New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-26
CITY WILL HELP
CURB DRUG EVIL
The Assistant Corporation
Counsel Joins in Move tor
More Effective Laws.
TO PRESS PASSAGE
OF BILL AT ALBANY
Suggestion That Medical Experts
Draft Restrictive Measure at
Yesterdays Conference.

Frrest x Coulter. who is acting as
attorney for Mrs. william Is. Nanderol|
e. In tho state and national war against
bab,t-forming drugs was in consultation
Yesterday AZ the Bar Association Win
Edward j. McGoldrick, Assistant Corpora
ion Counsel in charge OF city legislauon
a. Albany They discussed at length 'he
formulation Of amendments 10 eNsuhs
avs against the indiscriminate use Oh
sruss that shall provide more stringent
prohibitions against the abuse ana also
make enforcement Of the laws more ei-
,ective.
My. McGoldrick said that he would CO.
onerate for this end in whatever way ne
could lie advised Mr. Coulter to have
medical experts draft law when
should he couched IN such general terms
that II would insure the prohibition or
all dnds Of abuses IN the use Of dele
te-ious drugs Of all sorts.
The special weakness IN the present
laws which Mr.. Coulter believes should
be corrected IS that. IN the opinion OF
some magistrates. they DO not specihcaI-
" prohibit the indiscriminate use OF
hayoin with the result that IL is the
praotice IN Manhattan 70 discharge per
cons arrested in drug cases If they can
nrove that they had nothing but heron
IN their possession. MIR. MoGoldrlck tolu
Mr.. Coulter II he would furnish the draft
~ law that should correct this weak
ness b. would see TO having Il cast in
proper legal form and would press its
passage at Albany
Discuss Boylan Bill.
In their conference they also took M
the consideration of Senate bill No. 90
introduced on January 10 by Senator
Roylan. This bill provides FOR system
of numbered official blanks on which
prescriptions must be written. and on
which druggists must keep A record OF
their sales and purchases Of drugs so
that exact tabs can be kept on the move
rnent Of drugs A further restriction Is
placed upon physicians. In that IL pro-
hihits the administration by them OF
narcotic drugs beyond the danger point
in hahit-forming periods without con-
sultaton with a physician designated by
The department Of Health.
n also restricts the sale of hypodermic
svringes end needles 10 physicians pre-
scriutions In the case Of those addicted
10 the use OF drugs it gives 10 magistrates
the authority TO commit 10 public insttu-
tons for treatment such persons. and
makes the administration OF medical nelp
10 them compulsory upon the authorities.
Tie nnsl provision OF the bill is that
any physician, registered nurse, veteri-
marian or pharmacist who has the drug
habit shall he made Ineligible 10 practise
MS profession.
Charles r Towns. who conducts sana-
torum for drug victims al No 1l9 West
slst street, issued yesterday a statement
90 favor Of this bill lie said that the
chief weakness OF present laws is that
there is nothing in them TO forbid lay
man from posing as a physician. signing
false prescription with any name he
NAV like, with the magic letters NJ. D.
sdded 10 it," and obtaining any drug he
wants
Points to United States Failure.
M. Coulter yesterday received a com
municaton from Or. Hamilton Wright,
American delegate n the International
OPIUM conference NJ ne tldstt -dS'
July. pointing out the failure Of the
United States to take any action against
the drug evil for the last four years
Animated by the example Of the fed
-rai government Or. Wright wrote,
thirty states have improved state legis-
ation aimed Al con1ning narcotics to Ie-
Ultimate uses. but since February Q, 1902.
10 further decided Congressional action
has been taken, and the United States is
now In the position. after receiving the
cordial cooperation Of twelve powers, Of
being far behind in the movement"
Speaking OF the response from all direc-
tons that has come 10 Mrs. Vanderbilt s
hrht against the drug evil. MI Coulter
said Il don't sec how the patent medi-
cine people and others who have an in
terest IN combating efforts at stamping
out the evil can have the effrontery now
TO fight our efforts. in the face Of the
storm OF public opinion in favor of more
stringent laws We intend 10 make them
fight in the open. II they want 10 fight,
and VIII see that they are shown up in
their true light