Irish dentists advised to use cocaine

London, 3 October 1916 - Irish dentists will be permitted to use cocaine to assist them in their work.

Registered practitioners are advised to place their orders at once, so that manufacturers of the drug in Great Britain should be in a position to deliver the required quantity.

The Home Secretary has given notice that unregistered persons who wish to use cocaine to practice dentistry can only do so until 31 October 1916, after which date it will become illegal. The use of cocaine in dentistry is related to its value as a local anaesthetic.

[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]