The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-01
BOYLAN DRUG LAW
BECOMES EFFECTIVE
Restrictions Apply to Users as
Well as Sellers From
Midnight On.
BLANKS FAIL TO ARRIVE
Physicians May Be Unable to
Issue Statutory Prescrip-
tons To-day.

The Boylan drug law, which went into
effect at midnight last night. applies not
only to persons who sell drugs but to per-
sons who use them. II has been the comment
Of physicians that extreme cruelty toward
many who have unconsciously fallen into
the habit Of using drugs will result unless
the city or State makes some provisions
for the treatment Of innocent drug victims.
State Senator John J. Boylsn is the
author Of the act. although Mrs. W. X.
Vanderbilt and Z. X. Coulter led active
agitation which induced the Legislature
to pass a law for the purpose Of curbing
what was recognized to be an alarming
evil.
The new law provides that II shall he un-
lawful for any person to have drugs in his
possession without authority. No physician.
dentist or veterinarian may issue prescrip-
tions for drugs unless he has satisfied him
self by phys cal examination OF the appli
cant that drugs are needed for the treat
ment Of disease. injury or deformity.
To prevent the forging OF prescription
blanks. every doctor signing one must afilx
a record Of his name in full. his ONCE address.
ONCE hours and telephone number, together
with the name. age and address Of the per-
son to whom the prescription Is issued.
A prescription can be used only once and
must be used within ten days Of its issuance.
II Ia now unlawful for any person to I'LL
prescription without FIRST verifying its
authenticity by telephone or otherwise.
II is unlawful for any person TO have drugs
| in his possession without authority. Any
dealer or physician found guilty of br eaking
the new law is liable to pro, ecution for mis-
demeanor. and his license will be revoked
upon conviction.
The general effect OF the new law will be
that drug users cannot obtain supplies from
physicians or dealers. The law Will fall
most heavily, IL IL said. upon large numbers
| of men and women who have been in the
] habit of obtaining prescriptions from ply
sicians who recognized that the drug users
would be In grave danger without their GUS
tomary supply.
The Health Department announced yes
terday that il had not yet received from the
State the 10000 prescription blanks which
physicians will have to Ill out before any
one can obtain a drug under the present
statute.
Lieut. Herle, assisted by Detectives
Quain and Capputo arrested seven per-
sons in ia and l16 East 105th street last
night in connection with the raids against
the traffic In cocaine and heroin.
Four persons were arrested on the
charge OF possessing and selling cocaine.
They are Thomas Brancato. 20 years old.
of 3s4 East 1920 street John Durante. 81.
| 900 East 103d street: Caesar Ruffilla. 81.
1893 Third avenue. and Marie Reilly, 10.
| ia East 105th street.
Florence La Sale, II years old, OF 90s
| Third avenue, who was found in rear
room of l16 East 105th street, was hello as
a material witness. while John Gozsola,
| II, 319 Fast l06th street, and Joseph
Bertucci. II, 313 East 1o6th street. were
held on charge OF abduction and as
sault
The girl gave the name Of Burke at
first, but finally ADMITTED her name was
La Sale She said she had met Gozzola
and Bertucci at North Beach on Sunday
night and had been led to the rooms where
| the police found her; that when she
wished to leave she had been frightened
into remaining there.