The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-18
BOYS COCAINE VICTIMS
Its Increasing Consump-
ton Among Newsies.
EFFORT TO CHECK VICE
SO Easily Procured IL Has Brought
About Appalling Conditions
Twenty-Five Cents Worth Lasts
Several Hours--Ordinarily Used
as a Snuff.

Every one knows at a glance the
sharpened features and the alert
eye of the newsboys who dart about
the busy corners OF the city. for tho
type Is unmistakable. There have
recently appeared among them, as
some observing persons have noticed,
many faces of very different ex-
preston. with the features sharp
ened and eyes dulled and sunken
until their appearance is ghastly.
The change is due to the alarming
spread among these newsboys of the
cocaine habit. The victims of the
drug are numbered by the hundreds
among the newsboys alone.
Scarcely day passes without
some case of cocaine poisoning ap-
pearfng in the police courts OF the
large cities, says the New York Her
aid. There have been many cases
recently OF mere boys being picked
mp in the streets or in vacant lots
completely overcome by the drug.
The parents of many of these boys
have appealed to the various re-
formatories to take their children.
every other means having failed.
Tho records at Bellevue Hospital
show that last year there were thir-
teen cases Of insanity and nine cases
Of deirium due to cocaine poison
Ing, not to mention, of course, the
minor cases. The habit especially
Rmong the boys OF the street, Is in
creasing alarmingly. 1t is believed
that never before was the habit so
general in the city. Several deaths
from cocaine poisoning have even
occurred In the open streets.
The spread of the habit is largely
due to the ease with which the drug
may be obtained. Then. again,
the boy who has gained the habit,
as many newsboys will tell you.
dnds little trouble in making con-
vertst Having once enjoyed the
sensation he Is quick to tell the
others about II and urge them to en-
Joy 1t. The cocaine may be bought
Tor few cents In the form either OF
powder or liquid. 1t is usually
bought In twenty-five cent packages,
although smaller quantity, even
ten cents worth Is readily obtainable.
4 quarters worth OF the drug
viii last boy for several hours, and
even make II possible for him, with
mistaken generosity, to lend some to
HIS friends. The drug Is usually
taken by these boys through the nos
Gils. The common practice is to
inhale 1t by means of an ordinary
Qufl toothpick or a straw. A mere
knuff of 1t is sufficient.
uha effect for the first few days.
10 far as outward appearances go,
Is not particularly noticeable. Soon,
hnHever, the eye takes on a perman-
entity clouded appearance; the lines
or The face. always pronounced with
these little fellows become more
1elned, and the whole expression
saems to be looser. As the drug
takes hold the eyes seem to sink
aesper into the head and the fea-
lures are still further sharpened.
fhsre Is accompanying almost q
complete loss Of appitite. and the
Victims quickly lose flesh. In many
cases the weight will be reduced
fully two-thirds within a few weeks.
Afesr . time the body becomes
hfghtful1y emaciated. until the VIC
tim seems little more than skin and
hone.
It has been reported to the police
that ene enterprising New York
druggist has gone SO far as to send
one Of his clerks to peddle the drug
On the street. At another place
packages OF cocaine are tied up, ac-
eording to the boys, in anticipation
x the rush hour which follows the
time when the boys are paid off.
All this IL readily explained by the
fact that the profit on the drug Is
enormous. Many OF the customers
will buy cocaine, dollars worth
st time, and the quantity ex-
changed for dollar is said to cost
but few pennies at most The
frtghtful grip this habit soon gains
upon Its victims. the inevitable crav-
Ing for more of the drug, also serves
10 build up steady as we'll as profit
able trade.
The New York State Board Of
Pharmacy held meetings to discuss
the spreading OF the cocaine habit.
Investigation has satisfied them that
the habit has grown to alarming
proportions. Its victims have been
found to have increased in the Grim
tnai pauper and hospital records OF
practically every city in the State.
At the meeting Of the Board 1t was
decided to prohibit the sale of Co
eaine to any one except on a pre-