The Irish standard., 1917-12-01
new YORK SPECIALIST
DISCUSSES :. DOPE EVIL
Continued from page y


compound, manufacture, salt, deriva-
tive or preparation thereof to regis
ter with the Internal Revenue Depart
ment, and pay an annual tax of 81. In
other words, the Harrison Act is es-
sentially a revenue measure and the
mere user of drugs who has the drug
in his possession and who has failed
to register and pay the tax cannot be
reached under this act.
These habit-forming drugs include
opium, morphine, heroin and cocaine.
Opium is the juice obtained from the
unripe poppy seed which is cultivated
in Turkey, Persia, China and India. In
commerce it appears as dark brown
gummy substance, very complex in ma
ture. Its activity is due to it's content
of alkaloids (about 81 of them), the
chief one being known as morphine
which is present to the extent of 6 to
% per cent. Herein is compound
derivative of morphine. Both heroin
and morphine appear as white crystal
I, line powders. Cocaine is a white
crystalline powder which is extracted
from the leaves of the coca plant found
in South American countries, chiefly
Chilli, Peru and Bolivia. All of these
drugs have their legitimate purpose in
medicinal preparations, opium being
used in the form of paregoric, lauda-
mum, Dovers' powders, ETC., to relieve
pain or alleviate dysentery. Morphine
is used to relieve pain, heroin is en-
,>1o to-, oo%I o,,l
cocaine is used largely by the dental
profession as local anaesthetic.
CAS- regards their action upon the
system these drugs may be divided in
to two classes: Opium, heroin and
morphine affect the nervous system
and produce stupor. They diminish
the secretions of the body and produce
constipation. Ordinarily they act in
three stages: G) Excitement, in
which the intellect and imagination are
stimulated. (2) Narcosis, in which
there is a tendency to sleep. (3) Co.
ma, in which the addict becomes pale
and is covered with clammy sweat.
After the action has ceased the per-
son is dull and restless. Cocaine, on
the other hand, stimulates the mental
faculties and produces great increase
in body power; it is for this reason
that prize-fghters, race-horses and BIZ
cycle-riders are often 'doped' with CO.
caine. All care and sorrow are for
gotten while the user is under the in
fluence of this drug. There is no ten
dency to sleep as is the case with
opium and it frequently produces in
somnia. After the effects of the drug
wear away, complete collapse is eX-
perienced, both physical and mental.
These drugs are known as habit
forming drugs, because they give a
soothing, and stimulating effect at
first, and the user turns again to them
when needed. Then time comes
when the pleasurable effect ceases and
in order to obtain the same effect
again the dose must be increased. AS
tolerance for the drug increases
craving for an increased quantity is
experienced. The cumulative effect of
continued doses produces habit. The
habit may be formed through the use
of prescriptions. observation-disclosures or
criminal associations.
Opium is invariably smoked in an
opium pipe, whereas morphine is in
jected into the system by means of a
hypodermic syringe. Herein and CO.
caine are shifted through the nose. and
it is customary for several addicts to
indulge together and make up coke
parties at which they take the happy
dust or SNOW as they term these
latter drugs.
"These drugs are ordinarily obtain
ed from the underworld through illicit
means. Herein. e. g., has been export
ed from the United States to Canada.
Mexico and Cuba and then struggled
back into Detroit, Buffalo and New
Orleans. The drug vendors send their
agents among groups or gangs OF
young men, instruct them to make
friends, and start them on the habit.
Needless to say the victims become
regular customers. Janitors, barten.