The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-08
BELIEVE DOPE LAW
IS GOOD MEASURE
DISCUSSED 1T SEE END OF
DOPE TRAFFIC.
DRUGS HARD TO GET
DR.. BOYLE. WHOLE AMBULANCE
EXPERIENCE GAVE KNOWLEDGE
OF METHODS OF ~FIENDs.-
LIKES LAW.

DR.. NJ. l.. Boyle. of sos North
Twenty-fourrh Street, former city
ambulance surgeon. now a prominent
young practicing physician Of the city.
yesterday IN discussing the new drus
law said that despite the incon-
venience to which 1t put doctors and
druggists and the hardship It works
in great many cases. that most Of
the physicians with whom he had
discussed the question are of the opin-
lon that the Harrison anti-narcotic
law. which went into effect March /,
may be very good measure.
At any rate. DR.. Boyle said, It was
believed that strict enforcement Of
the act will put an end to tho indis-
crimtnate sale OF habit -producing
drugs and that eventually dope"
fiends will become very rare In this
country.
| DIR. Boyle during his service az an
ambulance surgeon, running on one
OF the Rmbulances from me city hu~-
pital. had a large and varied ex.
perience vita all Glasses OF such cases
Many dope fends seeking a cure and
others that had been made Ill by over.
doses or long continued use OF drugs
came under his observation and treat
ment. He thus gained q wide knowl-
edge of the effect Of the narcotic
drugs usually used by inveterate dope
fends.
What he has to ~ in reSards TO
me effect Of tho new law with there
fore be OF wide interest. In speak
ing OF the measure he said that II Is
possible to expect too much Of tho
law In it's early stages. A. a matter
Of fact, he said the probabilities arc
that It will be some time before its
effects are highly noticeable.
Requires Inventory Of Drugs.
Il 10 true that the law requires ~,
dealers in and dispensers Of opium
and Its derivatives to make up and
keep on Ale complete inventory OF
all such drugs in their possession on
March 4. However. II Il easy enough
to evade this section OF the law II
one ID willing to commit perjury and
jtaks tho risk.
However, It 10 not believed that any
lone. no matter how clever. can svade
and not take serious chances OF land
ing in . FEDERAL prison. This IL due
to tho fact that reputable houses that
have recently sold large quantities OF
narcotics to drug stores viii Aid the
government in seeing that tho Har.
tTlSUu INV Is not v1Ol0t90.
Oumplote Record Muse l3c Kept.
Every person who sells opium, coca
leaves or their derivatives to another
must keep . record Of the transaction
This means that when q manufacturer
sells such drugs to Q jobber he mus,
record the fact. Then when the Job
Dor sells to dealers he must record
tho sales, and when these dealers sell
to customers on physicianw prescrip.
lions or to physicians or dentists
themselves records must be kept.
!, In this way II will be possible 10,
the Government inspectors to follow
the disposition Of any given quantity
OF a restricted drug from tho time i
leaves tho manufacturer through tt
fts ultimate consumption. no matter
into how many different lots tn,
original order may finally be divid
!; ed.
, Under this method any physician
or dentist purchasing unusually larg,
quantities OF opium or other habit
} forming drugs ts sure to be placet
, under suspicion and eventually I,
como to graef. That, at any rate, 1,
tho opinion OF those who have mad,
careful study Of the Harrison law
Inspectors IN EnfUrce Law.
1t will b the duty Of the agents
and inspectors appointed under tn,
law to visit at irregular Intervals tn,
premises Of all persons registered
under the act. or where they have
reason to believe drugs OF the char
acter defined are stored, and to set
that all requirements of the law are
compiled with.
Druggists report that observance o.
the law IL causing them less incon
venience than they anticipated. In the
nrst place. they say the physicianl
seem to have a pretty thorough
understanding OF the provisions Of thu
act and are quite careful in writins
prescriptions.
In some ways It In believed the Law
will have to be changed before 1t II
altogether workable, but very few
complaints are being heard. All OF
the reputable doctors and druggiats
seem to be prefectly willing to give
the measure a thorough trial before
Icondemning II.