The Washington herald., 1915-02-28

| ScrlptlOns ana asked II y. M. w0ult
do for the initials. The reporte
agreed. The physician charged 81 TO
these prescriptions-at the rate of 81
cents apiece.
On the third trip the reporter asket
for 100 grains of cocaine. The physi
clan protested that was too much t,
give at one time. that he would b,
taking too much risk. He wrote two
prescriptions. both to fictitious per
I sons. He supplied both names anc
addresses himself. These prescription!
were for thirty grains Of cocaine each
On the reporters fourth visit tho
physician wrote two prescriptions fol
cocaine without protest.
This physician several times ad
! Vised the reporter to stop the cocaine
habit. He told the reporter that CO.
| caine was bad for him. and that IL hi
continued his health and mind would
be affected.
On several occasions the physician
discussed the Federal drug law. He
said II could be violated by the sim
pie process Of telling internal revenue
inspectors that a quantity of a drug
had been stolen or lost. or. in the case
Of cocaine. that it had disintegrated
after being mixed with water.
Strange Medicines Sskxested.
Offers were made by several physi-
clans to treat the reporter for the
stranger machines. Participating
electrical contrivances supposed to
cure all ailments of the human frame
and nervous system. were shown, and
said-in the usual words of the
physicians-to be great stuff
Another physician visited lived in Alex
andria. The reporter failed 10 get pre-
scription. but was given a blow" IF
cocaine and the address of another ply
stefan. The second physician, according
to the first, was some sort of Federal
Inspector
The second physician said. when in
formed OF the object of the reporters
visit:
I'll charge you a dollar to talk to
me-"
The reporter agreed to this. and an ex-
animation was started. The physician
said that he could read the reporters
mind, and that nobody could tell him an
untruth and get by" with it. He called
reporter to him.
His conversation. heard by the reporter
from another room. was a mass OF false
hoods. He told the first physician that
he had thrown the reporter out after
charging him 81 for "expressage." He
continued that the reporter had told him
that the first physician was his regular
doctor, but had been called out of town.
Then he told the first physician that the
reporter was a lineman on a railroad
whatever that is-and had visited MIN
on two former occasions to buy dope"
As a matter of fact the reporter had
never seen either of the two men before
that day.
"Bullied" the Patient.
At the end of the conversation, the
reporter was recalled to the office. The
physician asked him many questions. told
him to raise his arms. and went through
a system Of bullying to find out the
truth. In the end. he decided to give
the reporter a prescription, which, he
said. would help him to stop using CO.
caine. The prescription was valueless. It,
was for 90 grains Of sedatives and eight
grains Of cocaine.
The doctor offered to make another
II that didn't work, and
told the reporter plainly that II he
and said the prescription
was hurting him he would be given
what he wanted. He wanted to make
IN engagement for two days later,
when. he said. he would give the re-
porter his money back II he went !
away unsatlsAed.
This physician did not write the pre-
'cription. but telephoned to drug store |
Ind told the pharmacist there to fill it |
when 1t was applied for. The reporter |
vent to the drug store and had the pre-
'cription filled. He asked what amount |
Il cocaine the prescription called for. He
vas told it called for six grains.
1T was not, II was for eight grains"
he reporter said. The pharmacist raised
he amount without question.
Other dope" doctors visited showed
hat they required only proper cre-
entials before they accepted the re-
'orter as a patient.
In League with DruRkfsts.
Many physicians work in partnership
With dishonest druggists clerks. The
MUSICIAN gives a prescription for dope"
he clerk can be depended on to protect
he physician and II necessary to destroy
he prescription.
One drug clerk has Informed q
Of The Herald that he
,akes His supply Of cocaine from
oca leaves. This man works with
hysieian who has IN office two
locks from the drug store.
''Peddlers' Of drugs-those who sell
rugs without any sort of license and
no take a direct risk-usually trust to
leir own ability to get by" with the
olice. A sale Of a drug means a chance
imprisonment. and they are careful
} know their customers.
There are several fashionab BILE rendez-
Jus for dope fiends'' in the city. That
lere are not more Is due to Pharmacy
lspector r. A. Sanders and Assistant
orporation Counsel Taggart, who have
osed many places.
For months the drug users had as their
.adquarters a poolroom in Tenth street
,rthwest, run under q Club license.
was impossible to find a time when
70 poolroom was bare Of drug users.
he owners, two Of them convicted for
'ddling drugs. were addicts and sales
en-.
where "Fiends' ConEreEate.
The drug users congregated at several
'olrooms in the vicinity of Tenth street
ID Pennsylvania avenue northwest.
ost OF these have been closed and the
st are under espionage.
avenue near Four -and-a-
ALI street northwest was and IL q center
r drug users and their agents who get
Q drugs to sell. From First to Sixth
rect, and In John Marshall place, c
rect and Indiana avenue there are
veral headquarters for drug users.
lere Is gang in the vicinity with
o women members.
Another ''hangout" II in the vicinity
Convention Hall. Here there II a gang
more than nifty drug users, most Of
EN- boys. Members Of all these gangs"
D known to the police, and many of
I'm have served sentences for theft or
bbery.