Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-02-04
CURLING THE DRUG EVIL.

u 4
II has taken nearly ten years OF con-
slant fighting battling in the dark. op-
[ posing craft and low cunning with de-
termination and just a BIT Of willing
ness 20 fight unfairness unfairly. TO
place upon the statute books the fed
eraI law regulating the traffic in
oplurn. morphine. cocaine and their
derivatives Only those who have
vured the nght. out OF their desires
20 benefit humanity enslaved by the
worst OF vices. viii ever know how
the battle has been fought and the
means that were adopted by the
losers IN an almost insane effort % de-
feat a most Iaudable piece OF legisla-
ton.
Copies OF the new Law, which goes
into effect on March I. 1915. have been
distributed TO a number OF the drug
zists here and viii shortly be placed
ia the hands OF all The copies OF the
law include a report OF the depart
meut % agriculture. naming the de-
rfvatives OF each OF the drugs which
are now being sold as medicine and
provides the exclusion Of these from
public sale as IN the same category
a. the habit forming drugs which the
law D. intended % lift
The law provides that all persons
offering for sale or giving away any
of the drugs or their derivatives shall
be required 20 file their names with
the collector Of internal revenue and
make payments OF 81 year as spe-
cia1 tax
Tie collectors viii require state
meuts nt Intervals from those hand
Iluy the products showing the guam
titles sold or given away by them.
A stan Of expert chemists and
pharmacists viii De added 10 the pres
emit internal revenue corps 10 cope
With possible dodEers 81 the law.
The officials viii De aided BY the Do
lice. who ia most suicide eases or ar
rests % those addicted 20 the use Of
the drugs are able 20 obtain the name
OF the drueEists who sold the product
On each instance where drugs are
sold the new regulations require g reg
istersd physician's prescription The
physician in writing . prescription
calling for the drugs viii be required
20 keep q duplicate copy Of the order. /
The druggist may require persons
receiving the drugs 10 register in a
special book 20 be furnished by the
collectors Office
Sales OF all prepared medicines con- |
tanning more than two grains OF OPT I
I'm. one-eiEhth grin OF heFoin. one
fourth grain OF morphine. one grain OF /
cOdeue or any derivatives thereof must F..
DO registered BY the druggist making /
them
Anything containing less than the 1
above amounts OF the drugs is allow
able. provided II j. sold as medicine !
and without the purpose OF evadlng
the intcHti0ns and provisions OF the
act.
The Law must practically eliminate
the use OF habit forming drugs IN this
country, by reason OF he high penalty
which ~ neutrality-suspicious. for
I've years and q fue OF $4,000. With
svery precautIon taken to trace the
,ale OF the stuff IL will be only a few
Icartered cases. largely users OF
smuEEied drugs. which can hope TO
,scape the law. and those only for n
hort time. Conviction OF a single Of
enso viii be enough 20 practically ,
-uin firazcialiy any druggist. and the !
ADDITIONAL FIVE years imprisonment Is |
TO act as the final deterrent I
o any VINO might be willing 90 risk
he SO 900 fne for the sake OF the i'm !
neuse profit \