§ Sir W. COLLINSasked the Home Secretary whether Regulation 40 B in the Order of Council, No. 501, of 28th July, 1916, which restricts the traffic in opium and cocaine to that required for medicinal purposes, applies also to morphine, the principal alkaloid of opium; and, if not, whether, in view of the abuse to which that drug is liable, he will bring to the 548W notice of the Privy Council the desirability of extending the Order so as to include morphine, its salts, and preparations?
§ Sir G. CAVERegulation 40B does not apply to morphine. The Regulation is an emergency provision made under the powers of the Defence of the Realm Act; and I am not at present aware of any special grounds, arising out of the present emergency, for exercising those powers in regard to morphine. The inclusion of opium in the Regulation was necessary in order to put a stop to the illicit export of opium in contravention of the Proclamation.