Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US drugs) a fake heroin withdrawal spasm.

1935		A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 19/1: Cartwheel, dopefiend going through a fake fit so that he might be given an injection by a sympathetic doctor.
1942		Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Sl.
1959		J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore.