The remarks are more condemnatory of Opium-smoking, even in moderation, than was expected to come from Hongking.
The Opium Farmer (no. 24) strongly opposes the habit; another witness says the Farmer is himself a confirmed smoker.
Evidence is perhaps vitiated by the fact that he also supports, as a substitute for the Opium Revenue, a Gambling Farm which he thinks would be more profitable to himself.
Dr Ayres, Col. Surgeon (no.36) is a strong pro-Opiumist, and an occasional smoker himself; his extravagant views of the benefits of opium-smoking should be read along with Dr Ho Kai's (no. 44) scientific and careful statements on the other side.
The estimate of the number of opium smokers in China is put by the Chinese Custom Returns at 2 per thousand.
The Annual Reports of the Opium Smokers in this Colony show that among the Criminal Population, smokers are under 2 per thousand.
Of the European witnesses, Dr Eitel (39) and Dr Chalmers (53) bring more knowledge and judgment to the subject than any others.
Dr Eitel observes that in his opinion, all conjectures as to the proportion of smokers to population are misleading.
According to Table XVI of the Medical Report for 1891, there were during that year 56 prisoners who reported themselves as opium smokers to the Medical Officer, whose weights for the first four weeks of confinement are recorded.
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