The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-05-09

of the ''coke" habit, stole an overcoat and carried 1t to this druggist, where he received in exchange S1 worth Of "coke. Cocaine, as 1t IS retailed,, costs s4 an ounce, the price being prohibitive to many of the drug victims in the poor classes, and to overcome this the ingenious druggists prepare mixture of pure cocaine and cheaper drugs of the worst class and sell it at a reduced price, say % cents vial.
 Morphine is more popular among the higher class of drug victims. Because of its price and because of the fact that it is taken either as a powder on the tongue, washed down with water, or by injection. both methods inducing nausea, 1t is not popular with the masses. Opium is used to some extent by all classes in Boston, but, so far as is known, there are fewer dens devoted to this practice than there were a few years ago. A physician who had prac- tlced in Boston for many years died a year ago from the effects of 15 years slavery to the opium habit. He told a friend, an official in on" of the city de- partments, before his death, that he would kill his own brother, if neces- sary, tc get the drug.
 The wife of a man well known in civic life, resident of South Boston, entered drug store in this city re- ! gently and asked for headache cure. The druggist offered one which she re- jeeted, demanding another. The drug gist then told her that it contained cocaine ani warned her against it, de- scrfbing it's deadening effect. That 8 just what 1 want it for-the deadening effect" the woman replied, and in vestiga;ion proved that she was a con- firmed user.
 The effects of "coke" are easily de- tected especially in victims of tender age. It is of course, the sensation that makes the drugs attractive, but the striking fact is that any number ! of boys of the street contract the habit by imitation, just as they contract the cigarette habit, knowing in both eases i that they will become slaves to it, anl to all intents and purposes glorying in { the fact,
 When 1t is first used, cocaine may cause discharges of blood from the nostrils, and habitual use produces ulcers and sores. Not uncommonly the habit, in its advanced forms, is fatal. ani t causes suffering without excep- tion. In the case of a young girl taken to one of the city hospitals some months ago it was discovered that some of the powder had formel in a mass in her head She had been using a syringe to carry the drug high up in her nostrils. When she reached the hospital she was partly paralyzel and mentally numb, but an operation sue 1 ceeded in relieving her to some extent l When under the influence of the drug q victim Is rarely conscious of his ac- tions, His mind wanders and he talks at random, either in effuslve praise ol the drug or in abuse of some person or thing He does not recognize his closest frienl oftentimes, and very of- ten he becomes violent. His head wags 1 aiallessly from side to side, and his eyes bulge out, wide and staring. The victim cannot be induced to take food while under the influence, The drug parches tongue and throat and ahsorbs the saliva, so that his greatest desire is for drink Invariably he takes 1t in the form of intoxicating liquor.
 The matter has heen taken up by the state board of pharmacy and by the state boari of health. Dr. Harrington of the latter beapdthas been collecting l available statistics for some time tc form the basis of report,