Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-03
ALARMING INCREASE
Cocaine Habit Numbers It's
Victims by the Hundreds.
AMONG ALL GLASSES
NO WAY TO STOP THE SALE OF
THE DRUG.
To Urge Upon Congress the Necessity
for Restrictive Legis-
lation.

This case presents additional evidence Of
the necessity Of an asylum for such peo-
ple," were the words spoken from the bench
of the Police Court one day this week by
Judge O'Neal.
The case before him was that of a young
man who was victim OF the cocaine habit.
He was only one of many such persons who
have been before the court recently. There
were scarcely any signs of life about the
young man, and the rosy tint had long ago
disappeared from his cheeks. In his younger
days he had been handsome and the picture
of health, but the continued use of the CO.
caine had brought about a changed condi-
ton, which was SO marked that his rela-
tives who had not seen him for several
years would not have recognized him.
Whats the use?" he asked, when given
an opportunity It, to say something !, IN his own
He was probably right in the assertion
that anything he might say would do him
no good, for the court had become familiar
with his sad condition, and would certainly
not have released MIN. He needed treat
ment, and the judge had made up his mind
that he would do all in his power toward
getting him the treatment After all, he
could only be fined and sent to the hospi
tai in default of payment of the penalty. If
he had had the amount of the fine he could
have purchased his liberty and returned to
his old habits. Fortunately for him, how
ever, he did not have the amount of cash,
and had to go where he would receive treat
ment.
An Alarming Increase.
There has been alarming increase in
the number of dope fends in this city,"
said detective to Star reporter after he
mad heard the remarks of the court. 'At
nrst 1t was the 'soaks' who used whisky
and brandy, and then came the use of
opiates. Laudanum drinkers were numer-
Gus, and then morphine fends came into
the hands of the police. When it became
possible for persons to visit some of the
Chinese dens and hit the pipe many women
and men were added to the already long
list Of victims of dope But when the use
or cocaine became popular with such per-
sons the habit spread more rapidly and
now the population of 'dopers numbers I'D
into the hundreds, if not thousands. There
Is something about the use of cocaine that
makes the habit simple, and the effect Is
such as Is not caused by any other kind of
dope
1T Is the only habit of the kind that has
been contracted to any extent by the col
ored people,, the detective continued.
Down in New Orleans, where SO much CO.
calne Is received from the islands, the COL
ored men on the levees use 1t to an almost
unlimited extent. 1t is now a common prac-
tons of this city. One Of them told me one
day that he used the cocaine because it
drove dull care away and put him on
level with the best people on earth. He ad-
mltted that there always came the drop to
the bottom, and he then felt lower than
McGinty when he took the long tumble
Most OF the people who indulge in such
practices are worthless. and in many in
stances criminals If a man has not done
anything wrong before the habit takes hold
of him he is likely to do something out of
the way afterward.
A Dangerous Drug.
Cocaine is generally taken in powder CT
liquid form, and, it is said, is more danger
GUS than opium and other narcotics And
II Is because of Its dangerous qualities that
something should be done to stop the sale
OF 1t to the poor wretches who have no bet
yer sense than to use 1t. AS the law now
stands 1t is possible for anybody to enter
drug store and make a purchase, without
even having to tell why he wants it. Some
OF the druggists, / am told, even have the
cocaine ALREADY put up in walls which they
sell at 10 cents each. The cocaine bought
In this way Is generally used as snuff and
some of those who have been made to feel
happy by its use shove their powder be-
meath the noses of other people and try to
get them to take a sniff of it. It's high
time something Is being done in the matter
OF preventing the indiscriminate sale of CO.
caine to people, and with proper safe
guards thrown about the sales there will he
fewer people debauched"
Major Sylvester, chief Of police, and DR..
=. ramsey hewitt the coroner. are deeplv
interested in the matter Of the indiscrimi-
hends, and will do all in their power to
nave Congress pass a satisfactory law at
the approaching session. Last year Major
sylvester urged upon the Commissioners
the necessity for the enactment of a law
covering the subject. In his report last
year he said:
To Prevent the Sale.
hoc
crease in the consumption of opium noted
in this jurisdiction, within the past two
years the cocaine habit has taken a firm
hold among the lower classes, and it is
bound to become a destructive agency If
something is not done to prevent its sale
by druggists and others and it's use except
under certain restrictions. Two years ago
tne general use OF cocaine was hardly
grown, and In view of the many lives
which are perhaps being wrecked by the
excessive use OF these drugs, the necessity
Tor prohibition of the sale of cocaine
morphine, choral, and other pharmaceuti.
cal preparations including patented and
registered combinations containing prom
critics of the same kind, except on a pre-
scrlpuon given by licensed physician is
quite apparent.
1T might be we'll in this connection. II
action looking to this end is taken. that
those who prescribe the use of these drups
so for habitual use
Another requirement should be that the
| druggists filling such prescriptions should
| not be allowed to do so unless the holder
| of the same surrender them to the dealers.
who should not be permitted to fill them a
| second time"
| bill covering the subject was intro
| duced in Congress at the last session, and
! its passage at this session will be urged
| by the authorities
| The police are constantly picking up CO.
| caine victims and sending them to the hos
| pitfalls. One man had been taken to a hos
| pital so many times that the doctors be-
| came tired of seeing him and suggested
| that he be sent where he could he kept
| away from cocaine for a few days The
next time the man was arrested he was
| given treatment and then taken to court
as a vagrant. He was put away for two
| months.
| Steamboat Lines Merged.