The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-05

! go to another drug store. and then 10 an
otter, coming back to US after six or eight
months. l have had people come in here
! with prescriptions for cocaine issued By a
| veterinary surgeon. They want it for
4 sick dog or a sick cat or some other house
hold pet. We are often certain that the
drug is to be used personally, and in one
case 1 have in mind l have refused to let
the man have the drug
The idea that We get exorbitant prices
for the drug is all wrong There isn't
harder man in the world to deal with than
| a so-called dope; he knows the whole
sale prices and he usually has little or no
| money, so that he is always prepared TO
drive hard bargain. Even when they
+, come here with a prescription they kick
on the regular price and want us TO give
them the stuff al wholesale rates
Cocaine acts very quickly: its first
stage is one of mild stimulation. the Sec
ond Is Of much greater stimulation. and
the third Is the stage of coma, which is
brought on by paralysis of the respiratory
centre of tire brain. The celebrity CT its
action is demonstrated by the fact that
the natives in the States of South
; America, whore the coca plant grows will
take a leaf of the plant and by chewing
! it get enough cocaine TO stimulate them
Natives who are employed TO carry packs
and travel long distances use these leaves
continually.
THE habit is formed also through the
'qusck' remedies which are advertised ex-
tensiyely as sure cure for catarrh and
asthma These remedies are made Up
largely OF cocaine, and when first applied
they furnish great relief ] have known
a number of men who were suffering with
asthma TO become slaves to the cocaine
habit through the use of these patent
remedies. Another thing which leads
many TO the habit is the idea that cocaine
is a cure for drunkenness. Men who are
I in the habit of going an a spree Once in
two or three months, and who are anxious
to avoid these spells get the idea that by
the liberal use OF cocaine about the time
they feel their thirst for liquor oyerc0m-
ing their self-control they will get rid
of their appetite for liquor. They over
come the liquor habit. perhaps but the
amount of cocaine necessary 10 do 30
makes a total wreck of the man"
number of well-known physicians who
we're questioned as TO the increase in the
use OF the drug attributed 1t to the med
ical colleges. one practitioner said that
there vas no question that medical stu
dents became slaves to the habit while in
college They read in their text books
that the common diseases of the throat or
nose yield most readily to the application
of d mild, say 2 per cent. solution OF
cocaine, he said Then, after reading
this, they go down to the clinic TO study
the work OF throat or nose specialists
The student sees that in the majority of
cases the doctor administers the same
remedy, and upon enquiry he finds that
it is q mild solution OF cocaine Even
then he is not warned OF the harm that
may or is sure to follow this firs1 appiica-
ton of the poison. II is only a matter OF
time when he contracts a cold which af-
feCts his nose. Perhaps he viii go 10 the
laboratory at once and secure a pei'
cent solution Of cocaine; but the chances
are that he viii 20 to the specialist on
diseases OF the nose AMI ask his advice.
II is always the same: Use mild solu-
ton OF cocaine The student does SO and
finds almost immediate relief This I'M
presses him at once. and the chances are
that he will go on using the drug until
il gets complete control Of his will
power. All students are not affected in
this way, OF course, but a great ma
jority of them are and they Invariably
prescribe n for relatives and friends.
The drug is obtained largely in whole
sale drug stores. although there are hun
dreds Of small druggists In the city who
sell il without 2 prescription / suppose
that ii ran be bought in almost any drug
store in the Tenderioin. where il is used
NEST extensively. Many doctors are not
as careful as they should be with the use
Of the drug. but when they are constant
users themselves. il is really n wonder
that il is not used more extensively than
IL Is. ] think the doctors who find Il
necessary to prescribe remedies which
contain cocaine should put them up them
selves so that patients who desire 20
have the prescription renewed will have
TO come TO the doctor who prepared il
originally. He will De able to judge
wh2ther the same remedy is necessary or
not, and If 1t isn't he can easily change
the compound himself That Is the course
| have always followed and / have found
that II has worked admirably"