The opiate element is as incidental to their fundamental condition as are the venereal and other diseases from which many if not most of them suffer. Observations and conclusions upon addicts from this type of humanity have been given great prominence in the public press and elsewhere and have had an unwarranted influence in the status of opiate addiction and the conception of and attitude towards the addiction sufferer. Because addicts of this class began to use opium or its derivatives and products to secure sensuous gratification is no reason for stigmatizing the mass of those afflicted with addiction-disease as people of perverted appetites. No one should study addiction in them unless he is possessed of sufficient ability in clinical observation to separate physical signs of opiate addiction from the manifestations of defective mentality--and unless he has enough insight and breadth of vision to see behind end-results, primary causative factors; and unless he has enough common-sense to refrain from applying to the worthy many the observations he has made upon the unworthy few. It is only fair to state in passing, however, that from my experiences as Visiting Physician in the wards of the Workhouse Hospital, New York Department of Correction, I am convinced that we all too often casually include in the above generally considered derelict class of society, many who under intelligent and humane handling could be restored to or converted into useful citizens. There are some above this class, of the type of spoiled and idle youth, who indulge first in opiates in a spirit of bravado or curiosity. The tremendous increase in addiction since its spectacular incidental and morbid aspects became so widely published is largely contributed to from this class. There are some who first used opiates to temporarily boost them over an emergency, post-alcoholic excesses, severe mental strain, etc.