RECRUITS AND DRUGS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 25 May 1917, Page 4

RECRUITS AND DRUGS.

A number of rumours -have been current in Christchurch as to the alleged use of drugs by recruits for the purpose of deceiving the medical officers. These drugs are stated to have been brought back by returned soldiers. There appears to be some ground for the suggestion, although two military doctors, who were recently asked about it, declared that they had not so far had cause to suspect this form of malingering. Dr. Thacker, M.P., told a reporter that Surgeon-General Henderson had stated to him that some recruits had been chewing or eating tobacco in order to affect the heart’s action. This device, said Dr. Thacker, could be readily detected and all doubts would be removed if the recruits were kept under observation for a few days in camp or in hospital. * There were a number of drugs which affected the heart, the sight, or the hearing, but he did not believe that any of them could be obtained except by means of a doctor’s prescription.