Evening star., 1916-12-10
DEALS WITH EVILS
OF THE DRUG HABIT.
District Pharmacy Inspector
Recommends That the Har-
rison Law Be Amended. :
FILES HIS ANNUAL REPORT

As a result Of the decision of the
Supreme Court Of the United States in
June last, applied to person having
drugs in his possession. physicians are
bolder in prescribing for addicts. and the
drug peddler, invariably an addict. 10 get
ting his supplies under the guise Of
seeking treatment for the drug addic-
tion." according to r. A. Sanders.
pharmacy inspector. in his annual report
to Maj. Pullman.
THE Supreme Court held that the act
was a registration and revenue act. not a
police measure, and that the general
words any person did not mean any
person in the United States, but must be
confined to the class of persons with
whom the act previously had been pur-
porting to deal. In other words, per-
son who does not import, dispense. man
ufacture, deal in. produce, or distribute
the drugs cannot be convicted of violat-
ing the Harrison law merely because he
has possession of some of the drugs"
the report contin 1es.
I Effect CLEARLY Visible"
THE effect of the decision is already
clearly visible" the report states. 1T is
alarming to note the terrible evils Of the
drug habit, and almost impossible to
estimate it's enormous proportions. as 1t
Is fostered in secrecy. and its RESPONSE
bility for a large portion of the crimes
against the community. The illegal
traffic and use of narcotic drugs cannot
be eradicated by the mere regulation or
prevention of open sales. The very es-
| sence of it is secrecy. and 1t Is only by
arbitrary measures that We may hope to
cope with the situation.
Inspector Sanders and Harry Evans, his
! assistant, are devoting much OF their
| time to the investigation of cases IN
volving the sale and use Of narcotics oy
so-called dope fiends." Shortly after the
Harrison drug law became effective. II
is stated, there was a marked decrease
in the quantities Of narcotics used oy
addicts. Many of them managed to get
supplies, however. and number OF prose-
cutions were successfully conducted.
Inspector Sanders Report.
In the report Of his work Inspector
Sanders presented statistics showing the
| number of cases investigated. number OF
arrests made and giving other informa-
| ton of value to the department.
I'VE were gradually cutting down the
nefarious traffic and use OF these drugs.
stated the inspector in the report. but
were dealt a hard blow in the decision OF
the United States Supreme Court sustain
ing the action Of the United State court
for the western district Of Pennsylvania
| in Quashing an indictment under section
| 8 of this law against jim Fluey Moy, on
| the ground that the statute did not apply
| to the case. The real effectiveness OF
the law Is much restricted by this de-
cision.
/ The inspector recommends that Con-
gress be asked to enact local law
! that will cover the alleged shortcom-
inRs of the Harrison act. suggesting q
maximum penalty of a fine Of $4,000 or
five years Imprisonment or both. In
the discretion OF The court.
Troubles Of rae Inspector.
Continuing, the report says:
1--WE have experienced much trouble
with persons who claim to be chirop-
odists, chiropractors. mechano. thera-
pists, osteopaths and other similar oc-
| cupations which are not regulated by
law nor have standing in the medical
profession. 1t is true that they do not
| profess to prescribe medicine. but they
do practice many branches Of the med
ical science. and we have convicted sew
eral of them for overstepping their
bounds by slipping in little medicine
and surgery occasionally.
| They establish themselves on promi-
nent avenues and streets in well appoint
ed offices. put up alluring signs win
Doctor preceding their names. all of
which inspires confidence. too often mis-
placed. on the part of the sufferer apply
ing for treatment. as 1t is possible for any
person without knowledge Of medicine
or any of its branches. to pursue the
same course if he is able to At up an
| office.
All of the within mentioned practices
are good in certain cases. when applied
| scientifically.
Every person before attempting to
| practice should be required to pass an
examination measuring up to an estab-
| Ished standard by the board Of medical
| supervisors Of the District Of Columbia
| As our present law does not regulate this
| 1 recommend that the law regulating tho
practice of medicine be amended. making
| it unlawful for any person to attempt to
| or treat another person in any Of the
branches of medicine or surgery or in any
disease. injury or deformity. for a fee.
| gift or consideration of any kind or pro-
Tossing SO to do. without a license from