The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-29
The COCAINE VICE
Many Railroad Wrecks Due to the
Use of the Brain Deaden-
s ing Drug.
Five Chicago Druggists Indicted by
the Grand Jury for It's I'm
"a lawful Sale.
New York Sun Special Service.

Chicago, Jan 29.-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. :"~-,'- 8, s~.-',.-.. r..
Already five druggists who are alleged to
violation Of the law, have been indicted by
the grand jury States Attorney Deneen
has only begun his Investigations.
The use Of the drug is not limited to any
Walls and boxes OF the product of the cocoa
leaves testifies to it's grasp on residents
of fashionable hotels and houses on the
boulevards.;
Wilhelm Rodemann. treasurer OF the
state board of pharmacy, testified before
the grand jury that in his opinion the
many wrecks on the railroads could be
traced to the use of cocaine by the en-
ployes of these companies, and out of this
statement grew the investigation that has
revealed the widespread use Of the drug.
u. Many letters written by wives who
pleaded with druggists to refuse cocaine
to their husbands were presented to the
grand jury by Mr.. Bodemann. Some had
come into the hands of the state board,
and others were written directly to the
states attorney. According to the law
no one can buy cocaine without pre-
scription from a licensed physician, and
under this law the grand jury and the
In one OF the fashionable hotels of Chi
cago is a druggist who sells cocaine to So
ciety women of the. neighborhood, who
purchase it from him in ounce bottles, for
which they are required to pay $40. In
their rooms they saturate bits of cotton
and inhale the fumes until the sensation
of exhilaration and strength comes to
them. This druggists trade from the sale
of cocaine amounts to hundreds Of dol
lars month. -
In Halstead street Is druggist whose
bill for cocaine by wholesale was more
than $500 last month. For a time this
druggist, fearing the prosecution of the
state board. sold cocaine in boxes which
were labeled Natures Own Remedy
and We're said to be compounded by a
company''-which consisted only of the
druggists brother. It 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 pow
tlered and wrapped in scent packages in
small enVelops.
''Give me a nickel's worth of flake p"
is q common expression along the lower
part Of S Clark street and other similar
neighborhoods Morphine and other Opt
ates have given way to the demand for the
more seductive drug.
The state board of pharmacy opposes the
sale of cocaine except for it's legitimate
uses, but when a regularly registered
pharmacist fills the prescription of ply
sician the law allows them to make no
complaint.
MY investiga lions convince me that the
railroad men have become victims Of this
terrible habit said Mr.. Bodemann while
before the grand jury, land many wrecks
that have occurred could be traced to the
use of this drug
Yesterday Mr.. Bodemann went further
and said: T..
Railroad men are not allowed to drink.
They fear to break this rule, for the odor
of liquor would lead to detection So, in
seeking a substitute, many Of them have
BECOME cocaine fcn1s.s, The stuff is easily
carried concealed in their pockets, and
cannot be detected until the user has been
for long time addicted to it. To the
shame OF the profession, the purchase of
Cocaine has almost come to be matter of
having the money with which to pay
for it.
"'rhe effect of cocaine is to deaden the
nerves and sensibilities. With that comes
feeling of exhilarat ton and strength