THE COCAINE HABIT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 112, 5 February 1919, Page 6

THE COCAINE HABIT

Sir,—l have read the particulars surrounding the death of Bilhe Carioton, and [ have marked how the drug-taking habit (las introduced itself into England from America. Drug-taking is practically universal in the United States. Male and female dope parties are frequently held ui the houses of Americans. It seenis io be a common failing among the American middle classes,'and this cocaine and opmni habit has percolated into the ranks of the American, Army, the drug-taking habits of which has led to quite a num. her of' extraordinary incidents' in its ranks. The worst of this drug-taking habit is that it is'done all in secret,\ and.it is only once in a while—«s in the rase; of Bilhe Corleton—that the prevalence of drug-taking-is emphasised by disclosure. Anyone, however, reading the United Stales newspapers and marking the number of suicides, as well as the large number of sudden deaths and the innumerable revelations of dope pajtios throughout America, must come to the conclusion that the state of American society ie far from being what it ought to be; and the question comes home to one: what is the use of scotching the snake of one evil, and leaving untouched ti dozen other ■ reptiles to develop into society destroyers in a variety of drugtaking habits ? —I am, etc., COAIMONSE2CSE.