The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-11-30
ely" MEN LOOKING
FOR COKE FIENDS.

he took. takes the assertion that the
Chicago police are baked in their eff
forts to put an end to the traffic by
the laxity of the Hammond and Lake
county druggists
Attack on Lax Laws.
In fact an attack was made on the
lax laws of the state and the finger
of shame was unmistakable pointed at
druggists in Hammond who are re-
sponsible for the fact that this city
has become the center of the coke,
traffic in this part Of the country.
The following extracts from the ar
| ticle printed yesterday contain a terri
bic indictment against certain Ham
mond men and against the whole COM
munity for tolerating such a state of
affairs:
Dr. L Blake Baldwin, Chicago city
| physician, estimates that there are
100000 users of coke" in that city
alone.
Pursue an Investigation.
DR.. Baldwin and his assistant DR.
John T. Mahoney. and the chief investi-
| gator Of the city physicians office, De-
tective Harry L Cullett. have been pur-
suing quiet investigation during re-
| cent months friendly with, and stimuli
taneous too. q general inquiry being
made by the state board Of health and
the state board of pharmacy. The re-
port of the findings of this inquiry is
to be made public very shortly, and
win indicate conditions In vogue in
states adjacent TO Illinois where there
are no cocaine laws which Will, at
least, prove surprising.
These investigators, as well as those
| of the police force. have discovered,
| for instance. that when it becomes inn
possible through the most strict vigil
| lance on the part of police and other
| watchers for the habitue to procure the
drug in Chicago, all that is necessary
| is for group Of them-and there is
free masonry among them which us
uaily makes one known to the other
to club together, send one of their
number to Hammond, Ind, and there
procure the flake" In any quantity
desired.
The police are continually on the
watch for peddlers of the, little white
drug. for druggists who sell it and for
so-called doctors who advertise such
remedies as 'sDr. Gary's Catarrh Cure, .
which is said by DR.. Baldwin to be
composed of acetanilid and cocaine in
equal parts.
Local Druggists Prosper.
There is no drug sold which yields a
better profit to the INSCRIPTIONS ven
dor than cocaine. Most of the peddlers
of the drug are themselves victims of
its use. but there are many unscrupu-
lous druggists and doctors whom the
lure of money induces to engage in its
sale. Between the wholesaler and
the eventual seller of the flake" which
is the name by which the paper tablet
selling ordinarily at rs cents. passed
from hand to hand in the street Is
known by the "f1ends," the money in
vested Is multiplied three or fou,
times
The coke" fiend doesn't stagger o,
reel; he walks lightly, with head erect
and Aeyes bright and clear Evers
! faculty is alert; there is nothing o.
Il the drunkard about him. He laughs
he weeps: he tells funny stores. i.
boasts; he tells you his troubles. Hi.
] wit is nimble. His ideas are logical. hi,
tongue is eloquent; he is wide-awakt
! and that is the fatal call of cocaine.
They Cannot Sleep.
Those who are addicted to it canno-
sleep. They whip themselves up to {
point where the human organism can
Z not stand the pace. They go withou
4 rest and think they are wonderful. Ma.
ture cannot make the call for s1ee.
4 or food; the victim imagines himself
in the finest fettle.
Day and night are alike to hirn-o,
her. He does not feel the need of sleep
every faculty is working rhythmicaily
He is ready for anything-hard worl
or amusement or mental effort. He ha.
put all these things behind hin-pain
hunger, fatigue, thirst the desire fol
rest-little reminders of nature tina
our bodies cannot stand everything.
If he is a confirmed "fendr fou'
days finds the reaction setting in
Wherever he is he instantly topple
down into sleep. He sleeps like a deat
man: fire cannon off at his ear ant
he would not wake up. You could rol
him off precipice; it would make ne
difference.