New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-11
Believes Strict Enforcement of
Law Will Prevent Abuse of
Drug and Decrease
Its RavageS.
VICTORY FOR THE TRIBUNE
Measure Introduced After Raw
ages Among Thousands of
New Workers Were Dis
closed-D ,tails of
the Bill.
LRy Telegraph 70 The Tribune l

10y A'4'EtdiA4 " lff IIlDuut
Albany, May lO-Governor Sulzer to-
day signed the Walker bill to prevent
the indiscriminate sale of cocaine,
which was drafted by Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Delehanty and Judge
Swami. following disclosures made 10y
The Tribune Of the ravages caused by
this drug among thousands of people in
New York City. Father Curry was one
of its most enthusiastic advocates, and
appeared at hearings in Albany in
favor of II. While the most noted ply
sicians and medical societies supported
il, a certain coterie of doctors, who
thought 1t was TOO restrictive, and in
terests behind asthma cures contain
ing cocaine. bitterly opposed the meas
ure.
1t was only through persistent and
hard work on the part of the intro
ducer Assemblyman Walker. Speaker
Smith and Senator Wagner that IL
finally got through both houses Of the
Legislature on the last day of the ses-
sion. Conditions exposed by The Trib-
une are largely responsible for the en-
actment of the measure.
In signing the measure Governor
Sulzer gave out the following memo
randum:
This is good bill and makes il H.
legal to possess cocaine in any mixture
or compound without certificate from,
a physician, unless the possessor is a
manufacturer, dentist or veterinary
surgeon, and these may possess Il only
under strict limitations.
The bill provides that cocaine may
be prescribed by physician for a pa
tent only in the form OF an ointment
or solution containing a limited per-
centage Of the drug.
"A strict enforcement Of this anti
cocaine law will prevent an abuse OF
this terrible drug. and have a tendency
greatly to decrease the ravages OF the
cocaine evil in this state.
THE bill is In the interests of the
general welfa re, a reform in the right
direction. and meets with my sincere
approval"
The strongest opposition To the bill
came from the manufacturers anu
users Of n certain asthma cure, made
In Ohio. II contained larger percent
allnNJ a
under the bill. 1t was found that
many of the most prominent people m
the state found relief in the medicine.
and some Of them declared that they
would be obliged To get out Of the state
during the hay fever season If they
could not get il. Those behind the bill.
however. refused to accept an amend
ment which would exclude this medi-
cine from its provisions. but In the last
days Of the session they agreed 10 an
amendment which would protect the
users. 1t provided that they could get
from a regular physician a prescrip-
ton for the medicine. and that tie
physician could write on the prescrip-
ton that its use could continue any
length Of time he deemed fit
The bill as finally amended provides
that "A licensed pharmacist or druggist
can sell cocaine only on the prescrip-
ton Of a licensed physician. II the pre-
scription contains more than | per cent
OF cocaine the druggist must first verify
IL from the physician issuing II. a
copy of the prescription can only be
made II II contains not more than one
grain Of the drug to each fluid ounce
and not more than two grains in the
case OF an ointment. The persons to
whom such a prescription Is sold is TO
receive a certificate showing the name
and address Of the druggist and Of the
physician. The possession of such a
certificate is TO be a defence 10 possi-
bic charge Of misdemeanor. The pa
tient can possess this prescription not
more than ten days. unless the pre-
scription has written on II statement
by the physician that its use Is neces-
sary for a longer period, 10 be named
in such statement. This provision is
the one that was inserted for the
asthma sufferers.
Manufacturers can sell the substance
To other manufacturers in sealed and
labelled packages. and complete
record must be kept Of each sale. Other
sales by man Ifacturers can only be
made TO licensed pharmacists, drug
gists. practising physicians. veteri-
narians or dentists. In labelled and
sealed packages, and records Of these
sales must also be kept These records
are to be open at all times for inspec-
ton by officers or authorized agents Of
the state or local boards Of health. the
New York Board of Pharmacy and by
the police authorities. and must be pre-
served for five years.
Felony to Sell Cocaine.
The new law makes 1t felony for
a person TO sell or dispose OF cocaine
or substances containing the drug In
violation Of It's provisions. Possession
of the drug by any person other than
those permitted to possess 1t under the
law. except with the proper certificate.
10 a misdemr 1nor. II Is made a mis-
demeanor for those PERMITTED To sell