The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-14
Stern Drug Measures
Draw Much Criticism
Humanitarian Way---Dr Ernest S. Bishop
Tells of His Methods

TIME status OF the drug addict, espe-
cia1ly II he be In the higher walks
OF ire Is the subject of controversy
among physicians and officials in various
parts Of the country, as shown by the COM
ment which followed the publication of an
article on addiction In a recent Sunday num-
Der OF THE NEW YoaK HERALD.
The stern repressive measures adopted in
some quarters have put the addict in a class
with drug habitues OF the underworld. There
are many or che half degenerate type, both
men and women, who are registered in the
various cities, and still there remains large
class who give little evidence of their plight
to the casual observer.
Sin or Disease?
The question which is considered in these
days rs drug addiction sin or a dsease?"
has started a new line of thought. both in
the medical profession and among sociolo-
gists, Shall the ultimate cure of the addict,
if he can always be cured, rest upon restraint
in some public institution or hospital, or is
it possible for him to be treated day by day
by his own physician?
Much opposition has been raised toward
the disqualification method, in that 1t tends
to make public the condition of addicts who
might in different circumstances have con-
cealed their unfortunate plight from their
friends and their business associates and
gradually restored themselves to their place
in society. Rather than submit themselves
to the inquisitorial methods, which are fol-
lowed in some localities, addicts purchase
their supplies of habit forming and system
destroying drugs from the pedlers in the
streets.
Clinics, which are given to the so-called
ambulatory method of treatment are being
closed throughout the country a result of
the disseminating Of the one in New York
city, which was undertaken by the Board
OF Health. The newspapers of California
and of the Pacific slope generally are filled
with accounts of the operations of rings
of narcotic smugglers and merchants The
closing of the Los Angeles drug clinic is
given by the proponents of the more liberal
treatment of the drug addict as an example
of the way in which the Illicit traffic in
drugs is continued
Fighting the Drug Pedler.
The reports of the Police Department of
this city indicate that the suppression of the
peders in drugs is one of the hardest prob
lens which confront both that department
and the Internal Revenue Service.
THE many laws and regulations govern
ing the sale, use and distribution of narcot-
on this subject, especially prepared at the
request OF THE New YoRK HERALD, "particu-
larly those that governed the wholesale
druggist, retail druggist, jobber and physi-
clan, have shown their effectiveness by elm
mating the many abuses and frauds former
ly existing among this class of business men.
Due to the pressure Of these measures, as
enforced by the Narcotic Squad the evil has
made its appearance in the form Of Illicit
Of he
city. Vigorous measures are continually be-
ing applied to suppress the traffic in the
streets and they have resulted up to date in
the arrest of seventy-three street distribu-
ters and sellers from the first of the year.
No sooner are the principals in these cases
arrested than their places are filled shortly
afterwards by others who continue the same
practice"
Acting Captain scherb, after summarizing
the sources from which the supplies of mar
cotics are received in this city. says that,
despite all the physical efforts and precau-
tons being undertaken by city and State
authorities, these efforts are made more or
less Intellectual by the continuous SNUG
Cling OF narcotics from foreign countries
He suggests that an international agreement
be reached under which there may be gen.
eral suppression Of the drug traffic
As II is evident that, despite the vigilance
suppress. the tendency In some quarters is
toward giving the medical profession a
greater latitude in the administration Of
drugs. The question has arisen us II not
better that addicts. who are struggling 10
riH themselves Of the habit. should be more
unrer the control Of a profession Of high
v-als than under the power Of drug ped
lere7"
The recent indictment Of DR. Ernest s.
Bishop a well known practitioner on the
charge that he violated the Harrison law.
has caused q storm Of protest He is the
author of the widely known work. "The Mar
cotic Drug Problem" and has given much
attention 20 all forms OF drug addiction
The House of Delegates OF the Illinois
State Medical Society recently adopted reso-
lutiuns condemning the arrest of Dr. Bishop
in good set terms. To quote the resolu-
tons:
Whereas Il has been at all times very
evident TO those who have watched the
operations OF a certain coterie Of New York
doctors that the theory that Dr. Bishop
propounded would make enemies That he
was bound TO tread on a number OF NOR
tenary corns In this connection we would
like 10 ask why he has been badgered IN
season and out OF season by threats from
high places TO get him, II he persisted IN
nouting his views that drug addiction is
disease.
Whereas We believe that the arrest OF
Dr. Bishop was mistake. and that II the
law violated at all the violation was
purely technical. and not intentional:
therefore. he Il
w. ri