The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-05-24

RloHg th1S same line ana indicative
OF the wide extent~of the government 8
plan, the city clinic at Chattanooga
was closed by similar order Friday
and orders were given to the city clinic
az Knoxville Saturday to close. The
Memphis clinic was allowed to operate
Saturday. DR.. Drake being advised to
furnish addicts with only sufficient
drugs to last them until Monday.
Although reports at first asserted
that the closing of the local clinic was
due to efforts to shut off an alleged
source of supply for drug bootleggers,
local Internal Revenue officials. Of the
narcotic division Monday denied this in
no uncertain terms. Memphis revenue
men stated that the local action was
only part of a nation wide move on
the governments part to cut down as
1ar as possible the supply Of drugs in
all cities that are available to drug
users. Local revenue officials were
strong in their declarations that 'if any
city in the nation has had thorough
ly legitimate and straight clinic, Mem
phis is the city"
Revenue officials further stated that
lar physicians henceforth to care for
addicts absolutely dependent upon
drugs but stated that physicians when
appealed to should communicate with
DR.. Drake at the police station and
learn the amounts required in the past
ny tilt duuiGl applying lOI uIukS. lhSg
also stated that the physicians will not
be allowed to issue prescriptions but
will be furnished with sufficient small
amounts Of drugs to care for needs OF
addicts.
The present government plan is to
provide for the older addicts who have
been victims OF the drug habit so long
as to render themselves incurable. The
younger persons who have become ad-
diets, however, face gradual cutting
down of their supply, with a consistent
effort toward final cure. Local revenue
officials stated Monday that the strict
Interpretation of the present narcotic
law, as shown by recent rulings Of the
supreme court, leaves no other course
open.
George Draper state chief Of the mar
cotic division of internal revenue forces,
with headquarters at Nashville, Tenn,
was due to reach Memphis Monday
when he was to advise with local agents
and DR.. Drake. relative to the govern
ments plan.
Local revenue agents stated Monday
that already the government is get
ting concrete evidences Of the success
of the new move. They asserted that
addicts are already leaving Memphis
in good numbers and that the boot
logger is being apprehended in larger
numbers. One official declared that
almost a score of bootleggers Of mar
two months and that with the closing
of the city clinic, federal agents will be
able to better trace these vendors of
drugs and bring them to justice.
A material increase in petty crime is
foreseen by police officials as result
OF United States orders closing the po-
lice station drug clinic. Police Chief
Joe Burney Monday declared that a
majority Of the addicts now were en-
ployed and had secured from the clinic
enough of the drug to satisfy their
cravings. With the exorbitant prices
which bootleggers charge, the chief
thinks, the addict will resort to any
means to secure money for the drug.
The clinic distributed to about 300
addicts. OF these $50 were daily visi-
tors, some came every other day and
a few weekly. The range of morphine
the only drug issued by DR., Drake, was
from one grain to eight grains. The
average, he said, was three grains. For
this the city charged five cents grain.
The city first started selling morphine
on Oct. /, 1919. Up to that time pre-
scriptions had been issued for the
amount DR.. Drake thought the appli-
cant was in need Of, The clinic first
was onened - months ago.