New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-26
Victims Mutter In Vain.
Big Money in Cures,
Says Jersey Doctor
By HERMAN LAUE.

New Jersey is becoming famous for
its drug cures. One old doctor in Jer-
sey City, seeing the signs of the times,
purposes TO do his share in alleyl-
ating the distress of the dope ilend.
He is well known in the neighborhood.
In fact, the house he had altered for
use as q sanatOrium he had lived IN
for almost a lifetime. Knowing what
a demand had suddenly been created
for the "cure," he had spent 5000
in making renovatiOns.
"See, we are conveniently located!
There is the tube to Manhattan only
few blocks off. OF course, ! expect
that many Of my patients will come
from across the river" he said.
"What suggested the idea 20 you
asked Assemblyman Ostram, who had
accompanied me on this trip.
ITS hard TO say, but, you see,
had this old house on my hands, and
| had been reading so much about
these poor devils who have been cut
off from their supply of drug that l
Just felt there was need for a place
where they could come to be perma-
nently cured" he said.
We were taken TO the top floor Of
three story brick double-decker tene-
ment house. 1t had been originally
built to house four families, but the
old doctor had his own ideas about
room. He showed US the sixteen
rooms which he intended using for
more than one hundred victims taking
his cure.
Cure in the Slums.
The building is in the slum section
of Iersev Citv. All about the neigh
borhood was the odor of ill-smelllng
rooms. Men and women with children
could be seen on the stoops of the
tenements they occupied. Even the
sanatorium bore traces OF what 1t was
before the painter and carpenter had
started their work.
The cellar was low--less than six
feet overhead room. 1t was damp, but
n cement floor had just been laid
"This is for the young boys who are
addicted and wish TO take the cure"
said the promoter of the sanatorium.
"You see we can easily accommodate
the Young fellows and give them lots
of sunshine and fresh air"
could not see it that way. The
collar was not fit for a human being
10 live in. and 10 think of crowdlng
into II fifty youths suffering from dis
ease and the drug habit combined was
unbelievable. but said nothing.
"Come into my Office and let US talk
this over" said the doctor.
"Now, gentlemen, what do you think
Of it?" he asked. Isn't 1t an ideal
Mace? We have all the facilities. Look
Of how convenient we are to Manhat-
tan. and then, toe, my long experience
in treating nervous troubles will be
of vast ssistance.'
A Business Proposal.
Gentlemen, this place of mine has
cost me $4,000 to put in shape. | know
nothing about finance, but do know
il has cost me lot of money. Do you
think il will be a go? he went on.
Assemblyman Ostram explained that
he knew nothing about the profit In
curing the drug habit.
"You know | should like to have
some one in with me. Three or four
of US could manage it a whole lot bet
tor. Would you like 70 consider it?'
the doctor asked.
We were astounded at the sudden
business proposal. In fact, had It not
been that the man seemed deadly in
earnest we might have felt he was jok-
ing. Evidently not, for he began again
TO extol the virtues Of the place and It's
many advantages, but his offer did not
appeal and the Assemblyman so in
formed him.
| knew that Assemblyman Ostram
was the father of the bill curbing drug
selling in New Jersey. | felt subtle
feeler had been put out 20 learn II he
could be Preached" but | was a
stranger and, although with the As
semblyman. could not see why doc
tor should make what could be
looked upon as questionable pro-
posal. even though on the face of 1t
perfectly proper.
Plenty of Drugs.
Before we left the old doctor ex-
plaired that his idea was TO cure the
habit By a gradual reduction of the
drug each time a bottle OF medicine
was exhausted.
Running a sanatorium would make
il necessary for you 10 buy opium or
morphine in large quantities, wouldn't
il >" he was asked.
"Yes."
you could consistently carry a