New-York tribune., 1921-10-25
Beer, Wine and
LiquorLegalized
For Medical Use

is unable longer to delay the issuance
of these regulations"
The regulations cover four and a
half closely typewriter pages and
are filed with Administrative techni-
calities. They relate to Intoxicating
malt liquors such as beer, ale, porter,
malt extracts and similar fermented
malt liquors containing onc-half of
per centum or more Of alcohol by
volume" Under them, malt liquors
may be manufactured for medicinal
purposes, physicians may prescribe
them and pharmacists may sell them.
The maximum amount of malt liquors
which may be prescribed at one time
to be taken internally is two and q
half gallons. The amended regulation
covering this question and the amounts
of spirits and wines that can be pre-
scribed follows:
mo prescription may be issued for a
greater quantity of intoxicating liquor
than is necessary for use as a medicine
by the person for whom prescribed in
the treatment of an ailment from which
such patient is known by the physician
to be suffering. Not more than a pint
of spirituous (distilled) liquor to be
taken internally shall be prescribed for
use by the same person within any
period of ten days by one or more ply
sicians. When spirituous (distilled)
liquor is administered to any person
vided in Section II, the aggregate
quantity so administered and the guam
tity prescribed for such person may not
exceed one pint within any period of
ten days.
Two Quarts of Wine
"Not more than pint of alcohol for
external use may be prescribed for
the same patient at one time. Not
more than two quarts Of wine or two
and one-half gallons of Intoxicating
malt liquors to be taken internally shall
be prescribed at one time for use by
the same person. Separate prescrip-
tions shNl be used for spirituous
liquors, wines and malt liquors. Ply
sicians are not permitted to write pre-
scriptions for Intoxicating liquors for
their own use or to use any liquor
procured upon prescriptions issued by
them. Intoxicating liquors procured
by the person for whom prescribed and
may not be sofa or otner~lse o'sposeo
of by them"
Senator Sterling, in charge of the
anti-beer bill in the Senate, as soon
as he learned the regulations were
issued, called Secretary Mellon by tele-
phone from the Senate Republican
cloakroom and protested. Secretary
Mellon replied that he felt impelled
to issue the regulations in accordance
with the existing law in view Of the
pressure for their issuance.
~ greatly regret the regulations are
issued" said Senator Sterling. 81
think it is deplorable. I believe the
Secretary, having waited this long.
could have waited little longer, espe-
that the conference report on the beer
bill will come up in the Senate for
adoption as soon as the tax bill is
out of the road. As matter Of fact,
both houses have expressed themselves
against beer as a medicine, and the
bill is temporarily halted because Of a
question relating to enforcement.
"The issuance of the regulations will
not change my plans with respect to
seeking early enactment of the anti
beer billn
Senator Sterling made it plain he
would force the conference report to
the front in the Senate just as soon as
the tax bill was passed and endeavor to
hold it before the Senate until 1t had
been acted on.
Senator Willis, of Ohio, denounced
the issuance of the regulations as ian
outrage and indefensible." He said
there was an understanding that the
regulations should not issued pending
final action on the beer bill.
~ cannot understand the action of
the Secretary of the Treasury" he said.
"We have the votes to pass the beer
bill and can pass it in about two
weeks. The people will get the i'm
preston that a food of beer is to be
turned loose on the country"
Representative Volstead Of Mime
sofa, author Of the Volstead act, was
almost stunned When told the regu-
lations had been issued, he refused to
belive it and when at last convinced
Of the truth declined to make a state
nent except to say:
"Go and see the Senate. It's mp to
the Senate"
While the dry forces were displeased
over the issue Of the regulations the
opponents Of the anti-beer bill were
pleased. They took the position that
now that the regulations were issued
there was no reason why Congress
should rush through new legislation,
but, on the other hand, should take its
time for mature consideration OF what
ought to be done. Some thought long
delay in the passage of the beer bill
would result.