Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-07-06
FLOODED
WITH LOUD PROTESTS
PHYSICIANS AND DENTISTS OBJ.
JEcT TO CLAUSE IN
OPIUM BILL.
IN MEASURE
FRAUGhT WITH DANGER
While Prohibiting Administration Of
Morphine by Doctors and Dentists,
Pending Bill Permits Dispensing and
Satisfactory Amend
ments Probable.
Especial Correspondence


Washing ton, July 6.-Telesrams and
letters from physicians and dentists In
every part of the country are pouring
in on the senate by the thousand. They
refer to the opium bill and voice OBJ
jections to certain features of that
measure. Senators are about convinced
the complaints Of the doctors and dem
tists will have to be regarded and the
bill amended. The democratic leaders
do not want to win the enmity Of that
numerous element of the public and
hence change in the bill Is likely.
The bill is intended to provide for
the registration Of persons dealing in
opium or other narcotics. The house
has passed it ana it is on the senate
calendar. That calendar is so crowded
that it may rot pass this session.
Still few night sessions might clear
the calendar UP and in that event the
opium bill would be considered and.
perhaps disposed Of.
The bill as passed by the house
would have prevented administration
OF morphine. cocaine and kindred drugs
by physicians or dentists, but would
not have prevented such drugs from
oeing dispensed or distributed by ply
sicianS or dentists. This means that
under the house bill the physician
could not give a hypodermic injection
of morphine or dentist use cocaine or
similar preparation on the gums OF
a patient.
Stirs Up Protest.
This hass TIRED upp rotest among
the medical men and dentists. Senator
Nelson, OF Minnesota, has prepared an
amendment TO allow dentists or physi-
clans to administer the drugs in ques-
ton. This is satisfactory to the med
zeal men and the caretakers Of teeth.
but Senator Nelson has also proposed
another amendment. This is not 50
satisfactory TO them. 1t provides that
every physician, dentist or veterinary
surgeon must keep list of the names
and addresses Of all persons TO whom
ne admin isttrs the narcotics IN private
practice. He must give the date OF
zach administration and the names
and addresses must be preserved for
Two years and be accessible TO inspec-
ton by an agent of the treasury de-
Eartment.
Tab on Dope Fiends.
This would enable the government to
know the intimate details OF profess
sional practice 1t would enable the
government 10 know all the dope
fields The doctors and dentists say
they would have to hire secretaries or
bookkeepers and so they are up in
arms about it and this accounts for the
flood Of protesting kilograms already
mentioned.
Just what Will come of the proposed
legislation is not certain, but it is ex-
pected the bill will be made less OBJ
jectionabre 20 the dental and medical
faternities than it now Is or would be
with the Nelson amendments added.
Or the other hand. there is sentiment
IN congress in favor of placing severe
restrictions about the use of habit
forming drugs by physicians and dem
lists who are practically responsible
to no body. The bill is likely to cause
a good deal of debate when considered.
One of the clauses of the bill to
which the dentists are Directing ex-
empts from registration the sale OF
drugs by a dealer on prescription OF
a physician or dentist. But the dem
lists object that they do not write pre-
scriptions and that unless they can
order instead of prescribe" they will
be una BILE to assist patients In the pur-
chase Of the drugs