St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-24

external; but these again contain
another just as dangerous poison.
Wit, mercury. | think he Is wrong
when he says that habit can be ac-
quired by using them. Although the
use or cosmetics, when once begun, has
to be continued. because they spoil in
stead OF improve the complexion. The
writer's climax seems to be when he
says that Legislation on the sub,
leet would be powerless. Only
the enlightenment of the moral
perceptions of the community,
and OF the medical profession in par
ticular, can check the growth of an evil
that Is worse than human slavery and
the liquor traffic combined" Excuse,
my dear writer; but here is just where
you are doubly wrong. Legislation can
GO more than anything else in stopping
this wholesale production of marco
maniacs."
If the state laws in the different
states made it criminal offense or
crime for any or every druggist or deal.
Ell or drugs to sell any narcotics OF
Venena from the counter without a
written order from a physicians in reg
ular standing, this order to be rewritten
or renewed at each time new supply
was needed. If the poison was to be
used IN the mechanics or arts, then the
order could be signed by any
city official in acting capacity,
this order to be rewritten each
and every time new suppliei
were needed. In this manner it would
be easy work to stop this unknown
wholesale creation of "narcomaniacs,
unknown to the doctor. unknown to the
victim. unknown to the people, who
have right to be protected. If, again,
regard
| nostrums, the state laws demanded that
each bottle or container should have a
printed copy of the contents, not only
the name Of the ingredients, but also
the exact amount OF each ingredient
put up and contained in each specific
vessel or cOntainer, then this would do
still more, yes, more than anything else,
in checking this wholesale pro-
ductiOn of 'narcomaniacs," and
also the sale of this american
evil" the patent medicines and their
creation of lnvalids. In England law
to such effect has been in force for the
last year and already the sale of mos
trums" has decreased by over half But
this law would destroy one of the Amer
lean protected industries, and of course
the whole Republican party would raise
hue and cry against such beneficial
law. If, again, the doctor had specially
printed upon his prescription blank,
this legend: This prescription cannot
be refilled without orders from the
doctor.' and he took particular pains to
see that his order was fulfilled by the
druggist, then again, good
deal could be done to check this
wholesale production of marco
maniacs," ana would. in mea-
sure decrease the sale of poisons of
various kinds and the unauthorized re-
filling Of doctors orders. Thanking the
writer for taking up so important sub
ject, and calling the attention of the
public upon such a crying need for
Legislative interference, and hoping that
his statement in regard to the (our)
profession was done not by malicious
intent, but on account of misintorma-
ton and Misunderstanding CT the under
lying facts. l will close my reply by
stating that during thirteen years active
practice, l have yet to meet my first
case of produced narcomania," and 1
know many other regular physicians
fully as innocent to the crime accused
of as | am.
ONE OF THE REGULAR MEDICAL
FRATERNITY.