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but it shows no ill effects on the moderate consumer.
It has less injurious effects on Indians and Malays.
(4). Chinese consumers of opium chiefly smoke, but more than half. The Indian consumers eat it; a few Chinese also eat it in the shape of pills, when they are in situations in which they are unable to smoke it. The effects are not so marked in the eaters as in the smokers, probably because they take it often.
(5) The majority of consumers do not eventually become "opium sots"; the majority are moderate smokers.
(6) It is not correct to say there cannot be such a thing as moderate consumption of opium. Yes. Description of two such cases, as examples.
1. Luck Ken Shan, a merchant, began to smoke opium at the age of 25 in 1845 and continued to smoke from 15 to 20 cents worth a day till he died at the age of 72 in 1892.
2. Tam On, formerly a cook to foreigners, subsequently a boat owner and a butcher, began to smoke opium at the age of 21 and has continued up to the present. He is now 62, in good health, and attends to his business. He smokes from 1 1/2 to 2 mace a day.
(7) There does not appear a majority, either of the classes, as a whole, named in this clause, habitually consume opium, but about one half of the coolies smoke opium; and of these, all except a few of the most besotted appear well able to perform their work as the other coolies.
(8) Asiatic races consuming opium so seldom become an abuse that it is extremely difficult to draw any comparison with alcohol.
(9) The habit of consuming opium is generally condemned as degrading or injurious by the Chinese and other Asiatic races. The general opinion of Chinese regard the opium habit as less degrading than the alcohol habit amongst themselves; those of them who have had the opportunities of seeing the abuses of alcohol amongst Europeans regard the alcohol habits of Europeans...