The Washington times., 1904-09-18

become slaves to its use. Some Of them
come down town at daylight to satisfy
the craving that fortunes them as the
desire for alcohol consumes the habitual
drunkard when he wakes in the morn
ing
Dope Fiend Denied.
there is no sight more horrible than
that Of the drug iend. who Is denied a
purchase of the stimulant ne Graves.
The druggists come 10 know the class.
and can usually tell them even on their
FIRST visit TO the store. Some narcotics
have effect on the eyes either dilating
the pupils OF giving them "A bright APP
pearance. Opium and morphine slaves
have a deathly pale and sallow COM
plexion, with eyes sunk back into the
head.
When one so branded with the evil
dence OF his vice calls for the drug he
is firmly refused. Then 81 is that the
victims pitiable condition Is disclosed.
They viii tell the most artistic lies 20
carry their point
Prescriptions are forged. Sums Of
money as high as 10 and 500 offered as
brides TO the clerks for just enough OF
tho drug TO satisfy Immediate craving.
Wren the druggist persists I'm his re-
fusal. they break down. and cry like
a woman. and beg piteously for mercy.
They tell frankly Of their degenerate
condition. and urge that they are lest
anyhow, and might as well satisfy their
LONGING.
Wanted Pure Cocaine.
While The Times reporter was in ore
| OF the larger stores. n man came in. and.
calling for a prescription blank. wrote
an order for pure cocaine. The man IN
charge took H. looked the man closely in
the face. and said 20 him:
You are not a physician: you are
/ trying to get cocaine for your own use
You know better than TO try such
dodge on me. 7 am going to have lou
arrested for unlicensed practice"
So saying. he came from behind the
counter. walked 10 the door, and pre-
tended 10 look up and down the street
for an officer. The man followed him
and seized the prescription. tearing il
into a thousand pieces. This done he
left tho store.
That man." said the druggist. will
not try the trick again very soon. did
not want 10 have him arrested. In fact
feel sorry for him, but it was neces-
sary 90 Brighten him.
A Frequent Happening.
That IS a common occurrence" he
continued: why. ] have even had them
come i'm and threaten me n refused 10
sell them what they ask.
zone man was here about 4 o'clock one
morning. 1 happened 10 be by myself
/ AT the time. and there We're no custom
ers iu the store. I saw that he was a
| cocaine slave, and refused 20 honor the
/ prescription he rendered me
| leveled IL at my head. swearing that
/ as surely as there was a God above
him he would kin me II I did not give
him cocaine at once. looked past
| him and shouted TO an imaginary po-
/ liceman at the door. He turned to look.
/ and as he did so ] struck him in the
/ head with a heavy weight lying on the
| counter and knocked him out
! 'Of course. we cannot always tell
| when we are dealing with a victim Of
| the cocaine or opium habit Naturally
we are occasionally deceived And
/ then, also, we are sometimes Obliged to
| sell them what they ask for. because
| they present a prescription signed by a.
! responsible physician
| Pity for Poor Wretches.
Some OF the best doctors I'm town
have occasionally taken pity on the
! poor devils and helped them to get their
dope, because they saw their cases were
| hopeless: that they were too far gone
20 reform. There are many times thai
| il is hard for me TO refuse them"
rs the use Of cocaine and morphine
Increasing In Washington" was sked.
Yes, and no. was the answer In
! the twenty-odd years that 1 have been