402.
10. Very rarely. I know personally of three cases. The general opinion amongst Chinese appears to be that if they leave off the habit they will die. Even leaving it off for a day brings on severe diarrhoea and I can easily understand this proving fatal if not properly treated, not to mention the mental disquietude &c. and the other symptoms brought on by suddenly discontinuing the drug.
11. They would in all likelihood obtain Chinese opium from Yunnan, this although inferior and cheaper than Indian opium is, I am given to understand, already consumed here, or take to the hypodermic injection of the drug, or swallow it in the form of pills obtained from European dispensing firms or Chinese drug stores. The Chinese know of no substitute for opium. The craving seems to be so great, the habit having been once established, that they would do anything to obtain it in one. form or the other.
12. (a) $389,900 was the amount in 1891 obtained from the Opium Farmer for monopoly of selling opium in this Colony.
13. Some few do. I have had three cases under treatment in this Hospital during the past six years.
There is in my opinion an hereditary tendency amongst Asiatics to contract this habit. They are more liable to contract it also from the sake of example and by the teachings of their so called Doctors.
14. (a) First by seeing that it is the usual custom amongst their fellow countrymen at a certain age to take to this habit, and secondly at the advice of their Doctors.
(b) Yes frequently.
(e) It is in my opinion a prophylactic amongst Chinese living in Malarial Districts against Malarial fevers, and not only a prophylactic but an antiperiodic and by this means a distinct remedial agent in Malarial fevers of every type.
It is so regarded by the Chinese. See Appendix C.
15. No, not as long as they have enough money to purchase the drug, if they have not they will take it in any other form than smoking e. g. by means of hypodermic injections, if they can obtain it cheaper in that way; they must have the appetite satisfied.
17. The information herein contained has been obtained from many sources amongst which I may mention the frequent visits I have made to the opium divans in this Colony to study this question. Inspector QUINCY of the Hongkong Police Force and Messrs. Lo CHEUNG IP and U I Kai of this department have kindly acted as my Interpreters.
I have also had considerable practical experience as Superintendent of this Hospital during the past six years of the effects of opium and alcohol on the Chinese and other native races and the conclusion I have come to is that neither of these drugs taken in moderation, even regularly, are injurious but on the other hand are frequently decidedly beneficial, when taken to excess alcohol is much the more serious and deplorable in its effects and is by far the greater evil.
J. M. ATKINSON, M.B. (Lond.), Superintendent.
Appendix C.
Case I.--Chan A Lock æt. 67 at present living in Hongkong and in receipt of a pension from the Colonial Government.
Family History.-Indefinite, remembers however that his father was troubled with a severe cough. Previous History.-Patient was born at Macao and came to Hongkong shortly after the British settled here. He was employed first as a cook's mate at a Chinese house, after having been in this situation some years be entered the service of the Government Civil Hospital as a coolie, this would be as far as he can recollect about 1853, he remained a coolie for some 4 or 5 years and was in Dr. COCHRANE'S time appointed Chief Chinese Wardmaster, which appointment he held until 1889 when he was pensioned off on account of old age.
He first contracted the habit of smoking opium when 17 years of age the reason being that he did so at the advice of a Chinese Doctor whom he had consulted as he was then suffering from hemorrhage from the lungs accompanied by cough.
This Doctor told him that opium smoking would cure him and heal his lungs.
He first commenced with 2 candareens a day and the Doctor told him he must gradually increase the dose until he was smoking 3 mace a day = 30 candareens. Since then he has never been troubled with blood spitting.
He has been an opium smoker for fifty years now and on an average has smoked 2 to 3 mace a day, the opium used always being the Opium Farmer's first quality, now he is only smoking 14 mace a day as he cannot afford more, this costs him 25 cents, formerly it only cost about 19 cents.