The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-10-30
Drua RabIis.

In the OCTOBER number of the
Journal of Pharmacy ~ an interesting
article by MessTs Eberie and Gordon
of tie committee appointed oy the
American Pharmaceutical Association
10 report on tine requirement OF drug
habits. They give the results OF
STATISTICAL inquiry which has peeh
instituted, but which Is necessarily
somewhat incomplete. There Is more
of interest in their general remarks on
the subject, since they are based
largely on personal knowledge.
The report shows that the oplum
habit Is markedly increasing; the
majority OF the class known as
habitual criminals are opium babitues
The reporters state that the drug habit
has alarmingly increased In the Army
and Navy and that opium smoking mas
been acquired by some OF our soldiers
IN the East.
The part of the report which refers
TO the use of the cocaine habit shows
worse state OF affairs. The drug is
sold undIsguisedly in many drug stores
and the druggist buys IL in 1OOounce
lots, sometimes as often as once
month.
The effects of the cocaine nahit are
not so generally known as are those OF
Morphine, but there Is nothing vet
discovered that has such banefui
effect on the user. One of the reporters
saws that he has seeu the drug Literally
turn a bright high princlpled man
into a sneak thief aud liar absolutely
without regard for morality or
princlpie. - One redeeming feature
that the habitual use of cocaine seems
to lessen sexual ability and desire, SO
there is less danger of its transmission
by heredity." Nine-tenths OF the
cocaiue habltues seem to have acquired
the habit by the use OF patent medl-
clnes or prescription, and 1T is rapidly
supplanting the use of morphine
among nen and women OF the under
world. The importation OF the
cocaine salts has increased from $40
94S worth IN 1901 to 1884, 704 In l902
and $19y, S26 for the first nine months
or 1908. Averaging So per ounce as
the value of cocaine, this gives us an
increased importation of 20. 900 ounces
in 1909 and over 22, 900 ounces for the
nine months of 1908, a fact which
speaks volumes in itself. The use OF
SMOKING opium is also Increased IN
similar manner, but the same was not
so true of the morphine salt in 1907,
but IL has greatly increased In I'm
portation in the present year.
The need of legislation in regard to
| this matter should be emphasized.
Something must be done; we nave
cocaine laws in few states and city
ordinances In certain localities, but
thus far practically little has b.sn
done TO stop the baneful habits in this
way. The amount of cocaine. tor
example, that can be legitimately used
for medicinal purposes certainly bears
very little proportion to the total
| imported amount now used. ana an
increase such as is represented above
/ is a very bad ONE n for the future OF
our population. National legislation
is certainly requires. the United Statss
government permits the importation
Of smoking OPIUM for no better reason
than the vender has for selling 1t, and
it is a national disgrace that such Is
the case. Over 100, 0CO pounds
opium for smoking purposes were
imported last year, and the lmporta-
tion is increasing each year. III
matters go on as at present the time
will come when there will be as
important business interest at work
In the matter of drug selling ana
encouraging tie habits as already
exists in the case OF alcohol.