That cocaine has been used as a stimulant for many centuries is evidenced by the finding of it in bags suspended from the necks of mummies. With it, are frequently found gourds containing lime, this having been used with the leaves to set free their alkaloid, just as the people of India use lime with betel nuts.

In these later days, cocaine is mixed with different alcoholic liquors to secure the effects desired by certain classes.

A mixture of cocaine and gin is greatly favored by the negroes, and from its effects on the unfortunate consumer, might be "the bottled lightning" of Mrs. Nickleby's sweetheart. This drink is also favored by young "bloods" who keep it for parties where the guests are restricted in number, but usually unselect.

Rum and cocaine, are compounded into a drink known as the soldier's cocktail because of its popularity among addicted men. Its effects are similar to that of the undelectable drink called "moonshine," the intoxication being one of such absolute completeness as to bring it well within the scope of the definitional poem,

"Not drunk is he that from the floor
Can rise again and still drink more;
But drunk is he who prostrate lies
Without the help to drink or rise."

The admixture of cocaine and alcohol—ah well, the less said about it the better.

The ingredients of these drinks are not here related with the idea of enlightening the public as to concoctions, but solely that it may be warned of the highly discomposing properties in what may be offered as a mere "friendly glass." Sometimes, after a hard day's work it seems to us that half the trouble in the world comes from this very cause.

Mr. W. E. Safford, the Economic Botanist of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in the Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institute of 1916, has written on the narcotic plants and stimulants of the ancient Americans and has suggested that investigations be made into these less known narcotics in order to determine the nature of their properties, looking to their utilization as substitutes for others now recognized in the standard pharmacopoeias.

Mr. Safford has summarized their principal narcotic plants and stimulants as tobacco, cacao, guarana, cohoba, peyotl, yerba mate, ololiuhqui, jimson weed, cocoa, aya-huasca, huaca-cachu, and the red bean. He says these were used in ceremonials, in divination, and in medicine by the Indians, and often carried as amulets to insure success in the chase and in warfare.

Among these the jimson, or Jamestown weed, (Datura stramonium) is notable as having intoxicated the British soldiers sent in 1676 to quell the uprising known as Bacon's rebellion. Robert Beverly tells of its effects on the soldiers in his History and Present State of Virginia (1705). "One would blow up a Feather in the Air; another would dart Straws at it with much fury, and another stark naked was sitting up in a Corner like a monkey, grinning and making mows at them; a Fourth would fondly kiss and paw his Companions, and snear in their faces with a countenance more antick than in any Dutch Droll. In this frantick condition they were confined lest they should in their folly destroy themselves; though it was observed, that all their actions were full of Innocence and good Nature."

Of late, there has been a good deal said of a mysterious drug which was a positive cure for addiction, this being the drug which produces "the twilight sleep," used sometimes in childbirth. Under its influence, the patient remains in a stupefied condition for several days.

It is not regarded as successful in curing drug addiction, its use being attended with danger, although, in the immediate withdrawal cure, it is sometimes indicated to "mask the symptoms" during the first day or two of the treatment, the effect being that of an hypnotic. It is known to chemists and physicians as scopolamin hybrobromate, but to the public as hyoscine.

Hyoscine is used in producing sleep in cases of acute mania, and as an adjunct to, or substitute for ordinary anaesthetics, where the operation is likely to be prolonged.

During the present year, tests of its effects on criminals have been demonstrated. The claim is made that, when injected into the blood, its mental effect is to produce paralysis of the imagination thus rendering the patient incapable of telling anything but the truth. The physicians have accordingly dubbed it, "the truth serum."

Recently at Dallas, Texas, some of the prisoners at the jail submitted themselves voluntarily for the experiment in the presence of the prison officials, physicians and District Attorney Maury Hughes.

"Did you rob Guy's pharmacy?" was asked of a prisoner under its influence.

"No, I don't even know where it is."

This prisoner, although sentenced to prison for the robbery, had always maintained his innocence.

"Who robbed the Hondo Bank?" the District Attorney asked.

The prisoner gave the names of five men. While conscious he had refused to give this information.

Another drug sometimes used in treating the narcotic habit is known as dionin. This drug is the salts morphine and is an odorless, white, or nearly white crystalline powder, possessing a bitter taste. It is also useful in the treatment of consumption, bronchitis and eye affections.

In Carolina, Virginia, and other of the Southern States, the negroes are given to the chewing of camphor gum. It has the effect of speeding the heart's action.

Copenhagen snuff is also used by the "tar heelers" of North Carolina but, for that matter, its use is fairly general in all parts of the continent. It is prepared from strong tobacco treated with bromides.

In the lumber woods where men are full-blooded and desire "an effect," they have been known to snuff it, taste it, and inject it into a vein all at the same time. The snuff has an unpleasant odor, burns the end of the tongue, and tastes like salted perfume.

Heroin, a German preparation of morphine, may also be snuffed up the nostrils usually by means of a quill or a nail file. It is three times stronger than morphine and is designated as "hell-dust" or "the powder of destruction."

Speaking of the different drugs, Judge Cornelius F. Collins has said, "Heroin is undoubtedly the most pernicious, both as to the number of its victims and the difficulty of overcoming its ravages."

Heroin is one of those artificial energies that are destructive of the natural so that its user becomes indolent and unemployable. Like the men described by Plautus, "He dreams awake."

Mrs. Mulhal states that, "Once the habit is established, interest is lost in work. The addicts become late and irregular in their hours of work and finally throw up their positions … In its most vicious phases, the power of dispensing this much prized drug is one of the surest ways for a 'Fagin' to hold his pupils, or a white-slaver to maintain his control over his prey."

Heroin orgies are frequent because the drug gives "a rear" or "thrill" sooner than opium. One of its effects is to destroy the memory. Under its thrall, he becomes "a clot of passions fierce and blind."

In dealing with the problems of drug addiction in this volume, we have endeavored to suggest the remedy appropriate to each as it arose.

Reaching the concluding chapters, there comes to us suggestions and recommendations which have not been made, or made but vaguely. We venture modestly to suggest a few for the consideration of our readers. Some of these have already been tried in different parts of America with marked success; others have not been so successful, but none have failed entirely. All are open to improvement and to adaptation.

… In the United States, co-operation between the federal, state, and city authorities in the enforcement of narcotic laws is much more pronounced than in Canada.

The American Federal Law is known as the Harrison Narcotic Act, but each State has its own special enactments covering the various phases of the traffic.

In Canada, our Federal law is known as the Opium and Drugs Act. With the exception of Manitoba, none of the Provinces have passed narcotic laws of their own. And yet, without a doubt, if we are to deal with the traffic effectively, the Opium and Drugs Act must be followed up in the several provinces by uniform laws in harmony with and supplemental to this Act.

This is particularly required in the control of medical abuse of narcotic drugs, the provinces possessing the power to revoke the license to practise medicine, dentistry or for veterinary practice.

To this end, there should be appointed a Committee on Uniform Provincial Narcotic Laws which should co-operate with committees representing the pharmaceutical associations, and the professions above named. Provincial laws should be submitted to the Federal Government before being promulgated in order to eliminate unnecessary duplication of records, and so that they may not in any way conflict.

No time should be lost in the forming of these committees if we are to believe that celerity means double strokes in warfare. It has been pointed out recently by the Department of Health at Ottawa, that they are not attempting to supercede the work of the provincial and municipal authorities in the enforcement of the Opium and Drugs Act, but only endeavoring to assist them in stamping out this drug traffic which, during the past fourteen years, has gained such a tremendous foothold in Canada.

This seems a good place to point out that since the Department of Health was established two or three years ago, the officers have persistently and fearlessly brought the matter to the notice of the people in an effort to stamp out the traffic and have taken whatever steps deemed practical to its control. For this, they deserve the highest commendation.

One of these officials writing a day or two ago said, "When the Department of Health began to administer the Opium and Drugs Act, it was never dreamed that this traffic had such a large foothold in many of the smaller towns and cities throughout the Dominion, but it was the general impression that the traffic was confined to larger cities, which impression was, of course, altogether wrong, as experience has since proven."

Continuing he says—and perhaps all workers whether official or non-official will underscore his words—"What we need more than any other thing in dealing effectively with this drug menace is co-operation. It matters not who actually does the work of arresting the individual concerned, or secures the conviction, so long as it is done, but until we can bring about this spirit which is so much to be desired, it is almost impossible to do good work ... It is a far bigger question than most of the lay minds have any conception of, and can only be dealt with in a practical way by those who have an intimate knowledge of the traffic and the class of people connected with it. I would again emphasize that the only practical way of dealing with this drug-menace in Canada, if it can be stamped out within a reasonable time (and it can be done) is by CO-OPERATION."

In the provinces, there should be a Narcotic Division of the Department of Health even as there is federally, and this Division should be given broad powers in controlling drug addiction in order that amendatory legislation might not be necessary at every session of parliament.

In the United States arrangements are made for the giving of lectures and the disseminating of general propaganda concerning the drug evil. Local leagues are also being formed. This is a work which devolves upon the States, as in Canada it would devolve upon the Provinces.

In framing remedial measures, we need more rigid enactments—laws with teeth in them—for the handling of addicts.

In taking this stand, we are well aware that we draw upon ourselves a storm of criticism, and possibly of invective. There were days when we would have joined in such an outcry ourselves, but stern experiences have led us to form other conclusions on the subject. Our change of opinion is not that we desire to see punishment inflicted for the sake of punishment, but because we look to the extermination of the traffic. That is a wise text the Buddhists preach, "First observe the man; then preach the law."

While it is necessary to deal with the source of supply—viz.: with the producers, manufacturers, drug Rings, pedlars, and illicit dealers generally—it is equally true that we must deal with the consumer.

So long as there is an addict craving sleep-producing drugs, or drugs with "a thrill"—crying for them, and offering any price—so long will there be found graceless and greedy persons ready to exploit their need. In securing supplies an addict is one who has pre-eminently the quality of keeping on against the odds and of ultimately winning out.

In dealing with the traffic, all half measures must be eliminated. No quarter can be given to any participants whatsoever.

Our Governments are unable to stay, under present conditions and present laws, the ocean of opium and other drugs with which we have become inundated and frankly acknowledge the fact. Anyone who studies the subject must also acknowledge the prodigious difficulties which the Governments have to encounter in dealing with the illicit trade, or what is known as "the underground traffic," and themselves to cast about for an idea which may lead to a solution of the difficulty. It is a subject upon which all of us should strop our brains with a desire to assist our representatives in parliament.

Having declared this, permit us to say that if the Government cannot stay materially the inrush of inhibited drugs; cannot stay the operations of the Rings, and only to a small degree those of the pedlars it must, therefore, lay strong hands upon the traffic in the courts when it appears in the person of the consumer.

What actually happens is the immediate granting of bail to the consumer, thereby giving him time to warn the pedlar. Or if bail be unprocurable, the officers of the law feed the consumer with narcotics in order that he may keep his poise, or if you prefer the word, his "nerve."

We have already told what occurs when he is convicted, and have nothing to add concerning the futility of our present methods. These statements are more especially applicable to conditions in Canada, the United States being vastly more practical in their treatment of addicts.

Dr. James C. Hamilton, Commissioner of Correction, New York City, approached this subject from a different angle, but quite effectively, when he said, "Conserving human life is one of the most important duties of the Government. As all agencies of society wage constant warfare against the murderer, the gambler, and the thief, so likewise should they stamp out drug addiction which is playing such havoc with the physical, intellectual and moral welfare of the youth of our land … Drug addicts should be handled with more firmness and less sentimentality. They have, in most instances, wilfully formed the habit and while continuing in its, are irresponsible and a positive menace."

Because of the danger of creating habituation, the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry of the American Medical Association stated that heroin or morphine should not be used for symptoms which may be relieved by codein, or less actively habit-forming drugs.

An attempt was made recently in Chicago to enforce the regulations concerning the prescribing of these drugs when, in one week, thirty-five doctors and druggists were arraigned for their illicit sale.

In a word we have a duty to the addicts who come to the police court. We do not always fulfil the obligation by imprisoning them, although this is of primary and vital importance.

Neither do we fulfil our obligation by dismissing their case with the customary threat, "It will be a bad day for you if ever you come back."

Contrariwise, provisions must be made for the placing of addicts in whatever institution is indicated by their particular case. This may be a jail, a hospital, a prison farm, or an asylum, as advised by the physician or psychopath.

The police court, so far as addicts are concerned, should be a casualty clearing station, looking to the permanent cure of the addict—whether he be criminal, diseased, or both—and not as a pay station where he is taxed to enrich the rate-payers. But maybe, the same applies to all kinds of crime. Maybe it does!

In some States of the American Union, the law provides that if a complaint is made to a magistrate that any person is a drug addict, or upon the voluntary application the magistrate is satisfied of the truth thereof, may commit him to a state, county or city hospital, or institution licensed under the state lunacy commission, or any correctional or charitable institution, or private hospital, or sanatorium having an unrevoked certificate of authority from the Department of Health, for the treatment of inebriety.

The particulars governing such commitments may be found in the Public Health Manual of the State Department of Health, Albany, NY.

Dr. Thomas S. Blain writing of this matter in The Survey, expresses himself as opposed to voluntary commitment and declares that it has been a failure as regards a very large proportion of the cases. He says, "The method whereby patients are bargained with is wrong in principle, and it is only too easy to make of a public institution a mere repair shop run on sentimental lines."

Discussing the matter further, he says that every State should enact a habit law under which persons addicted to the use of habit forming drugs may be committed for a period not exceeding one year, by the courts, to a proper hospital or asylum, and providing for the necessary petitions, warrants, hearings, affidavits, reviews under writs of habeas corpus, and provision for the payment by the inebriate himself, his estate or relatives, or in the event of poverty by warrant on the commissioners of the county in which the inebriate resides. Such an act should utilize existing institutions.

This procedure would be very similar to that already adopted in some of our Canadian Provinces for the commitment of criminals suffering from venereal disease.

The Boylan Law of the State of New York provides that at any stage of a criminal proceeding, a judge or magistrate may commit a criminal, in order to afford an opportunity for treatment, after which he may be returned to the court for trial.

But after all, our difficulties are not so much in the lack of adequate narcotic laws, as in their want of enforcement.

Laws are enforced, through public sentiment, by honest officials, and through impartial administration. All three are requisite to the end.

It is the habit of the public to lay the blame for non-enforcement on officials, but especially on counsel for the defence.

It is an attitude of mind which may easily be acquired, especially in the case of the latter. It is our habit to speak of counsel for the defence as "a criminal lawyer," whereas he is only a lawyer for the criminal. So far as we can see, his chief culpability lies in his desire to persuade the criminal that he is earning his fee, by protesting, cross-questioning, repeating, denying, forbidding, objecting and quoting so that he not only "takes time, but trespasses upon eternity."

Some day, an irate Judge is going to kill a lawyer for this, at least, it is so anticipated.

Indeed, it may be stated without fear of error that the lack of public sentiment is the chief reason for the halting gait of the law on its way to enforcement, or why, like Mephibosheth of old, it is lame on both its feet.

Mr. F. W. Cowan, Chief of the Narcotic Division of the Health Department at Ottawa, said in a recent letter, "It is of the utmost importance that the people themselves, give to the various authorities charged with the enforcement of our Opium and Drug Laws, their moral backing and support at all times, for unless public opinion is aroused to the necessity of dealing sternly with this class of criminals, and stamping out the drug traffic, and unless the people of every municipality are prepared to demand strict enforcement of these laws, and see to it that the police officers who are charged with this difficult task are backed up at all times, we cannot hope to stamp out this very great evil in Canada, no matter how ready or willing the police are to accomplish these ends."

Dr. Prentice goes further and states without any mincing of words that there is a wide-spread and well-organized conspiracy in the United States to defeat the purpose of the Drug Acts and to circumvent their requirements. Wolfish persons who are exploiting the victims of opiates seek to continue their profitable traffic by maintaining addiction.

Folk can be found in Canada with similar aims in respect to the inebriate and addict. These are the filmy-minded persons who declare the laws to be a joke, showing the development of a marvellous sense of humor which enables them to laugh at the Constitution.

This, however, is no reflection upon the laws. The most simple and explicit laws ever given to the world were the Ten Commandments but, as already noted, even Moses was unable to ensure their strict enforcement.

The public must see to it that the judge and police are supplied with that moral backing which will prevent their being intimidated by the outlawed drug interests, or by the profiteering criminality known variously as the Ring, the pedlar, or the bootlegger. This support should not be of an erratic nature—the spasmodic outburst of a campaign—but one which is strong and ever-during.

Dr. Harrington Sainsbury, of London, who has written a volume on the drug-habit from the psycho-therapeutic standpoint states that when owing to an insufficient will-power on the part of the patient, the personal appeal has failed, the only alternative is treatment in an asylum or sanatorium.

In discussing the matter he says, "The value of a sanatorium is great; the unaccustomed surroundings, the routine and regulated life, the officialism, above all, the personality of the superintendent in which everything centres—all these elements sum themselves up and yield a therapeutic momentum which we shall look for in vain outside the institution."

These institutions must not be confused with the narcotic clinics which were established in some of the American cities and found to be a failure for reasons set forth elsewhere in this volume.

The experiment may have been considered both vexatious and costly but, at the same time, it was a necessary one if we were to discern the better way. What the State of New York did in this behalf is of immense benefit, not only to the whole Republic, but to the world. Experiments in institutional care will still have to be made but, nevertheless, we have gained much knowledge that is sound and satisfactory.

We have learned, concerning the institution for the healing of addicts—whether it be for their cure, follow-up treatment, or for both—that it must be conducted under the most rigid regulations, and that in dealing with addiction, this department of the Government, or municipality, should be vested with plenary police powers.

Private sanatoria must, perforce, please their patrons to retain their custom and to please a drug addict means that you cannot cure him. It also means that discipline may not be enforced either because of the patient's abnormality, or by reason of the interference of his well-meaning but unduly sympathetic relatives. Although these have utterly failed in restraining the patient at home, they are often vastly suspicious of the physician, nurse, or other official who is succeeding at the institution.

Those officials who deal effectively with vices are nearly always stigmatized as "hard" but, unfortunately, no defence may be advanced in that vice or disease cannot be disassociated from the persons in whom these find lodgment. Marcus Aurelius must have had this in mind when he said that the limbs were merely glued to the soul.

It is claimed that in ancient times evils, or devils, were cast out by thaumaturgy, thus saving the worker from loss of prestige through "hardness" but, apparently, this art has become a lost one, so that the best we can do in modern days is to discipline the person with what gentleness we may. This can only be done successfully as we rid from our minds every vestige of thought which has to do with punishment.

This becomes difficult to the official because of the very accusations preferred by the relatives, or by a public which is not fully cognizant of the facts. Besides, really strong officials have not time to stop and explain.

Moses must have been this kind of an official for, while being a supreme law-maker and law-enforcer, his chronicler tells how he "wist not that his face shone." To some of us, this is not only a very vital fact, but the most beautiful remark that has come down the ages.

But apart from these considerations, it has been found that many addicts "sign up" and go to a private hospital to hide away from the police and, incidentally, get all the narcotics they desire. In a word, "the cure" is only so much camouflage.

The physicians in charge of the hospitals seldom speak out concerning this, in which respect they may be said to suffer from that same disease of the throat which Plutarch ascribed to Demosthenes when bribed not to speak against Harpalus—that is to say, from "silver quinsy."

Yes, institutions for the cure of drug addiction should be under the auspices of the Government, or municipality, with the constant attendance of physicians who are skilled in the cure of drug addiction, and its psychiatry.

These physicians should be well paid and, like all other officers attached to the institution, absolutely above suspicion. No penalty that is provided under the Drug Act should be too severe for an attendant purveying drugs to patients.

Before leaving this phase of the subject it might be well to point out also that, at a Government institution, the physicians might remove the cause if the trouble were an organic one. One can hardly expect a permanent cure in the case of an addict who is ill from a painful disease, and without funds to pay for an operation.

It is reported from New York that, among male patients, there is a large incidence of hernia which frequently interferes with their performing physical labor, and which causes them distress from the use of different mechanical appliances. These are operated on under local anaesthesia without the disagreeable after effects of ether.

If possible this institution should be on an island in order to prevent patients leaving, or drugs being brought them. But even when marooned on an island it would almost seem as if narcotics came to the patients by wireless.

The institution should be clean, orderly and cheerful, without suggestion of penal incarceration—a place that is at once a sanatorium, a farm, and an actual home.

In a letter received from Dr. C. F. Neelands, the Superintendent of the Reformatory at Guelph, Ontario, he states the best cure to consist in work and play in the open air, regular hours, and good substantial food. He gives it as his opinion that not less than six months should be taken to the cure of those left derelict by drugs, but that a year is better. After this period, the amount of will-power of the addict determines his future.

It may be noted here that all drug addicts have a marked aversion to fresh air, so that this treatment presents more difficulties than would appear on the surface to the uninitiated citizen.

Dr. Sainsbury who has given much study to the subject of institutional treatment writes, "Our eyes are being opened to the great moral and physical value of purposeful occupation—the sanatoria for the treatment of consumptives being in point. Cannot this same beneficial agent, work, be utilized more in the sanatoria for inebriates of all kinds, displacing the eternal round of amusement which becomes so wearisome."

Because of our success in the United States and Canada with occupational therapy in the case of shell-shocked soldiers, there is no occasion for a discussion of this matter. Wherever indicated, occupational work should be an adjunct to the hospital treatment. It should also go far towards a maintenance of the institution itself.

Dr. Sainsbury also urges that more attention be paid to the treatment of addicts by psychic suggestion in conjunction with other medication. "Suggestion," he says, "can blunt the force of desire, by so prejudicing the mind against it, that allurements lose appreciably … Assistance of this kind is surely legitimate; and in fact do we not daily make use of such, both in the education of the child and in the re-establishment of the health of the sick … To help another to help himself is good practical morality the world over, and sound spiritual economics."

Dr. James Hamilton, in the New York Medical Journal has written an excellent article—since reprinted in pamphlet form—concerning the classification of criminals, and pointing out that it is a serious error in institutional care, to accept indiscriminately the feeble-minded, criminal and tubercular with the man whose only weakness is addiction.

The latter becomes acquainted with a fellowship of rascals who, after release, are almost certain to tempt him with narcotics, especially if he have any funds at his disposal.

Dr. Hamilton, who had charge of 1,556 addicts at the Municipal Farm at Ricker's Island, New York, has declared that "while the addict may be cured of his craving of the drug, his association with drug users after taking the cure, leads almost invariably to his renewing the habit. There is no prophylaxis that will be of any avail until the manufacture and importation of drugs is closely supervised."

In this connection, it is urged by some authorities that, after being released on parole for a period of two years, the erstwhile addict should report periodically and on these occasions be retained from twenty-four to forty-eight hours for observation. One of the chief detectives in Ohio, urges that if addicts are caught using drugs after being cured, they should be indicted instead of being tried summarily, and sentenced to not less than two years in prison.

Dr. Hamilton's statement concerning the renewal of the habit after the cure undoubtedly leads us to ask the question "Then why cure any of them? The drug kills them in a few years anyway, so why not let them die as soon as possible?"

Even if we are tempted to adopt so pagan and calloused an attitude towards the youth of our country, we would have to treat them institutionally,

1. For the safety of the community.
2. For the prevention of crime.
3. To save the millions of dollars spent in the purchase of drugs.
4. Because of the prodigious loss in the constant unemployment of two or more million of persons.
5. In order to impress upon the Governments who pay the bills the necessity of eradicating the traffic at its source, thus obviating the necessity for institution.

In spite of the fact that the majority of persons relapse, we must still cure them. There is only one thing to do on all occasions, and that is the right thing. Yes! Yes! we must still continue to be good Samaritans and to pour oil into the wounds of those who have fallen among thieves but, at the same time, it would be the highest kind of wisdom as well as an excellent economy, if we would set ourselves with seriousness to the task of exterminating those robbers who are known to infest the trails.

It was Arthur Wood who said it was a good thing to arrest criminals, just as it was good to swat flies. "We shall never go far towards ridding the community of criminals," he says "until we get at the breeding places. We must drain the swamps of crime as they drained the swamps in Cuba to get rid of the yellow fever mosquitoes."

Writing recently in the Boston American, Abraham C. Webber said, "Moderation in the use of drugs is impossible. Once the habit is established the desire becomes insatiable ... The breaking of the habit of the use of drugs is one of the most serious problems that humanity has had to deal with."

Recognizing this fact, regulations were issued last year at Washington for the enforcement of the Harrison Narcotic Law providing that no narcotic drugs could be placed in an addict's possession, nor was the treatment to extend over thirty days for a patient not confined in a proper hospital.

While this is a move in the right direction, it probably but means that the patient will have to change his physician every thirty days or, as an alternative, change his name. The cells of an addict's brain may be blurred, and his wit disorganized, until it comes to devices for evading the law, when his shrewdness and calculated audacity are nothing short of inspirations.

The Washington regulations permit a physician to prescribe or dispense narcotics for the relief of acute pain, without reference to the question of drug addiction.

Narcotics may be prescribed for treatment of incurable diseases provided,

1. That the patients are personally attended by the physician.
2. That he regulates the dosage.
3. That he prescribe no quantity greater than that ordinarily recommended by members of his profession to be sufficient for proper treatment in a given case.

Mere drug addiction is not considered as an incurable case, but those suffering from infirmity or old age, who are confirmed addicts of years standing and who, in the opinion of the physician, require a minimum amount of narcotics to sustain life, may be considered in the incurable class.

Ordinary addicts must be treated in accordance with the usual experience of the medical profession, the drug not to be placed in the addict's possession.

D. Thompson, Chief-Constable of Windsor, Ontario, who has thought to point out his opinion, gives it as that "the Government should give authority to one reliable physician in a city or town, making him responsible for the handling and distributing of all narcotics necessary for medicinal purposes within a certain area. In larger cities, it would probably require to be handled by more than one physician, but I believe that taking the selling of narcotics away from druggists, we would eliminate the temptation which now exists to use this method of making money."

Another Chief-Constable say, "If physicians and druggists are allowed to control narcotics, the police are going to be powerless. Their breaches of the Liquor Act show that neither can be trusted." There! there! someone was bound to say it. Nevertheless, we stand to it that, as a whole, the words once addressed to Pasteur with touching simplicity are applicable to the members of the medical profession, "You have been very great, and very good; you have given a beautiful example."

Now whatever new regulations may be issued in Canada, the so-called ambulatory treatment which places habit-forming drugs in the hands of a person for self-administration should be declared unlawful, in that this treatment extends the abuse of narcotics and causes an increase in crime. It also makes for the distribution of the drug of addiction to other persons.

The medical, pharmaceutical, dental, and veterinarian associations, in all parts of the continent, could do excellent service if, on their own initiative, they secured the evidence to prosecute those of their members who violate the federal, provincial or state narcotic enactments. Some associations are already performing this service although, up to the present, none can be charged as overly precipitate in action. There is no reason why these associations should not protect their own and the people's rights by prosecuting those renegade members of their profession—a minority, to be sure—who engage in so nefarious and disreputable a trade as poison vending.

Physicians could also help by drawing the attention of the public to the slum conditions which enable the Oriental pedlar to ply his business in comparative safety. Entering these places in his daily practice, the physician can speak with more authority than anyone else. It is a thousand pities they are so generally inarticulate on the subject. The unsanitary conditions prevailing should alone be sufficient cause for their taking the lead for better housing, with more sunlight and fresh air.

Physicians could also do much to prevent the acquiring of the drug habit by agitating for the examination of children in schools, by a specialist, whereby psychopathic tendencies could be detected and, if possible, corrected.

The system of medical inspection of schools being already established, this work would only be an adjunct thereto.

Although they have grown in stature, many children in the schools are hardly more developed mentally than those 120,000 persons for whom Jehovah showed special care, in that they knew not their right hand from their left.

Physicians who have charge of institutions should see to it that narcotics are kept under lock and key, and that the quantities dispensed in doses be accounted for like cash in a bank.

Everyone who has to do with drug users knows that narcotics are frequently stolen from the motor cars of physicians and from the hospitals by servants and others. The other day in Edmonton, a girl of sixteen who worked as a domestic in one of the hospitals was reported to be using cocaine while out in the evenings, and that she claimed to have got her supply at the institution. She was brought in for examination but no drugs were found upon her. Three days later, she was again brought in when it was found that, having emptied the tooth paste from a tube, she had unfolded it at the bottom and inserted the drug. As one looked at her slight frame and flowerlike face, it was to recall the lines of Arthur Stringer,

"What is this madness, girl?
What is your name?
And why should one so young fight bitterly
To go to such a death!
… Why, child, look up at me! You are too young
To know what sorrow is! These eyes are still
Too soft to peer into the awful Night
That never answers us and never ends."

But it was legislation we were speaking about when led aside to speak of how physicians might help with the safe-guarding of inhibited drugs, so let us return to our subject!

Under Regulation 35 of the United States, 1919, it has been provided that, "Any unused narcotic drug left by a practitioner upon discharge of a nurse, must be returned to the practitioner who will account for the drugs on his records."

It goes without saying that a similar regulation should be issued in Canada, and that it be strictly enforced. A patient who has been receiving opiates, should be freed from the temptation of using them further, or the nurse of making other disposal.

In Canada, all persons who are arrested for trafficking in narcotics, whether convicted or not, in any city or town, should have their photograph and finger prints taken by the police, and forwarded to a central bureau, preferably at Ottawa, where there could be copied and sent broadcast to all police officers throughout the Dominion.

In this way the police could be on the lookout for these traffickers and, as soon as they arrive in a city or town, if occasion warranted, apprehend them.

At the present time when a person is convicted of an offence against the Opium and Drugs Act and pays his fine, or serves a term in jail, he is released, and as a rule, leaves for some other locality to again ply his illegal trade, and the authorities of the city to which he goes have no information concerning him. He may, therefore, be able to operate for months or years before eventually being caught.

For some time. the United State authorities have been desiring to co-operate with the Canadian authorities in this respect, but we are powerless to act until the Identification Act be amended to provide for the taking of the photographs. This would not seem to be a serious undertaking but, up to the present, nothing has been accomplished.

Chris H. Newton, the Chief-Constable at Winnipeg, has been active in this behalf and last year requested the Department of Justice at Ottawa for an amendment of this Act whereby a clause might be included giving the necessary authority to the police.

In a letter written about that time he ways, "I was recently approached by Dr. Carlton Simon, Special Deputy Police Commissioner for the City of New York, with a view to exchanging photographs and descriptions in this connection, he in turn being willing to supply us with much data. On account of not being able to obtain this information, I was compelled to decline his request."

Anyone who lives in Western Canada and knows the proximity of Winnipeg to the American border, will realize how Chief Newton is seriously handicapped in not having records of the addicts who take refuge in his city. This is a state of affairs which should be rectified without any delay whatsoever.

In the United States, it has been found that the majority of addicts have criminal histories, so that this system not only enables the authorities to deal with the drug-masters but also with those of the users who are vicious.

Dr. Hamilton recommends that, in the case of addicts, four cards be made; one to be kept by the addict, one by the institution treating him, one by the Health Department and one by the Police Department.

In order to prevent fraud and misrepresentation the addict should carry his card, and communication made to physicians should not be privileged. Physicians should be required by law to report all cases to the Provincial or State Department of Health whose officers should have the power to inspect any place where addicts are treated, and to issue process for investigations incidental to the enforcement of law, including the examination of witnesses, production of books, etc.

With a central bureau at Ottawa, it would be possible to telegraph the formula of the finger prints from any part of the Dominion, and to know almost immediately the history of the pedlar or addict who has been arrested. It may be mentioned here that there is already a Central Identification bureau at Ottawa, but the records do not include the cases here mentioned.

It might be urged by addicts who have acquired the habit through illness, or others who have drifted into the thrall of the drug without realizing its serious nature, that the recording of their finger prints would be derogatory and, maybe, inimical.

If a person wishes to obviate this necessity he has only to refrain from using narcotics. If he refuses to exercise his will-power to this extent, the safety of the public is the first consideration.

But, in reality, this finger photography has become so common, that it no longer carries the stigma which at first attached. In some banks in the United States, the depositor's identification card bears his fingerprint as a complete protection against forgery. The process of taking his print from the cheque takes less than thirty seconds. This is not a new idea, for the Chinese, two centuries before the Christian era used the thumb-print for their signature on all legal and business documents. It is also used in India.

Finger prints are made in the United States of every soldier and sailor in the Army and Navy, and there prints are coming to be considered as valuable for protection as for detection.

After the transport Tuscania was sunk off the Irish Coast, with no means of identification at hand, the Government ordered that every fighter carry his badge around his neck, this badge bearing a replica of his thumb print. On the reverse side was the name and company of the wearer. If killed, his badge was transmitted to Washington, thus establishing his identity, beyond question.

Because of the large amounts of money paid annually by insurance companies for persons who are actually not dead, the advisability of taking the finger prints of policy holders is being discussed. Others are advocating that new-born babies in hospitals have photographs of their foot prints at birth, and on leaving the institution, to prevent the possibility of a mother getting a child which is not her own. Such an error was made this year in Canada, and was not rectified until five months later.

If the addict still requires assurance as to the propriety of the photograph, we might point out that Mrs. John King Van Rensselaer of New York has organized a National Scientific Registration Society "for the protection of life and property," with Mr. Bruce Falconer as its first President, so that like as not, we shall catch the idea in Canada, and presently be making a fad of dactyloscopy even as we have of palmistry.

Recently, a man was taken by the police on the Pacific Coast with a quantity of narcotics and drug instruments in his possession. According to their information, instead of using "runners," he was doing business by a regular mail distributing system with Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Des Moines, Spokane, Seattle, Portland, Butte, and a number of other towns through the States of Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. His method was simply to insert the drug in an envelope and mail it to the addict without any invoice or other paper whereby its source might be traced.

The police declare this system has become firmly established by a large Ring of drug-masters operating on both sides of the border line.

Systems of this kind demonstrate the advisability of our having a special drug squad in every city—men who are observers with special capacity for action. This force need not be a large one—probably two or three men—for they would always be able to call other detectives to their assistance, but the work of this force should relate solely to the drug traffic. Ordinary police officers without training, cannot possibly cope with the cunningly devised methods of the pedlar and addict.

The work of trailing the pedlar is often a long and expensive one, and usually means the establishing of contact with them in a social way. The drug squad must almost live in the underworld, or at least be in hourly contact with the denizens thereof in order to secure convictions.

Presently, the detective begins to connect different persons with certain routes, taxi-stands, drug stores and physicians. He will get to know what railway porters are "in the know," and how they make their "transfer." He will hear when big shipments of illicit drugs are expected and who is manipulating them. He will know an addict at first glance, as well as being able to identify narcotics—matters concerning which the average policeman or detective is an entire novice.

The members of a drug squad will also know how to search a building, or to direct the search should occasion warrant, although if the detective who has been living in the underworld comes out from cover even once, he is apt to get "frozen" in so complete a manner that he never thaws out. Sometimes they call this "croaking" him, but the effect is the same—an inquest and an open verdict. It seems to be eminently true what Sir W. S. Gilbert wrote about the matter.

"When constabulary duty's to be done,
A policeman's lot is not a happy one."

In searching an opium den in Alberta, the detectives, all skilled men, were unable to locate the c‰che which was known to be there, although they worked for hours. Finally, unruffled and undismayed, they proceeded to examine the place inch by inch.

After sweeping the floor, they scrutinized every board, till at last they discovered one secured to place by screws instead of nails. These screws were sunken in the boards, and the spaces filled with dirt, thus presenting a level surface.

A turn-screw was secured and, thrilled to the core of their hearts, the searchers lifted the board. But hold awhile—gently, Sirs, gently—who could have believed such a thing possible? While the searchers worked, other Chinamen, in the room below, had removed the screws from the corresponding board in the ceiling beneath and had taken away the opium.

To put ordinary policemen or even ordinary detectives, to work on tasks like these is only a waste of time and money, as well as tending to abate their ambitions, no matter how high.

Perhaps, the readers who have come thus far with me, will also deduce that this is not a work which can be undertaken to any marked extent by philanthropists. It is true these may supply the funds but, in the end, the task has to be done by men with some little aptitude and training.

We need men, too, with social address for certain phases of this work particularly as it relates to the Ring.

It has been said that provided he has squint eyes and a dark complexion, almost anybody feels himself qualified to unravel the threads of crime, and the idea is very commonly held.

In our experience, we have deduced that the majority of police detectives—with a few notable exceptions—have not the polished address which would enable them to mingle freely with criminals in what is known as "social life."

While the powers of deduction are a great asset in spotting and trailing these special criminals, these are not more important than patience, fearlessness, honesty, and the ability to close one's mouth and open one's eyes. There are good openings for educated men with such qualifications, even if the men are lonely for awhile.

Because Governments have failed to grasp the seriousness of the situation, the sums allotted to dealing with the drug traffic have been entirely inadequate—indeed, pitifully so.

In Canada, no figures have been compiled on the cost of drug addiction, except at Vancouver, where they have computed that the amounts spent in their city is more than the combined annual receipts of their three largest departmental stores.

A reporter on the Vancouver World has said also, "Our bill for the upkeep of addicts at the Okalla Jail last year was $23,000. In December alone it was $2,828.

In the face of these facts, it seems the commonest kind of sense for the Canadian Government to provide adequately for the machinery to eliminate the traffic. Assuredly, this is a place wherein it is amply demonstrated that "There is that scattereth and yet increaseth."

Speaking of the Government expenditure of the United States for the fiscal year ending January 30th, 1920, Edward Bennett Rosa, Chief of the Bureau of Standards, has shown that 92.8% of the entire appropriations of the year were devoted to past, present and future war.

His statement startled the American public, even stunned them. That only 7.2% of all the monies appropriated were used for the cause of civilization was a terrible indictment against America.

After this statement, the secretaries of the Treasury of the United States applied themselves to work on their adding machines and showed that for the 131 years of its existence, the amount spent on war, or things relating to or resulting from war, averaged 78.5% of the yearly appropriations.

Previously, reports had always been totalled horizontally to show the annual cost of Government. They had never been totalled vertically to get a comparison between the items of expenditure.

Of the amount spent on the cause of civilization—that is to say the 7.2%—the sum of $750,000 was appropriated for the enforcement of the Harrison Narcotic Law, which, after all, is a Revenue Act, so that this sum was actually appropriated to ensure the collection of dues.

When one turns to look at the cost of the addicts to the United States, apart from the loss in wages, or of the drugs consumed, the sums are amazing. The figures we quote are those given by Dr. Erwin C. Ruth, head of the International Revenue Department of Boston who says, "Conservative estimates place the value of property lost and destroyed by a single addict in a year at $2,500. The aggregate would be five billion dollars on this basis.

The average drug slave spends $25.00 a year for hypodermic equipment alone, with two million persons using dope, the yearly cost of hypodermic instruments would be fifty million dollars.

"It is very difficult," he says further, "to obtain public figures on the cost of taking care of drug addicts who land in jail as a result of crime. A guess would be $20.00 a piece, or ten million dollars for the total number. Fully 80 per cent. of the professional criminals are drug addicts."

It seems a pity that Governments must so frequently be appealed to from the monetary standpoint where matters of health and morals are concerned, and it would appear that the ends which have not been compassed by science or philanthropy must be won in the interests of business.

It is hardly conceivable that the astounding waste which comes from drug addiction can be allowed to continue on this continent.

Viewing these matters from their human and ethical standpoints, the editor of the Victoria Times has summed them up admirably in the following sentences:

"Until the nation as a whole shall make up its mind that the traffic must stop; that those unfortunate victims who have fallen prey to the wiles of the stronger willed shall be cared for and protected; that the scale of punishment be such as will literally terrify the nefarious trader, there will still be a large army willing to take the drug-selling route to considerable affluence. But once the people shall have taken hold of the thing with the right sort of fervor, hope of a successful campaign will be real."

The trouble with a book is the impossibility of saying secret things to certain people. Because of the purchaser, one may not pre-empt the pages, or bid that they be uncut.

This is why I may not speak along with those of you who have been variously spoken of as addicts, hop-heads, drug-takers, cocainists, and even as drug-fiends.

For the most part, these words have had a hard sound, and they are hard. As I wrote concerning their signification, I knew they must sting and wound you. These were the only pages of my book that were painful in the writing, and I cannot close it without craving your pardon.

Because I have known some of you in your hours of deepest depression and have looked into your lives with closest scrutiny, I cannot but suffer with you. To have seen your tears of shame and sorrow—yes, and to have seen your anger—-means that, at least, I understand.

…Once, I travelled to the United States, two thousand miles or more, to be with a friend who was undergoing a major operation, which until shortly before, had been considered inoperable. Her sufferings were very great and, for days, my distress of mind was intense.

Then, of a sudden, I was stricken with the same direful ailment and required the same operation.

The surgeon, himself, came down to see me and explained the situation.

"I will not undergo this pain of the knife," I said, "I shall die first."

"You will die, alright," he replied, as he looked away.

Then, turning him around again, Charles Mayo said sharply, "Let go; you are not well enough to decide. Let go; you must leave yourself in my hands."

And this was what I did, and why I pass the words to you.

Leave yourself in the hands of your physician, or of some suitable institution for the immediate withdrawal cure. Let go! Do it now. Do not hesitate or attempt to argue the question. Salvation lies this way.

Do not be fearful. Once, there were some men on a mountain and they "feared as they entered the cloud," not knowing it to be the cloud of transfiguration.

At this, the end of my theme, let me repeat to you the words of Whitman as though they were my own:—

"From all the rest I single you out, having a message for you,
Softly I lay my hand upon you …
I am more than nurse, more than parent or neighbor,
I absolve you from all except yourself."

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