intern Med, May 1, 1942; 69(5): 766 - 772. [Abstract] [PDF]