New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-06
c. E. Whitney Tells County
Medical Society of Drug
Traffc's Growth.
BIG QUANTITIES SOLD
ON PRESCRIPTION
Ex-Federal Prosecutor faVors
ReguIation-Insists Law Can
Protect Public.

The serious extent of the Illegal traflc
=, drug. IN this city was brought to the
attention OF the County Medical Society
Yesterday by Carl T. Whitney, a former
Assistant United States Attorney VINO
had charge Of the enforcement Of the fed
eral laws against the traffic.
At n recent meeting Of the committees
organized by Ernest x. Coulter. who II
acting as attorney for Mrs. william n
Vanderbilt. sr. in the campaign she Is
conducting against the evil, a MEMBER Oh
the Medical Society intimated that there
would be some opposition on It's part 10
raws setting restrictions on the employ
ment Of drugs by physicians. and infor-
nation has come to Mr.. Coulter from
other sources that opposition might De
expected from the doctors themselves.
In hts address yesterday on The Fr'-
lection OF the Public by the Law MT
Whitney said there were more than
hundred doctors and druggists In TINS CITY
engaged in the drug traffic
Cocaine. opium. morphine and heroin
are sold illegally in appalling quantities
he said. What would you say or DOC
tor who in one calendar month purchased
ON prescription more than $500 worth OF
cocaine and who dealt in opium In sixty
Mound lots? 1t is sales OF this sort OH
prescription which must be prevented
1--WE are undoubtedly face 10 face with
n serious condition, and drastic measures
must be adopted. II was thought the
nrescription law would meet the sltua-
ton but Il has sadly failed. There is
hill now before the Legislature when, 80
far as can see, Will not cure the eHi
which Il was designed 10 meet. Inc
manufacturer who sold Druggist 81"
ounces Of cocaine in two years knew ne
was catering 70 an illegal traffic his
nroat and the fact that he knew there
was no law against Il was his excuse.
INV suggestion IS that the manufacture
and importation be regulated and tna'
only fixed amount Of the dope drugs
can under any circumstances be onereo
FOR sale In the United States Secondly
. that a system Of registration, marking
and recording be used so that II will be
possible TO trace a container from the
| MANUFACTURED 10 tire ui'PNitSNA'
1.-The dispenser should be required 70
show. under fixed penalties, when. where
! 70 whom and in what quantities he dis
pensed the article. AS q surgeons knire
can remove a malignant growth. so can
statutes remove this curse from our ma
ton"
Mr.. Coulter returned from Albany yes
terday. where he went TO consult WIN
members Of the Legislature In the inter-
est of the movement he is conducting as
Mrs. Vanderblt's representative. He was
accompanied by Floyd Wilmot. Assistant
District Attorney.
I'VE found them keen for doing some
thing" he said I'm fact, there Is some
embarrassment in the number OF oilis
proposed. We shall have TO settle upon
some definite policy so as not to confuse
the issue. Our committee will meet at
an early date to decide upon just what
measures it will fight for. Lieutenant
Governor Wagner. Senator MARLBOROUGH
Senator Frawley, majority leader In the
Senate and Assemblyman Smith, minority
leader of the lower house, all said they
would do what they could TO further leg
islation on the subject.
Senator Frawley is backing an espe-