NEW TERROR

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 221, 14 June 1930, Page 17

NEW TERROR

Synthetic “Dope” Discovered

The discovery of a process for the production of synthetic morphium, said to be identical with the opium product, is described by Mr. John McLang, who, despite his Scotch name, is a Swiss. He is (ingaged on research work in the laboratories of a well-known international Chemical firm. Upwards of TOO grammes of the comparatively cheap synthetic drug have been produced by air. McLang. Two Governments have offered to purchase the patent rights of the McLang process. A big firm of chemical engineers in the United States has offered a largo sum for the exclusive rights of production, while inquiries have come from South America and the Far East. ■.. > “For several decades,” said Mr. McLang, when seen in his laboratory, “chemists of all countries have been endeavouring to produce morphine in synthetic form. “Two years ago I found a method for the manufacture of morphine from an opium raw material containing 12 per cent, of the alkaloid and about IS per cent, of water, . “My latest discovery, however, is iu quite a different category. “All I can say is that I start from a derivative of coal tar, and that there are seven stages in the process. “The substance passes from one country to another. ' "The flrst stage Is completed in our Paris laboratories, the process is continued in Brussels, Berlin, and Vienna, and tlie final product emerges in our laboratories in Warsaw. “There are certain technical reasons for this but the final product is made ip Warsaw because although Poland is in. the Opium Convention it has left filoophole making the uncontrolled production nnd export of morphine possible. ' “The Polish War Ministry recently summoned me to a conference in Warsaw. A League of Nations , representative was also present, and the whole situation was reviewed. , “It is feared that the production of morphine might become a considerable Polish industry. As regards the League of Nations, the question is whether my discovery will assist in its attempt to control the traffic in drugs. “They are faced with fur greater difficulties than is the United States Government in its fight against alcohol. . “The World’s output of opium is growing annually. It is as high in value as the output of silver. In Turkey, for instance, it now ranks third among the national industries. “In Bulgaria vast tracts of former

peasant land are now devoted entirely to the cultivation of the poppy. Feasants who were only recently almost on the verge of starvation are enjoy ing undreamed-of prosperity and lux’ ll */ “It is impossible to control a traffic which holds out such prospects. ‘ “1 am all in favour of combating the evil by campaigns of public enlightenment, and not by prohibition, which has, especially with , those characters who have the tendency to become drugaddicts, just that psychological efiect of creating a craving for the drug.