The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-03-15
COCAINE HABIT
HELPlEsSVEsS
OF VICTIMS
Use of the Deadly Drug
Said TO be Increasing in
clarksburg

The use Of cocaine is one Of the
Iperils confronting the country at
large. An investigation will reveal
Ithe fact that the sale Of this deadly
drug is increasing in Clarksbnrg.
Men, boys and women are contract
| ing the habit and when the first
step is taken very few are able to
lresist it. When the habit once gets
firm hold upon the victim it leads
him quickly to a life of crime and
degradation. Since Judge lynch
has been on the bench he has on
several occasions alluded to cases
where the convicted prisoner began
his downward course when he com-
meneed to take cocaine. Its sale has
been prohibited in Illinois and re-
Istrictions are being placed upon the
handling of the drug in other states.
This is a matter the West Virginia
legislature at its next session should
thoroughly investigate.
Medically, cocaine is the alkaloid
derived from coco leaves. In its
lcrystallized form it is pure white
land flaky, and when used is crush
ed to powder and snuffed into the
nostrils. Another method is to use
a solution which is hypodermically
| Injected in the same way as NOR
lphine.
1t is also taken internally. and
whichever the mode, the result is the
same unusual stimulating effect in
the early stages of the habit and
powerful recuperating power when
the victim has so far succumbed to
| its use that it is absolutely necessary.
When snuffed, the powder is general
| " laid over the thumb on the left
hand, and it is not unusual to sec
/ habitual cocaine users with large
sores on this spot from the effects of
the drug penetrating the skin.
Some catarrh cures are notorious
subterfuges to satisfy the craving
for the narcotic.
To use morphine in satisfactory
form requires a syringe, to smoke
opium requires room where one
may sleep, hasheesh is hard to obtain
but for cocaine one needs neither
syringe nor room. and there is but
little difficulty in obtaining the stuff.
All that is necessary for any one to
indulge in this habit is ssthe price. /"
This may mean any sum of money
from 10 cents up. Ten cents will
secure enough ''flake" to serve for
two or three hours of enjoyment,
provided the user has not developed
a strong taste for the drug. Twenty
five cents pays for a small box full
of the drug, sufficient to last any one
for day, and for a dollar one can
secure enough of the stuff to furnish
a complete orgy of drugging. even
a child can use it." and to the shame
of druggists and saloon keepers in
many places, it must be said that
they do.
One Of the worst features Of CO.
caine is that the fiends constantly
urge Others to use il. The opium
fiend, the lrasheesh victim, the NOR
phine sufferer warn all Others
against the drugs that have ruined
them, but the cocaine fiend seems
anxious at all times to convert Others
to the use of this most horrible az
|"dopes."
1t is no difficult task to hunt them
lout once one has learned the trade.
marks of the "fend.s : The yellow
whitcness Of the face, the down.
drawn, stupid mouth, the perpetual.
ly elevated eyebrows and the ssdopy'
look in the ewes readily distinguish,
Ithem from all other prisoners. The
lcigarette stunts and mental and
physical powers Of the bow or youth
the dope cares NOT whether its victim
lis Young or old. half grown or ma
ture.
| In the larger cities the situation
is still worse: That 10000 Chi.
leogoans are afflicted with the cocain.
habit is the statement made by or
foundations which have been fighting
1.-THE Cooke" evil for wears and thess
admit, losing ground an the time,