The Washington herald., 1911-10-08
EOCAINE CALLED WORST OF DRUG HABITS

duty on coacine is $3.50 an ounce; on
coca leaves it is cents pound. Former
ly leaves were on the free list, while
cocaine paid an ad valorum tax that
amounted to something like IS pound.
The Effects of Cocaine.
The annual consumption of cocaine is
estimated al 10000 ounces. The price to
retail druggists fiuctuatss from time to
time. 1t is now about $2.75 for an ounce
of $50 grains. A grain makes an ordinary
dose and is snuffed up the nose or taken
hypOdermically. The effects wear off in
an hOur~or so, and another dose is nee
essary. 1t Is. so far as money Is con-
Cerned, the most expensive of all drug
habits. The users can and do go without
food. drink. or sleep. All sense of shame
van'shes. If the victim can live through
the treatment, change of environment
and an entire taking away of the drug
may effect a cure. Two young men who
were sent to jail for six months for
stealing cocaine claimed their imprison-
ment cured them OF the habit. Contin-
ued use of the drug brings on chronic
catarrh, loss of flesh. and moral, intel
lectual. and physical degeneration.
Cocaine is used in minor surgery
in the treatment of eyes, ears, and
throats and in dentistry that it's man
ufactuTe and sale should not be pro-
hibited. Yet more than half of the
drug consumed in the United States is
sold TO persons who take ii as an in
dulgcnCe. 1t was not employed in any
way twenty-five years ago. The COM
missioner Of police in New York found
that the largest and most reputable re-
tail druggists sell only from one to
three ounces month to physicians and
surgeons.
''On the other hand. he discovered
that BrOOklyn druggist purchased
sixty ounces in twenty days from
wholesale dealer. and that an East
Side druggist purchased siXty-f0ur
ounces in twPnty-jhree days. Obvious
ly. in the instances cited. the New York
law. which prohibits the sale of CO.
Caine except on physicians certificates
was violated. Undoubtedly the traffic
in all the cities Of the United states
can he measured to some extent by the
traffic existing here. There are 200
druggists in New York. ! am sure that
only 4 fraction Of l per cent of them
are selling narcotics prOmiscuously,
but that fraction is diSpOsing OF large
quantities OF cocaine, opium. and NOR
phine secretly, and, Of course. unlaw-
fully.
Sales in Other American cities.
Il have heard that GyO times more
cocaine is consumed in Philadelphia than
is required by physicians. surgeons, and
dentists. The figures for Boston. Chi
cago. and ST. Louis would probably be
just as alarming Cocaine is used by
criminals, negroes. and the inhabitants
of red light districts Dr. Hamilton
| Wright. of the opium commission
truly SAYS that 1t is the most threaten
ing "f the drug habits that has ever
! been introduced into the United States"
How should the different States reg
! ulaJe the traffic I'm cocaine" ] asked.
The manufacturer and wholesale
dealer here are required to keep q rec
ord Of the cocaine they sell, including
the names Of the purchasers. the dates
and amounts Of the purchases and even
! the names Of the clerks who make the
sales. Nor can cocaine he sold except
| dentists Nevert heless, large quantities
are untrace1hle by reason of exports from
! London and Hamburg. have suggested
! therefore. that the tariff On cocaine be
made so high as to be prOhibItory and
! that the American product he placed
under Federal regulation exercised by
! the Commissioner of Internal Revenue.
would put cocaine in the list with whisky
and tobacco. tax IL and thus control il
| to the extent OF knowing the names and
I locations Of all the makers and dealers
! When used in surgery or dentistry,