In contact with the afflicted of this class, I discovered the laxity with which drugs were dealt in, and began in 1912 to try and bring about some restrictive legislation with regard to the evil before the New York legislature. I had first found that in the medical use of the drug the principal evil had sprung from the knowledge of what would ease pain, and that the principal means used for this purpose was the hypodermic syringe. At that time there was no restriction placed upon the sale of this instrument; it could be bought in any drug store just as easily as a package of chewing-gum. The department stores that carried drug supplies advertised hypodermic outfits as low as twenty-five cents. A physician's instrument permitted to be manufactured and sold in this way! Through the bill which was introduced in the New York legislature in 1912, for the first time in the history of the medical world it became possible to purchase this instrument only on a physician's prescription. In 1913 I was the author of a drastic law regulating the sale of habit-forming drugs in New York State, but because of severe pressure brought by physicians and druggists, I was unable to put it through. In 1914 I tried again, and after a hard fight I was able to have enacted a bill, which was introduced by Senator John J. Boylan, and which bears his name. For the first time there was put upon the statute-books of a State real restrictive drug legislation. Other States are taking up this matter, and, as the intention was, the New York bill has been the means of establishing a legislative precedent. I regret very much that the aim and purpose of Federal legislation has been largely defeated by the powerful drug interests, but I predict that it is only a matter of time before public sentiment will defeat this powerful drug lobby, as it has always defeated other lobbies of a similar kind, and that the country will be largely freed from the illegal habit-forming drug traffic. Until there is some international understanding between the countries that produce these drugs and the countries that consume them, we shall have to submit to more or less smuggling of these drugs into our country. Smuggled goods rarely, if ever, find their way into channels for legitimate medical needs, and for that reason it is only the under-world that would be affected by their use and abuse. It is only a matter of time before the commissioners of health for the various States will be given authority enabling them to issue rules and regulations governing the health of the people that will wipe out the quacks and charlatan venders of all common advertised fake medicine cures. THE NEED FOR REGULATING THE ADMINISTRATION OF DRUGS