Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-09
SCORES DRUG SALES
Dental Supply Companies Ac-
cused of Selling Narcotics.
CHARGES BY Mr.. HILTON
Says Young Boys Could Obtain Co.
caine and Morphine.
LIVELY DEBATE OVER MATTER.
Branch of A. Phi. A. Endorses Efforts
of Pharmacy Board to Enforce
Law-No Test Case Made.
CHARGES BY Mr.. HILTON
LIVELY DEBATE OVER MATTER.

After hearing charges that some local
dental supply companies had for the past
five years been selling cocaine. morphine
and other narcotics without the knOwl-
edge of the police or the board of phar-
macy, and in manner that left the pub
lie absolutely unprotected, the Washing
ton branch of the American Pharma-
ceutical Association unanimously went on
record last evening. indOrsing the present
efforts of the board of pharmacy to en-
force the anti-narcotic laws of the Dis
trict of Columbia. at a meeting held at
sos / street northwest.
According to the charges made, dental
supply companies have been selling these
drugs in an unrestricted manner until
short time ago, when their alleged I'M
ScrupulouSneSS was discovered in an al
most accidental manner.
One of the specific complaints made was
that a dentist in nearby state had
been supplying narcotics to constant US
ers for the last five years at the rate OF
several hundred dollars worth month.
the narcotics having been obtained from
local dental supply. companies. Under
the law the druggists of this city could
not have sold these drugs to the den
tist it Is said. The dentist kept himself
clear of the law. it was stated. by cross
ing the border lines of one state when
the deputies of the other state were after
him.
Another charge made was that supply
companies had been selling narcotics to
boys sixteen and seventeen years Of age.
and, in fact, to any one who had the
price"
No Test Case Made Yet.
Samuel l.. Hilton, secretary Of the
board of pharmacy of the District, made
most of the charges. and he said the
matter was at present being considered
by the board. Mr.. Hilton declared that
although the board had made complaint
90 District officials February -. no test
case had as yet been made.
1t is said petition has been circulated
among local dentists by supply COM
panies asking their support in having
Congress pass a measure allowing them
to sell the drugs as before in case the Of
ficialS decide against them
spirited debate followed Mr.. Hilton 8
address concerning the sale of narcotics
and poisons by the dental supply COM
panies. All agreed with him that the
sale of narcotics should be stopped i'm
mediately, but the construction Of the
law governing the sale of poisons formed
a splitting point.
Some contended. however, that, mas
much as photograph supply companies
and hardware stores could sell poisons
unrestricted, the dental supply companies
COuIQ tne same. IneSe DOlSOnS which
dental supply companies could sell under
such a construction of the law would
be no different from the same poisons for
sale of which a druggist must make a
record and is in many cases response
bile.
Another point made was that the Dis
trict laws regarding the sale of narcotics
were different from all state laws, mas
much as the board of pharmacy could
only suggest to the police and the Com
m yxrho Oh 1n
officials do not take the matter up, it
was said, nothing could be done.
The members of the association de-
cided to go to the drug farm at
Arlington on the afternoon of May Is.
Subjects discussed in accordance with
the formal program were: The Use
and Advantage of a Restricted Medica,"
by Murray G. Motter; Magma Mag
nesia, New Formula and a Modified
Process" by Samuel L. Hilton, and an
exhibition Of specimens of some of the
new preparations in the Phi. Germ. V,
by Otto Raubenheiner.