Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-30
Use of Cocaine by Engineers
Said to be the Cause of
Many Collisions
GREATEST VICE IN CHICAGO
An Attempt Being Made to curtail the
Use of the Drus-Five Druggists
Have Been Indicted for Indiscriml-
nate Sale of the Brain Destroying
Drus-society Women Addicted.

Chicago, Jan. 30.-The use OF cocaine
held by leading physicians and others
to be the greatest vice under which
Chicago is now struggling-is to be
curtailed by law.
Already five druggists who are alleged
to have sold the brain destroying drug
in violation of the law, have been in
dicted by the grand jury. States At
torney Deneen has only begun his in
vestigations.
The use of the drug is not limited to
any class, physicians say, as the sale of
small Walls and boxes of the product Of
the cocoa leaves testif1es to Its grasp
on residents of fashionable hotels and
houses on the boulevards.
Wilhelm Bodemann, treasurer of the
state board of pharmacy, testified be-
fore the grand jury that in his opinion
the many wrecks on the railroads could
be traced to the use of cocaine by the
employees of these companies, and out
of this statement grew the investiga-
hon that has revealed the widespread
use of the drug.
Many letters written by wives who
pleaded with druggists to refuse CO.
caine to their husbands were presented
to the grand jury by Mr.. Bodenlann.
Some had come into the hands of the
state board, and others were written di-
rectly to the states attorney. Accord
ing to the law no one can buy cocaine
without a prescription from licensed
physician, and under this law the grand
jury and the states attorney are act
ing.
In one of the fashionable hotels OF
Chicago Is a druggist who sells cocaine
to society women of the nsighborhood,
who purchase 1t from him in ounce
bottles, for which they are required to
pay SO. In their rooms they saturate
bits Of cotton and inhale the fumes I'M
til the sensation of exhilaration and
strength comes to them. This druggists
trade from the sale of cocaine amounts
to hundreds of dollars a month.
In Halsted street is a druggist whose
bill for cocaine by wholesale was more
than $500 last month. For time this
druggist. fearing the prosecution of the
state board. sold cocaine in boxes which
were labeled Natures Own Remedy"
and were said to be compounded by a
"company''-whfch consisted only OF
the druggists brother. 1t has been
learned other druggists sold compounds
which were advertised as face powders.
To the habitue of the "levee" cocaine
is known as flake The crystals are
o,,H IN, e nit o-lr
ages In small envelopes.
"Give me a nickel's worth Of flake
is a common expression along the lower
part of South Clark street and other
similar neighborinoods. Morphine and
other opiates have given way to the de-
mand for the more seductive drug
The state board of pharmacy opposes
the sale Of cocaine except for its legiu-
mate uses, but when a regularly regis
tered pharmacist fills the prescription
OF a physician the law allows them to
make no complaint.
my Investigations convince me that
the railroad men have become victims
Of this terrible habit" said Mr.. Btde-
mann while before the grand jury, "and
many wrecks that have occurred could
be traced to the use of this drug"
Yesterday Mr.. Bodemann went further
and said:
RAILROAD men are not allowed to
drink. They fear to break this rule, for
the odor of liquor would lead to detec-
ton. So. in seeking a substitute, many
OF them have become cocaine tiends.
The stuff is easily carried concealed in
their pockets, and can not be detected
until the user has been for long time
addicted to 1t. To the shame OF the pro-
fessicn, the purchase OF cocaine has al
most come to be matter of having the
money with which to pay for 1t.
"The effect of cocaine is to deaden
the nerves and sensibilities. With that
comes a feeling OF exhilaratlon and
strength"