Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]
[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed]
[graphic]
[ocr errors]
[merged small][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
[graphic]
[graphic]
[blocks in formation]

How many of us have so consummate a

knowledge of human physiology that we
could dream such a dream? That we could

do so, and in our waking moments see so clearly the operations of the human economy, is an ideal that we have yet to reach.

Some such thought was probably in Dr. Murphy's mind when he made the remark quoted. May we find the surgical fraternity, who have rendered such brilliant services to mankind during the past quarter century, still proving their title to leadership in the profession by applying their energies to the problems presented by the Living Man.

The National Antinarcotic Bill is Finally Passed.

The National Antinarcotic Bill finally passed the House of Representativs at Washington, D. C., on December 10th. It had been previously passed by the Senate, and received the signature of the President on December 21st. This is the compromise measure at length agreed upon by the conference committee. The President was certain to sign it, as he had favored such a law thruout his administration. With this issue of THE WORLD the beginning of the fight for proper regulation of narcotic distribution is won.

Our readers will undoubtedly recall the many editorials we have printed favoring a proper control of narcotic distribution. Nothing could be done to control it that did not affect the medical profession in some way. The end we aimed at was to secure the enactment of a law that, while properly regulating this matter, would not interfere with the proper practise of medicin, particularly by the family doctor.

The national antinarcotic bill as finally passed is essentially a compromise measure, many interests opposed to the medical profession's aims and interests endeavoring to tie the hands of all physicians by preventing dispensing of these remedies. However, we feel that the profession can get along very well under this bill, and we hope it will put a stop to the illegal sale and improper use of narcotic drugs.

We print below a copy of the bill as passed by Congress. Next month we will present our readers with pertinent comments on the bill as affecting physicians. The law will go into effect March 1, 1915.

Text of Harrison Bill.

Be it enacted, etc.

That on and after the first day of March, nineteen hundred and fifteen, every person who produces, imports, manufactures, compounds, deals in, dispenses, sells, distributes, or gives away opium or coca leaves

or any compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, or preparation thereof, shall register with the collector of internal revenue of the district his name or style, place of business, and place or places where such business is to be carried on; Provided, that the office, or if none, then the residence of any person shall be considered for the purposes of this act to be his place of business. At the time of such registry and on or before the first day of July, annually thereafter, every person who produces, imports, manufactures, compounds, deals in, dispenses, sells, distributes, or gives away any of the aforesaid drugs shall pay to the said collector a special tax at the rate of $1 per annum; Provided, that no employee of any person who produces, imports, manufactures, compounds, deals in, dispenses, sells, distributes, or gives away any of the aforesaid drugs, acting within the scope of his employment, shall be required to register or to pay the special tax provided by this section; Provided further, that the person who employs him shall have registered and paid the special tax as required by this section; Provided further, that officers of the United States Government who are lawfully engaged in making purchases of the above-named drugs for the various departments of the army and navy, the public health service, and for government hospitals and prisons, and officers of any State government, or of any county or municipality therein, who are lawfully engaged in making purchases of the above-named drugs for State, county, or municipal hospitals or prisons, and officials of any Territory or insular possession or the District of Columbia or of the United States who are lawfully engaged in making purchases of the above-named drugs for hospitals or prisons therein shall not be required to register and pay the special tax as herein required.

It shall be unlawful for any person required to register under the terms of this act to produce, import, manufacture, compound, deal in, dispense, sell, distribute, or give away any of the aforesaid drugs without having registered and paid the special tax provided for in this section.

That the word "person" as used in this act shall be construed to mean and include a partnership, association, company, or corporation, as well as a natural person; and all provisions of existing law relating to special taxes, so far as applicable, including the provisions of section thirty-two hundred and forty of the revised statutes of the United States are hereby extended to the special tax herein imposed.

That the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, shall make all needful rules and regulations for carrying the provisions of this act into effect.

Sec. 2. That it shall be unlawful for any person to sell, barter, exchange, or give away any of the aforesaid drugs except in pursuance of a written order of the person to whom such article is sold, bartered, exchanged, or given, on a form to be issued in blank for that purpose by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue. Every person who shall accept any such order, and in pursuance thereof shall sell, barter, exchange, or give away any of the aforesaid drugs, shall preserve such order for a period of two years in such a way as to be readily accessible to inspection by any officer, agent, or employee of the Treasury Department duly authorized for that purpose, and the State, Territorial, district, municipal and insular officials named in section 5 of this act. Every person who shall give an order as herein provided to any other person for any of the aforesaid drugs shall, at or before the time of giving such order, make or cause to be made a duplicate thereof on a form to be issued in blank

« PreviousContinue »