^pteXerfmT-}  Progress  in  Pharmacy.  425 
are  admitted  on  the  presentation  of  their  visiting  cards. — Sudd. 
Apoth.-Ztg.,  1914,  vol.  54,  p.  403. 
The  Hague  Opium  Conference. — The  third  conference  of  rep- 
resentatives of  the  Powers  for  the  purpose  of  regulating  the  produc- 
tion and  distribution  of  opium,  morphine,  and  cocaine  and  their 
derivatives  was  held  at  The  Hague,  June  23  to  25,  19 14.  It  was  con- 
cluded to  be  possible  to  put  the  convention  into  force  notwithstanding 
the  fact  that  some  Powers  have  as  yet  not  signed  the  convention  in 
compliance  with  Article  23. — Oil,  Paint  and  Drug  Rep.,  1914,  vol. 
86,  July  20,  p.  18. 
Opium  Suppression.  (Editorial.) — The  difficulty  of  inducing  an 
Oriental  nation  to  do  without  some  narcotic,  and  the  danger  of  opium 
smoking  being  superseded  by  the  still  worse  habits  of  cocaine  and 
morphine  injection,  have  long  been  noted.  In  the  course  of  a  recent 
trial  it  was  stated  that  during  the  past  two  months  about  200  pounds 
of  morphine  had  been  seized  by  the  customs  officials  at  Shanghai. — 
Pharm.  J.,  1914,  vol.  93,  p.  78. 
Opium  Habit. — In  answer  to  an  inquiry  the  Secretary  of  State 
for  the  Colonies  admits  that  it  is  the  fact  that  the  consumption  of 
fermented  liquors,  especially  beer  and  stout,  had  considerably  in- 
creased in  the  Malay  States  since  1909,  and  the  working  of  the  Excise 
Enactments  is  being  carefully  studied  with  a  view  to  the  proper  con- 
trol of  this  consumption. — Pharm  J.,  1914,  vol.  93,  p.  50. 
The  Harrison  Anti-narcotic  Bill  was  finally  agreed  to  by  the 
Senate  on  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  August  15,  in  a  form  that  will 
undoubtedly  make  it  acceptable  to  members  of  the  House  and  to 
the  President. 
Smoking  Opium. — In  May  last  the  Commissioner  of  Internal 
Revenue  made  a  decision  regarding  aqueous  extract  of  opium,  in 
which  it  was  stated  that,  while  this  product  may  have  some  medicinal 
uses,  such  uses  may  be  covered  by  the  use  of  powdered  extract  of 
opium ;  also  it  is  stated  that  the  aqueous  extract  of  opium  is  used  to 
a  considerable  extent  by  opium  smokers  and  is  suitable  for  that  pur- 
pose. Under  the  decision,  the  manufacturers  of  this  product  are 
required  to  comply  with  the  law  as  to  smoking  opium.  Taking  up 
this  subject,  the  Treasury  Department  has  issued  a  decision  calling 
attention  to  the  action  of  the  Commissioner  of  Internal  Revenue, 
and  stating  that  this  product  is  within  the  scope  of  the  smoking 
opium  Jaw  passed  on  January  17,  1914,  which  prohibits  the  impor- 
tation of  such  opium,  and  the  collectors  of  customs  are  required  to 
