It is hurrying you to your grave." "It may be so," he replied, while another shudder ran along his nerves; "but why should I fear it?
I, who have become worthless to myself and annoying to my friends; exquisitely sensible of my true condition, yet wanting the power to change it; cursed with a lively apprehension of all that I ought now to be, yet totally incapable of even making an effort to be so! My dear sir, I feel deeply the kindness of your motives, but it is too late for me to hope to profit by your advice." I was shocked at his answer.

"But can it be possible," said I, "that the influence of such an excessive use of opium can produce any alleviation of mental suffering?
any real relief to the harassed mind?
Is it not rather an aggravation ?" "I know not," he said, seating himself with considerable calmness,--"I know not.

If it has not removed the evil, it has at least changed its character.

It has diverted my mind from its original grief; and has broken up and rendered divergent the concentrated agony which oppressed me.

It has, in a measure, substituted imaginary afflictions for real ones.