The data presented in this paper have been accumulated from the study of a number of opium addicts for the purpose of determining whether prolonged addiction to the drug or its derivatives has brought about any detectable changes in the behavior of the circulatory system. We have studied the heart and circulation not only while the addict was at rest in bed but when he was subjected to a standardized physical task. As a basis for comparison, similar tests were conducted on trained and untrained persons not addicted to opium. This paper also includes an electrocardiographic study as well as orthodiagrammatic measurements of addicts while morphine was being administered. It also contains the effects of the injection of atropine sulphate on the heart rate and P-R interval in a series of addicts while they were receiving morphine.
All the experiments and measurements were performed during the morning, usually