The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-07-07
EVIL SPREADING
ONE NEGRO IN EVERY FOUR
USES COCAINE.
Efforts of Police to Stop the Illegal
Sale of the Poison Have Had Lit

Sale OIL the fOiSOn nave h"u LII
0 tie Effect.
| According to physicians in touch
with the situation in Charleston, the
cocaine habit among the negroes is
spreading to an alarming extent. The
drug, from all accounts, made its
appearance among the denizens of the
under world in Charleston about
twelve years ago, but at that time
was used only by a comparatively
small number acquainted with the
peculiar influence which the pow
der exerts upon the human sys-
tenn. The use of the drug, however,
spread rapidly, first among the
whites, then in Darktown, until now
| it is estimated that one negro in
every four uses cocaine in one form
or another.
The police have at various times
during the last two years attempted
to stamp out the sale Of cocaine,
but apparently without success. Sew
eral persons, charged with selling
The drug without a physicians ce'
tificate, were convicted in the Police
Court and fined heavily for his vio-
lation of the city ordinance. There
is at present pending in the Char
lesion Police Court, the case Of Chas.
Jones, while, alias "Weatherhorn,
charged with selling a box Of CO.
caine to a negro woman on Market
street.
Very often the drug is used in
the shape of solution of the crys-
talline form, mixed with other III
furious ingredients and injected into
the system by means of hypoder-
mic syringe. ; Other habitual users
take it in the form of pills. The
devotee using the syringe method,
in many cases upon examination IS
found to have his arms, legs or
chest covered with one mass
of sores, resulting from the pune
lures made by the needle of the
syringe. These wounds as usual
thing heal up very quickly, but very
often tester and break out, owing
to the unsanitary surroundings In
which the cocaine fiend lives as
general rule. Cases are known in
which cocaine fends died Of lockjaw
and other forms of poisoning, as
direct result of fostering Of the hypo-
dermic syringe pricks covering the
persons of the unfortunate users OF
the drug.
The most popular" and simple
method in vogue of taking the drug
into the system is by snuffing 1t
through the nose. The pure CO.
caine fakes are crushed to powder
in mortar, and retained in this
form. A small quantity OF the stuff
is shaken on the back of the hand
and then inhaled through the nose.
Another method consists OF dissolV-
ing a small quantity of cocaine in a
/, teaspoonsful OF water, and then heat
ing it over d match. The is swal-
lowed.
It has been pretty firmly establish
ed that indulgence in cocaine leads
to physical wreckage. The users OF
the drug claim that dose gives
them courage" sweet dreams,
and a sort of eXuberance OF spirit.
This state lasts from two to four
hours. as rule, but after that wears
off quickly, leaving the victim with
an Unsuitable craving for more OF
the deadly drug. Negroes especially
are very susceptible to the influence
of cocaine and under it's sway will
commit acts from which they would
shrink under normal conditions.
The illegal cocaine trade is car
ried on by three different sets OF
individuals. First, those who pro-
cure it from the large drug centers
of the country in wholesale quantl-
ties; those who sell to agents; and
finally the latter themselves who
dispose of it to the friends. The
profits of the peddler are known 10
be considerable. a vial of cocaine
which sells at 81, is made up into
as many as three dozen boxes, each
containing enough of the drug for
two or three small doses. The boxes
sell at 25 cents each. Not content
with this profit, a majority of the
agents adulterate the pure cocaine
flakes with other drugs and various
harmless powders. Baroric acid is
principally used for this purpose, as
it is snow white and therefore in
visible unless detected by the eye
of an expert chemist.
Very small boxes have recently
made their appearance on the mar
ket. which are offered for sale at
price of Is cents. 1t has leaked
out, however, that the fiends refuse
to buy them because of the fact that
the contents are mostly ingredients
other than cocaine, thereby giving
the buyer none Of that sensation
which he Graves with might and soul.
Nineteen Persons Killed.