New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-14
HE LIVES ON DRUGS.
MORPHINE. CHLOROFORM AND COCAINE
HIS DAILY NEEDS.
A YOUNG MAN IN THE QUEENS COUNTY JAIL
SURPRISES OFFICIALS AND DOCTORS-HIs
BODY COVERED WITH SYRINGE
rrNcTUREs AND SORES
FORMERLY A DRUG
CLERK

Clarence Bell. twenty-five years old. an inmate Of
the Queens County Jail. in Long Island City is
exciting great interest among the physicians who
have been called to treat him Drugs which would
Kill ordinary mel In small doses taken by him
in wholesale quantities. Bell was arrested in
Hicksville The constable who picked him up
thought he drunk. and arraigned him before
Justice simonson. The young denied that he
was drunk or that ne was in the habit OF taking
liquor had taken any before he arrested.
but this seemed plainly false that Justice Simon
son sentenced him to ten days in the county jail
Of Queens. Nassau County not vet having a Jail
When Bell was searched at the prison the keepers
found on him ounce bottle almost full Of cocaine.
an ounce bottle OF choroform. box Of morphine
and a syringe OF elaborate design intended for the
administration OF he drugs. Then his story of not
being addicted to drink and Of not having been
drunk when arrested was believed.
The doctors who have examined him say his body
IS mass OF a result OF his injections.
From his neck to his ankles almost every square
inch OF mis- flesh has been punctured by the needle
He even reached around to his back TO find new
places 10 infect the drug
When the drugs taken from him Bell
stupid from their effects. He remained so for
about three hours. and then begged that they be
given hack n him Under Sheriff Methven and
Warren Ashmead. the TALLER. refused 10 give him
the drugs and he became almost frantic Sheriff
Baker called TO take charge o; the case. and
after questioning the young man. summoned the
jail physician and DR.. McGronin. Of St. Johns
Hospital They examined him. and then decided
that morphia be administered. One-eghth
Of a grain was given approximately. When the
young man the preparations his eyes lighted
up with the intense enjoyment OF anticipation.
When the quantity had been measured out he com
planned. and said ii enough do him any
good. This proved true the small portion being
almost Ineffective a water He wanted eight
grains administered dose. and asserted ne had
frequently taken high as forty grains in day
Of morpha alone. besides liberal doses OF cocaine
and chlOrOfOrm
The doctors allowed him 10 have some choro-
form. He saturated cloth and applied II TO his
noStrils and mouth and inhaled with great
evident enjoyment So powerful were the fumes
As he inhaled the chOroform ne repeated again
and again. That's sonnet hing ike
After taking the fumes into his lungs until the
cloth dry he sank into sleep, from which ne
did not awaken for several hours. When he aWoke
he wanted cocaine. This he did not get, nor mas
he been allowed have any The doctors hayr had
TO give nm "A regular allowance OF morphine ana
chloroform. but BeE complains they do not give
him enough 10 do him any good.
Bell will not talk about himself 10 any extent
Re saws he has been drug clerk. and while IN
the business became addicted to the habits from
which he suffers. He says that he began 70 use
for i've years has been using II. The chloroform
and cocaine habits contracted. ne says, after
morphine even In the big doses he takes had be-
come Ineffective. 49,,
out either morphine or chloroform ne becomes
wild With the exception % mis- eyes which
are no longer normal. ne appears TO be In excellent
health Physically. he is In almost perfect shape
Mace him whore he can he cared FOR. as the doc
tors say he Is unfit TO be at large.