DOCTOR AND DOPE

Evening Star, Issue 19762, 12 January 1928, Page 10

DOCTOR AND DOPE

STORY OF AN OPERATION. Illustrating to what depths of degradation the victim of uncontrolled craving for drugs 'will decend is the case of James Wallace, alias Phillip Ross, heard in Rockhampton Police Court recently. Wallace claimed to be a deregistered member of the medical profession in South Africa, and pleaded guilty to six charges of false pretences. His appearance in the dock was pitiable _in the extreme, as his physical condition bore shocking signs of the effect of drugs on him. Ho claimed in court that his name still appears on the London register of physicians, though he had been deregistered in South Africa. In a statement to the magistrate he said that when he was operating on a case of appendicitis in Capo Town some years ago he made a slip with the instrument, and the patient died. His faltering during the operation was due to the fact that he had been unable, temporarily, to obtain his _ usual supply of cocaine. And had it not been for the presence of another medical mm he would undoubtedly, in his own opinion, have been charged with manslaughter of the patient. He joined a boat as ship’s surgeon almost immediately afterwards, and came to Australia, Gradually he used all his money in the procuration of dope supplies to satisfy his growing cravings, and eventually was reduced to the position where he made out prescriptions himself, and then presented valueless cheques to have them prepared. Wallace’s admission caused a stir in court, and the magistrate remarked that in the circumstances it was better that he be put away for a long period in the interests of himself and the community. The sentence of the court was fifteen months’ imprisonment. At the conclusion of the case Wallace thanked the magistrate.