New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-22
GOVERNMENT RESTRICTS
COCAINE TO PHYSICIANS
rood and Drugs Law at Last In
voked to End lndiSCriml-
nate Traffic.
RECESSION FROM M'AD00
vrerv Sale Hereafter Must Be
PIT on Record, with Sworn
Statement as to
Object.
~ RAYMOND W. Pullman.

By RAYMOND W. Pullman.
washington. June 21.-Seven years
....- IFS enactment the federal food and
-rzs law has just been invoked TO put an
..s+o The ind.scriminate and promiscuous
30. NJ cocaine. now ranking as perhaps
.,. most ins.d.ols and dangerous Of habit
..-~tBg drugs Hereafter every sale Of
.,.s,De or coca leaves. however small,
.-t,.b IS made iu this country will be put
81. record with an affidavit as 10 the pur-
.,ss ~ its use. Iu this manner the ma
..,,s, government has effected a means Of
,.vrlatins the supply So that in the tut
ne the dru- cannot De- obtained except in
,.gtirnate medical practice.
The army rt victims scattered over the
,.r.-sd states who are said 10 be addicted
=, .bs use of cocaine flake is estimat-
y, n number between 100000 and -50,-
,ta For several years the amount Of
,,,aine used in this country has exceeded
10000 ounces. which is estimated by
oorsrnment drug experts 10 be about ten
times the quantity needed in bona fide
medical practice
The governments new plan which has
,.., adopted % regulate the cocaine sup
Nv ls simplicity itself All OF the drug
rsss in this country is imported usually
e. the form OF coca officials Of the De-
-.rtment Of Agriculture have called 10 the
,,.sr.ion Of the Secretary Of the Treas
rrv the section of the pure food and
drugs law which prohibits the importa-
,fo- 7f any drug OF drug product which
is dangerous o. the health of the people
~ The United states The Secretary Of
,ss Treasury. after investigation, has just
handed down the decision which upholds
,ts contention ~ the Bureau of Chem
is--v experts that the food and drugs law
il fts present form IS applicable TO the
rsgulation Of the Illicit cocaine traffic.
Every Importer Responsible,
The Treasury Department has sent 70
The collectors o. customs at all ports in
s,ructions and COPY Of the affidavit
which every importer Of coca and cocaine
Kill have 20 make and which the importer
will have % demand from every person
receiving the drug. down 20 the ultimate
consumer. These afidavits and books of
record will be open AZ all times 10 govern
ment inspection and any dealer who
makes a false entry will be liable 10
prosecution for perjury under the laws
Of the United states.
The person receiving the coca or cocaine
must swear that the shipment or quantity
purchased is intended IN good faith for
Use in a manner not dangerous 70 the
health Of the people Of the United States,
and thar he will keep. or have kept COM
ple,e records Of the drug. and will secure
from each and every person, firm or cor
Toration 20 whom the goods shall be sold
ID whole or in part a similar declaration
90 which the purchaser has 10 swear.
These declarations will be kept on file
for a period Of not less than three years.
This decision is the outcome of a fight
o. more than five years for a regulation
20 control the drug traffic in the United
States the most serious phase Of which
perhaps is the irdlsc~imnate sale and use
Of cocaine and its derivatives This fight
10 end the Illicit use OF cocaine was be
gun by Dr. Harvey w. Wiley. while chief
o. the Bureau of Chemistry. and mis- lieu
tenant. Dr. Lyman i. Keller. who for
many years has been chief Of the drug
division Of the Bureau Of Chemistry. Dur.
ing previous administrations IL was not
possible 70 apply the food and drugs act
% the regulation % cocaine, former So
hcltor George P. McCabe having held that
The law did not apply to the control OF the
illicit traffic.
This adverse decision was made not
Wtastanding the fact that the original law
,soA.5ited the importation Of any drug
Product into this country which was
'adu;erated or misbranded within the
meaning Of the pure food and drugs act,
O. otherwise dangerous 10 the health Of
me people Of the United States" Prac-
tcally all cocaine used in this country is
Imported from South America and Java
% the form OF coca. and IL is generally
Known by laymen as well as medical and
hospital authorities that its indiscriminate
use Is dangerous 70 health. The present
solicitor Of the Department Of Agricult-
IRE Francis G Caftey reversed the Nc
Cabe opinion.
Victory After Long Fight.
The new regulation is a triumph for the
S-caNed progressives who have been
Identified with the pure food and drug
movement These men have insisted upon
ne laws rigid enforcement and its APP
in
q he people Of the country is menaced
because Of the reimbursement or Of the
consideration Of any section Of the law as
dead letter.
Inc men sharing in the achievement
"lieh makes possible the checking Of the
solse Of a drug which is valuable in
surgical practice, but which makes slaves
o. the people that form a habit Of using
- include Dr. Wiley DR.. L. +. Kebler.
" Carl L. Alsberg, Dr. WHey's successor
y me Bureau OF Chemistry. who support
y 'ae request for a Treasury regulation
-'eh would apply the pure food and
-ss law 70 cocaine and coca importa-
N1a and Solicitor Caffey. who furnished
~ original decision which convinced the
-'e4sury Department officials OF the APP
s'-allon Of the present law 10 cocaine.
a. Halstead chief Of the customs di-
oh OF the Treasury Department also
large part Of the work in shaping
we decision 10 control the cocaine traf-
The Bureau Of Chemistry men have
81 me support Of Secretary Houston and
,'stant Secretary Galloway throughout
~s Aght leading up to the Treasury de-
me enforcement OF the food and drugs