The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-03-07
The Opium SANDER.

STATEMENT of THE sTAUNToN DRUG
GISTS.
Last Friday evening conference OF the
Staunton Druggists was held, at which
Capt Berkeley presided, and G. W. MAY
acted as Secretary. The meeting was call
ed to consider what action should be takef
with reference to the correspondence in the
Cincinnati Enquirer of the 25th, published
on the fourth page Of this issue, and aftel
a free interchange or opinion, it was de-
clded to refer the matter to committee.
Monday last that committee reported as
follows:
The undersigned your ommittee beg leave
respectfully, to report that they have carefully
read the letter published in the Cincinnati En-
qurer of the 18th of February, dated "Staunton,
Va, Feb. 2lst. "and claimingto give statement
spect to Opium eating. They find it tissue of
falsehoods from beginning to end, grossly SLAM
and wholly without foundation in fact.
No correspondent representing the Cincin,
any Of tae druggs sns Of stauntRo ap'r
There has been no conference of druggists IN
reference to the increase of the pernicious habit
been an increase
The assertion that one hundred pounds Of
opium is sold in Staunton each qCeek, is such
unmitigated falsehood that it requires con-
tradiction.
Our city has a population of about 5000 in
one for the Insane and the other for the Deaf,
Dumb and Blind, and four large Female
schools. The county Of Augusta, of which
ton of $4,000. The counties of Bath, Highland,
Allegheny, Pocahontas, Pendleton, and con-
siderable portion of Rockingham and Rock
bridge, with an aggregate population of not
less than 50 ,0oo do the most OF their purchas-
aggregate sales of opium taken in the crude
state and manufactured into laudanum, pare
goffie &C. by all i've Of the ne drug stores does
in all OF its preparations, including morphine.
Out of the entire population OF city and coun-
of cur list of customers there are not over fifty
persons addicted to the fearful habit Of opium
eating. OF these, quite number are forced to
1tS use by cancerOuS or other equally painful
elections.
We feel Justified In asserting that no commu-
nifty OF a similar number of Inhabitants is less
addicted to the use Of opium than this. Per-
sons addicted to the habit, as all know, do not
buy at the same store, regularly, but purchase
quently the publication in the Viaadicotor a few
weeks ago made the impression, unintention-
opium eaters here as really exist.
The statement OF the Enquirer that the young
ladies OF the city were regular customers at the
drug stores for the purchase of opium is in
famously false. Not even grain has been sold
to any of the schools during the entire year. In
referring to the use OF opium in the Lunatic
Asylum, we say that as little, if notices., is used
than in any similar Institution in the United
States; that other remedies, better adapted to
the condition of the unfortunate inmates, are
resorted to-
AS druggists, in whom much confidence is
reposed by the city, county, and section with
which we trade, we feel called upon TO deny
every assertion OF this correspondent, and to
express the belief that no people are SO free
from the vice named as those embracing the
territory above stated. And what is true of
this county is true of the entire Valley of Vir-
ginia.
In this opinion, we are satisfied the medical
faculty of the city and county will bear out.
1t is proper to state that such persons
DR.. Murphy, DIR. Dilkes Mr.. Lloyd, the pawn
broker: Mr.. MARYLAND, the Elder; or Mr.. Ben
lived here and that these names like the as
sumed facts of the Enquirer correspondent were
coined for the occasion without shadow of
truth to sustain them.
In order to effect full reparation of the in
jury done this people by the statement of the
Enquirer correspondent, and to vindicate our
selves from the falsehoodS perpetrated against
US, we respectfully request the proprietor of
that paper to give these proceedings as wide
circulation was given the communication
in question.
which have noticed either in part or in whole
the statement in the Staunton Tifdic0to1', or
Cincinnati Enquirer, and especially the New
York Times, Richmond papers, Rockingham
Register, and Norfolk Virgiflia7,, will do us the
justice to publish the substance of this formal
denial of the assumed facts of the respective
publications.