THE DOPE EVIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1920, Page 9

THE DOPE EVIL.

HOW WOMEN HIDE CRAVING FOR ALCOHOL. Causes responsible for the growth of the new dope evil in England.—methylated spirit drinking—are discussed by Lloyd's News special correspondent, who has conducted investigations on the subject. Neither the police nor private medical practitioners in the metropolis are willing to confirm the suggestion that the craving for methylated spirit has obtained a hold upon the social life of London. And yet isolated cases of death from this practice crop lip every now and then, and for one case like this which comes before official or public notice, there are many others in which death does not result and which are, fortunately, dealt with by private agency before they become past all remedy. ITS GRIP ON THE VICTIM. A well-known specialist in the West End said to me: "There is a danger, and a grave danger, that the practice will become general if the full programme of the prohibitionist is enforced, I know this because I know Scandinavia well, and I have patients from Norway and Sweden who bring me news of the condition of affairs out there. "In Norway, particularly, where prohibition is now in fOTce, the drinking of methylated spirit, eau-de-Cologne, and hair oil is common, not only amongst the laboring classes, but amongst the upper classes- The reason is that they would rather drink crude alcohol, even in a disgusting form, than be without alcohol altogether. "After the first abhorrence has passed away the practice obtains a hold similar to that of drugs like cocaine and opium. "Christiania, Bergen, and Trendjhem are citig3 "where you see, at all hours of the day, people of all social conditions under the influence of had liquor. Norwegian sailors, coming to our ports, do not like the drinks they find here, and when their dislike excites comment they explain to their audience in the publichouses that they know of something bet. ter. That something is methylated' spirit or other forms of crude alcohol. NO CLUE LEFT.

If we were to go prohibition wc should have the same thing in this country. As it is, I know of more than one case where young women of good social standing make a habit of drinking eau-de-Cologne for two reasons; firstly, it stimulates not only their internal, but their external, personality; and, secondly, the smell of it evaporates and leaves no permanent trace. "You can understand that women who would like to drink whisky or brandy frequently suppress their craving because they know the smell of it will be noticed. Neither eau-de-Cologne nor methylated spirit effects the breath, and so they, do not present this difficulty. "In one or two discreditable bar 9 in the West End of London, as well as the East, cocktails of a similar recipe are made up to the special order of well-known customers, degenerates mostly, and do not concern themselves very deeply with the means bv which it is obtained."

The police opinion is that the practice obtains extensively enough in quarters where the very last, desire in the ivorld was to attract the notice of the authorities. In criminal and criminal political circles the private habit of members of any organisation are not in themselves fair subjects of comment unless that comment be tolerant, and in a sense admiring. It is expected that people will have their vices, and these vices are taken, more often than not, as marks of professional prowess.

INITIATION OP CRIMINALS.

It is regarded as no handicap to have the means always at hand to stimulate the nerves and courage to the pitch required for a dangerous undertaking, and the serio-comic piratical adventurer who bases his habits upon the traditions of the Spanish Main is by no means unknown. The public might not take him seriously, but Scotland Yard finds that lie must be reckoned with. It is, unfortunately, the fact that crime, and more especially violence in crime, shows a tendency" generally to increase, and, in particular, there is a shortage at present of subordinates though the principals are plentiful enough. 1 Finally, there is no doubt that people coming from countries where the war has made it impossible to obtain alcoholic liquor in a drinkable form are bringin® the practice of drinking methvlated spirit into favor here.