But because you then did not have any better or simpler way of coping a problem which should be coped with, you put the great Treasury of the United States in the business of chasing parrots. We have no sure cure for addiction as yet not specific drugs or chemical as far as I know. Our hospitals can take credit for salvaging many addicts. Despite that, I still insist that the best cure for narcotic addiction is for it not to occur. I think that the best medicine is to try to control and stamp out the addictive chemical, illicit opium.
Quarantine is one of the oldest and solidest procedures in public health.
And however unpalatable, I think the truth is that the extended hand of medicine seldom reaches far enough to overcome the blandishments and seduction of opium until it has law enforcement to remove the all too willing victim from the arms of Lady Morphia and to physically place him within reach he is to have the advantage of what modern medicine can do for him. To the men of medicine here, I say do not let the soft-headed claque play down law enforcement as if it were something in opposition or a substitute for your work. If you do, you may be withering your right arm. Medicine, in this field, without the help of law enforcement would be smothered. And now that I have cheerfully violated every tenet of my teaching and have done some lay practicing of medicine, let me be inconsistent enough to complain about the nonprofessionals who like to practice enforcement.