No. 12.
SIR,
Enclosure No. 1.
Government Analyst to Colonial Surgeon,
GOVERNMENT LABORATORY,
HONGKONG, 1st July, 1893,
My attention was first called to the practice of Morphine injecting among the Chinese about a month ago by Dr. ATKINSON, when handing me a bottle of liquid alleged to have been prepared for subcutaneous injection which on analysis proved to be a solution of Hydrochlorate of Morphine.
2. At my request our Compradore, Mr. Hoo A Choo, brought me, about a month ago, a victim of this pernicious habit who volunteered the following statement:-
"My name is CHU A YEE. I am a barber, and am 28 years of age. The marks on my arms and thighs are caused by a needle used for inserting medicine. I took the medicine for the first time in this way in October last. At first I had two injections daily, one in the morning and one in the evening. Afterwards, when I had diarrhea and pains in the stomach, I had one or two injections more.
After using the injections for three months, my arm used to be very stiff at night. I am now having four or five injections daily. Have had two this morning (12 noon). At first I paid two cents for each injection. I now only pay one cent. I had the injections in the first place because I was told by many people that they would cure me of the opium habit. Have not smoked any opium since October 1892. Up to that date I had been an opium smoker for more than a year. I felt better when I smoked opium than I do now. I used to get medicine injected at the Chun Tak-tong, drug shop, Wyndham Street. They were made this morning by CHAN MUI YUK, Queen's Road Central."
3. I may mention that the man on that date weighed 112 lbs. He appeared somewhat dazed.
4. Thinking it would be useful to have some information as to the strength of the Morphine solution I requested Mr. Hoo A CHOO to obtain a supply. He forwarded it to me on Sunday last. I then requested him to send the actual purchaser to my Office. The man came on the 29th ultimo. He was the barber referred to in paragraph 2. His appearance had certainly not improved. Weight 107 lbs.-a loss of 5 lbs. within a month. He said that he had had three injections that day.
5. He made the following statement:-
"On the 25th June, Mr. Hoo A Choo gave me $1.30 to buy some medicine. I went to Tsing Lok Hin, 87, Queen's Road West, and saw the man who had given me injections on a former occasion. I asked him to let me have some of the medicine he uses.
He filled the bottle (one fluid ounce) I had with me and charged 20 cents for it. I handed the bottle to MAK KAT.
6. MAK KAU informed me that he handed this bottle to Mr. Hoo A. Choo personally.
7. Submitted to analysis this solution yielded 2% of Morphine-2.5% of the Hydrochlorate or Muriate, the commonest commercial salt of this alkaloid.
8. The solid preparation handed to me by Dr. ATKINSON a few days ago proved to be Hydrochlorate of Morphine.
9. It appeared to me desirable to have ocular proof of this practice. Accordingly accompanied by Mr. CHAU KAM-TSUN, one of my assistants, I went to No. 87, Queen's Road West, yesterday morning. I directed him to go upstairs and ask the man in charge if he would allow me to visit his establishment. No objection being offered, I entered and observed three men asleep on mats, and about 12 or 15 standing in the verandah. Some of the men, I was informed, had just had injections; the others were waiting their turn. There were numerous puncture scars on their arms. I saw two operations performed. In one case about 15 minims, and in the other case about 20 minims were injected. The operator informed me that there was a limit as to the number of minims he injected and that the quantity used depended on the amount of opium his patients had been in the habit of smoking. The Syringe used was a good instrument of American manufacture. The operation was performed in the usual way and after each injection the needle was wiped with a dirty rag. The operator said, he prepared the solution himself from a powder purchased at a European Pharmacy and showed me an empty bottle labelled 'Muriate of Morphine, Poison.'
10. I may here mention that this injecting business is a profitable undertaking. I understand the Chinese can buy Hydrochlorate of Morphine locally at $2.50 per ounce (437.5 grains). From this quantity 875 injections each containing half a grain of Morphine Hydrochlorate could be prepared. This would leave a profit of $6.25 on each ounce of Morphine at a charge of 1 cent for each injection. If a third of a grain were used at each injection the profit would be about $10.00.
11. There can be no two opinions as to the baneful nature of this practice, and no effort should be spared to stop it forthwith.
12. The Ordinance should be made as sweeping as possible. A saving clause in favour of practitioners registered under Ordinance No. 6 of 1884 would, I presume, be necessary. Native practitioners holding diplomas granted by the College of Medicine for Chinese should not be exempted from the operation of the Bill. Having regard to the profitable character of the business, as set forth in paragraph 10, the temptation to take up the practice of injecting Morphine would be great indeed.
13. At the same time something should, I think, be done to relieve the sufferings of those now having injections if the practice is made illegal. These men will be in a terrible state when the injections are discontinued.
14. Would it not be possible to supply from this Department some powerful stimulant and tonic such as Cinchona and Aromatic Spirit of Ammonia to all victims of the injection habit on application?
15. These wretched creatures will not be able to satisfy the inevitable craving by a return to opium smoking, I said to the man CHU A. YEE on the 29th ultimo "Why don't you stop it? You will die if you go on at this rate." He replied "How can I? I am a poor man and can't afford to buy opium for smoking. If I smoke opium again it will cost me twice as much as it did before."
16. Poverty on the one hand and the exorbitant charge made by the Opium Farmer for the smoking extract on the other are in my opinion the chief causes of the introduction of this practice.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
W. EDWARD CROW, Government Analyst,
The COLONIAL SURGEON,
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