New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-26
Physicians and Druggists
Fall Into Net Set by
Harrison Law.
TREASURY OFFICERS
CAPTURE PEDLERS
Many Thefts Reported by Deal
ers, Whose Stocks Have Been
Depleted by Victims.

Washington, July %. Some evil
dence Of the effort being made by the
government to enforce the Harrison
narcotic drug act is shown by the fact
that the number of physicians and
DRUGGISTS so far arrested for alleged
valuations of it's provisions has reached
into the thousands" declared DR.. b. X:
Rhees. of the Anti-Nsrcotlc Bureau OF
the Treasury Department, to-day.
1--WE are contending with two great
nroblems in enforcing the law" the
doctor continued. zone is the physician
who will write a prescription when
there is no necessity for his so doing,
and the other is the druggist who sells
without the proper prescription. Most
Of the arrests have been from these
two classes Of violators Of the law,
though. Of course, some pedlers OF the
drug have been apprehended.
"Under the present conditions, now
ever, every pedler must get his supply
from some source over which we keep
n watch, so that is a phase Of the work
which can finally be checked up, though
not. Of course, Immediately in all cases.
One Of the principal troubles now IS
that prior to March !, when the law
went into effect, a number of druggists
stocked up with morphine sulphate, CO
caine and other forbidden drugs, and
then failed TO enter them all on their
inventory. In such cases, of course,
unless we can get the goods on them,
they may dispose of large quantities Of
the drugs at fabulous profits through
selling to persons who have no pre-
scriptions, and perhaps even to pedlers.
Thefts of Drugs Reported.
"Another great trouble in safeguard
ing the public has been the frequent
thefts of large quantities Of the drugs
from drug stores. Some Of the most
amazing tales Of robbery are given this
bureau by druggists in explaining the
absence Of the drugs without the
proper number Of prescriptions to show
for them All we can do in such cases,
even if we suspect that the robberies
were not bona fide, is 10 force the
druggist TO make affidavit to his story
of the robbery, and then TO consult the
police to see if such a robbery was re-
ported.
But there is no question OF ,Ie
genuineness of a number of the rob
berries. Drug iends who cannot get
enough Of the drug to satisfy their
cravings from regular physicians Will
resort TO any plan on earth TO satiate
their jangling nerves. One story that
was told 20 our inspectors was Of
man who bought a bandage, and then
asked permission TO 20 back Of the
prescription counter TO put 1t on. He
had first inquired if the other clerk
was about. and had been told he was
not Another man. presumably an ac-
complete. entered the drug store while
the first man was trying on his ban
dage
"A little later the first man emerged
from the prescription counter. said he
did not like the bandage, and did not
want to take it, but he would leave
the money anyhow, and walked out.
The druggist. in thinking thl; over.
suspected a frame-up TO rob his store.
and told his clerk to put all the mar
cotics i'm the safe. particularly a large
bottle Of morphine sulphate. A search
showed that 20 was gone, and the
bandage purchaser is believed to have
walked out with it concealed under his
coat.
Violations Easily Traced.
1--WE are working the druggists
against the physicians in the hope of
checking up those who do not seek to
comply with the spirit Of the law. The
druggist can tell, by the size of the