Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-04-26
Medical Society to Probe
The Alarming Increase In
Drug Traffic in Omaha
Dr. G. A. Angus of State Medical Association to Present
Situation at Meeting in May = County Attorney
Says He Has Not Received One Single Report From
Any Omaha Physician on Narcotics.

There were three outstanding fea-
lures yesterday in the inquiry into
the alarming increase in the drug
traffic in Omaha.
The first and most important was
the statement of DR.. G. A. Angus,
member of the State Medical So
ciety, that he would present the
situation to the Eclectic society as
ISOLATION of Nebraska at its meeting
in Lincoln in May.
The second was the statement of
County Attorney Shotwell, that he
had not since he had been in Office
received one single report from any
Omaha physician, making an official
record of his transaction in the use
of narcotics as prescribed to patients
as is required by the state law.
The third was the statement Of
Norie Felton,, who is being held in
the Red Oak, Ia, Jail, to the effect
that the opium found in his cell yes
terday came from this city. Fen
ton told the sheriff he had been get
ting the drug from woman, who
was a member of the gang of dope
peddlers operating here.
Great Quantities in Omaha.
II shall take the matter up with
the Eclectic Medical Association of
Nebraska" which meets next month
in Lincoln" said DR.. Angus. "The
question also will receive the at
tention of the National Eclectic
Medical association, which meets in
Chicago in June" continued the
physician. Most Of the dope which
is being peddled in Omaha I be-
lieve is being moonshined in Mex
leo. ! am positive there are. quanti-
ties of this character of stuff here.
1t is being peddled daily on the
streets and the peddlers are grow
ing holder and holder. A man whom
l had never seen before approached
me on the street the other day and
offered to sell me some. I looked
at his stuff and noted it had no
government stamp on it. I believe
the fellow had plant of the moon
shine from Mexico"
DR.. Angus declared he knew Of
the Nebraska statute regulating the
sale Of dope to addicts, but he as
serted that it was his impression
that none Of the physicians were at
taching any importance to the law,
since officials were making no ef-
fort to enforce it. 1T has been my
understanding that the federal law
only is being regarded by the Of
hcials in handling the dope situa-
tion," he said.
DR.. E. T. Manning, city health
commissioner, declared he was not
prepared to say that the dope habit
was on the increase in Omaha. "The
fact of the matter is / do not know"
replied DR.. Manning in reply to a
request for an expression on the
subject. The health commissioner
also declared that he was not aware
of the existence of Nebraska
statute making it felony for a
physician to prescribe narcotic drugs
for persons addicted to their use
without rendering a detailed report
OF MS actlOn 10 the county attorney
within five days following the date
of the prescription.
Doesn't Know of Law.
II did not know that there was
such law" said DR.. Manning. "The
federal law is the only remedy
ever have known to be applied to
these cases."
County Attorney Shotwell de-
clared that he had received no such
reports from physicians since he as
sumed the duties of his office.
Dr~G. A. Angus, Douglas block
declared that he believed the i'm
mense increase in the use of dope
recently was due to a great num-
Der of soldiers returning from
Europe having formed the habit over
there, where they were able to gel
it at a low cost and where they
could purchase it without restric.
tons.
Norie Fenton, who is being held
in the Red Oak, Ia, Jail on charge