The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-03-17
Law TO
CURB DRUG HABIT
New York Man, Who Studies
Effects, Tells Of Evil.
ExONERATESTHE PHYSICIANS
Clergyman Declares Cocaine Can Be
Bought as Easily as Ice Cream and
Asserts That All States Should Have
Uniform Laws-Telis of Effect of
Drug on Victims.

Drug on Victims.
New York.-"There is only one way
TO put an end to the cocaine traffic in
the United States, and that is to pass
n comprehensive federal law which
will regulate the sale not only of the
harmful and obnoxious cocaine, but all
drugs and narcotics that have vitiat-
ing qualities said the Rev. James
t. Curry of st. James Roman Cotholic
church when asked for his views on
the war on habit forming drugs.
Father Curry became interested III
the fight on cocaine nine years ago, and
he has been lighting it ever since. He
is familiar with every phase of the
matter.
1T is a matter that the federal gov
eminent must deal with sooner or
LATER" he said. The widespread use
OF drugs, which Is running the lives of
thousands OF men and women in this
country and, most important of all,
lives of thousands of boys and girls,
makes it incumbent on the officials in
Washington to take cogniZance of this
serious matter. The time for procras-
tination is past, and we must get quick
| action.
mo individual state can successfully
combat the evil. For instance, if New
York state passes drastic law regu-
lating the sale of drugs it will be a
simple matter for INSCRIPTIONS sellers
of the drug to obtain their supply in
| New Jersey or another state
On some sides | have heard phySi-
| clans of this city criticised for filling
! prescriptions which enable the bearers
/ to obtain supplies of cocaine Reputa-
/ BILE physicians are striving to lessen
/ this evil 10 the best of their ability
Il do think the wholesale drug
/ houses are responsible for the spread
1 Of this evil AS an example of how
/ easy 1t is to obtain cocaine and other
/ harmful drugs from wholesale houses
/ an acquaintance of mine recently in
| formed me that he could get as much
! of the drug as he wanted without au
! order from physician or anybody
else was SO surprised that | re
4 nuested him to make the effort
''EIe made out n list and mailed il to
drug house and asked for prices In
Guided in the list was cocaine. In 4
few days he received the list with the
prices filled in. and. checking off some
Of the drugs, including cocaine. he re-
mailed the list. Net long after that
the goods We're deliSered, and the Co
caine was in the order. Ii was as
easy as buying ice cream.
1T was in 1905 that | first took UP
the cudgels against the sellers of co
caine. | noticed sailors drifting over
from the Bowery and patronizinS q
certain druggist. Before entering the
store these men seemed to be down
hearted and Respondent. but coming
out their manner had undergone Il
change They appeared 10 be ANNA i
ed and Gleefui. cut up capers and seem
Ell pleased with everything in general.
Il saw one of them sniff cocaine one
day | succeeded in obtaining some of
the drug and sent it to the board Of
health for analysis. 1t was found "a
be 800 per cent cocaine Subsequent
iy the druggist was forced to close w
Laws that exist are not comprehen
Sive enough. Some new drug springs
up from time to time. and the present
laws do not affect its sale ! propose
that a law be passed that will cover
not only The drugs now regulated. but
also new drugs that may come into ez
, istence. \ law can be so worded rs {,
embrace the new drugs. and there vii
be no need for further legislation along
that line.
Some persons have asked me wher,
the cocaine habit originally came from
1t is hard question to answer, but
really think that it came from thu
West Indies | imagine that the Negro
help on ships from the West Indies
brought the habit to New York year
ago