The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-10
HOTELS.
INFANT DISEASE
LAID TO OPIATES
Continued from Page One.

few drops OF one Of the killers" The
baby goes 10 sleep, and nine times out
of ten there are no bad effects, but every
now and then one Of them never wakes
up. There are hundreds Of such cases on
record, but they do not often ger into
print.
Prominent doctors agree that even II
the bad effects DO not show. every dose
Of a medicine containing an opiate
weakens the little system and paves the
way for straying disease germs 20 finish
the job.
It is rare that infantile paralysis gets
hold in the winter. the physicians say.
because II is during the hot months that
children fret and 1t is then the soothing
syrup makers reap their golden harvest.
Scores Of little ones. weakened both by
the heat and "doped" medicine. 60 20
tiny graves when the epidemic comes.
Then the blame Is laid upon the disease
and not upon the opiates.
There are 10000 persons IN the United
States addicted 10 drug habits. The num-
Der is increasirF al the rate OF 10000 a
year. and a Dig proportion acquire the
taste through drOsged sleeping potions
given 10 then long before they knew
what an opiate or a choral means
The first dose Of a drug puts the baby
70 sleep, but he wakes up more fretful
and nervous, and another does Is given.
Mothers hate TO see their babies crying.
so the process goes on until baby won't
sleep without its drug and the last
charter Is a small white casket and a
white ribbon on the doorknob.
The medicine makers get big prohts
and quick ones. and though the effect
OF the baby killers is known. few
health officers have the courage 20 take
stand against them, according 10 the
government Investigators. The vested in
terests, it has been found. usually own
stock in such companies, and it IS hard 10
make the authorities act
Following is an extract from Dr.
Kebler'S report:
DeIusion on Bottles.
Lest any suspicion az Tear should be aroused in
the mind q the mother b. the fact that the
presence Of opium. morphine chlorofcun. cannabii
indics, or some other harmful agent is declared
on the label the Manufacturer OF dealer attempts
20 sllay such fear oy statements II the follcwins
character: Mothers need not fear giving TIN.
medicine TO the youngest bahe a. no bad eHects
can come from the use a It,"
Statements Of the follouing character were made
in connection With medicines containing morphine
or opium. cr both before the food aud drugs act
went into effect; This valuable remedy docs no,
contain any opium. morphine. laudanum. Of
psregOric. and 1T is free from harmful agents"
Il Is hardly helieTable that any one for the
sske q q few dollars. would concoct for infant
use peTnicious mixture containing cOcain hu,
several such mixtures have been found during The
last year. One was offered for importation under
he name "Espey's Syrup for Children's Dentition
which contained onehah grain Of cocam HYDRO
Chord 70 each bottle q about one ounce Tn,
injun0usness q this product was a sufficient ground
for prohibiting It's importation into the United
States. Another element Of danger I'm the use Of
soothing syrups Is the fact that nurses often ms,
them. unknown 30 mothers. for putting children
20 sleep. Several well-known soothing Nrups q
is reported have been introduced largely by mrse'
In this manner.
Soothing syrups containing haht-foTming agents
used without discrimination undoubtedly leave thei
impression On the delicate organisms Of infant,
and induce tendencies which under unfortunate
circumstances IN future life may be aroused Il
activity and develop evil habit Of one form
or another. The question arises: How IS thn
condition TO Be metz The signs Of the times
point 70 t=O ways. namely education and tht
withdrawal q the dangerous articles. both measures
appearing 10 be necessary At present there are on
the market intended to be used for children several
mixtures free from the customary habit-formins
agents bat they apparently do not give satisfaction
as formerly. as manufacturers are constantly receiT
ing calls for the 'Od kinds.