The Detroit times., 1916-03-25


tictsing physician OF San Jose. Cal.
for many years addicted 90 drugs
tells the strange story. OF his life
without reservs-how he won the
battle -
NO. 2i-MIsTAkEs OF NOVEL
ISTS
In The Buckled Bag Mary Rob
erts Rinehart gets "balled up" on
the difference between the cocaine
habit and that OF morphine. The
mystery and dsnouement OF the
story are built around the heroine's
addiction--just cocaine, no morphine
And, according 10 Mrs. Rinehart's ac-
count of II. the said heroine hae
quite a serious time. and rather
long drawn out struggle. getting rid
OF her cocaine habit.
Nov, let me tall Mrs. Rinehart and
all other novelists who have a hank
erfnG for exploiting the drug charao-
ter that had she kept her heroine at
homo and simply have cut OF her CO.
caine supplies the whole thing would
have been over within As hours, but
her morphine addiction would have
remained. and the whole plot OF the
story would have been spoiled.
Now. II she will reconsult the
prototype OF her heroine IN this
story she will find one Of two things
10 be true-that she Is still addicted
10 morphine. or else that the long
battle she fought was against NOR
phine and not against cocaine.
In the detective story Happy
Dust" by Arthur B. Reeve, the pub
lie Is introduced to the nasal method
OF narcotic drug use. This story.
with rs seemingly scientific setting,
would pass with the majority OF the
medical profession as technically
correct. Yet, TO an old drug fend
like me, Mr.. Reeve makes an error
that Is fatal TO the tecbnicality OF
the story.
Mr.. Reeves Happy Dust" Is hero
In. and he Is correct in stating that
It's proper chemical name Is diacetyl-
morphine-ar opium derivative.
But where he makes his mistake Is
in attributing 10 il the power to
instantaneousIy change a hasgard
caricature OF a woman into a pretty.
attractive and vivacious girl MT
Reeve here gives the heroin the po'
tency OF the powder that could
change Mr.. Hyde back to DR.. Jekyll
Now. IL there IL any time when
drug will produce its true physiology
cal effects II Is when administered
10 a subject not habituAted 10 Its
use. have recently made some
physiological tests OF heroin BIZ nasal
Installation. and hrd that ifs Ell
fects are the same as morphine. and
but little quicker than when take
by the stomach. II has the e7m
stimulating effect on the orFe
morphine, but produces non
physical happiness OF coz
Therefore. | suggest to Mr.. Reeve
that, had he mixed little cocain"
With the heroin the young woman
shifted, he would have come nue.
nearer tho Stevenson formula for IN
stantly changing Mr. Hyde into a
DR.. Jekyll.
But il takes Robert ". Chamber
In THE Streets OF Ascalon,' TO BRING
the morphinfst and his cure Up 10
date. This he does in the character
OF Ledwith. and he either knows the
character no better or else Is simply
PLAYING to the popular conception OF
II. He represents Ledwith as eter-
nallv AT i,-taking a shot" This IL
a fairly good picture OK the frequen-
cy OF the coke hend's injections, hut
il will not do for the morphinist'
Chambers goes the limit, however
when he puts Ledwith In a get-weil-
quick sanatorium and brings him on,
IN two weeks Cured" and physical
iy At and inclined 10 engage IN
rough. and-tumble fight.
7 relate this Chambers portrayal
because Il illustrates the popular
error OF mistaking the coke hend $
character for that OF the morphinist.
And. furthermore, because OF tho
false notion II teaches that the NOR
phine habit can be quickly and cas-
lily cured.
opie Reid. the great delineator OF
southern character, gives IA ono
rood and possible morphine story.
FORGET the title, but refer TO the
young man he puts on horseback
ana sends TO the mountains to get