5.
543 appear to be deserving of rejection.
Morphine or preparations of Morphine the sale of such ordinary Medicines as Chlorodyna and Powell's Balsam Aniseed would be made illegal. And though certain Chemists point out that it is not a preparation of Morphine from a Chemist, it contains that substance & it is therefore important to note that Dr Ho Kai who is reputed to be one of the authors of the Bill in a long speech at its introduction objected to the use of any opiates except smoking opium!
It is possible that the Courts may hold that the ordinance must be interpreted according to the known intentions of its promoters. At all events Opium is included or it is not. If not, all the evil effects of Morphine (and most of those beneficial) could be produced by preparations of opium, which would be speedily forthcoming. If it is included then a multitude of preparations in common use in this country and in China would be made illegal.
6