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6.
the accused drug.
A man who subordinates every consideration, his duty and honour to his cravings, useful or pleasant can never be a member of a family or community.
Chinese consumers chiefly smoke opium, but in some instances, when smoking is inconvenient or impossible, they would either cook some of the usual opium decoction and swallow it, or take the extract raw, and sometimes they would even swallow opium-dross to relieve their cravings. Some again, would in time of need resort to some preparations of morphine to satisfy their longings.
No. The effects are the same, only in the case of smoking, the effects are more gradually produced.
The great majority of opium consumers certainly become slaves to the drug, and they all eventually become "opium sots" if means and circumstances would allow them. There are a great many moderate consumers, but that is a fact which is not due to the inclination, desire or choice of the consumers themselves.
No, there are some cases of moderate consumption known to me personally. The tendency in the majority of cases is, however, towards immoderation.
4
No. I do not know of one single case among the thousands that have passed under my personal observation. Every opium consumer suffers more or less in health from his evil habit, and this is a fact as well known to the opium consumers themselves as to the general Chinese public.
This question I have already answered in effect in answers (2) and (3). The general effect on their efficiency, whether they are merchants, clerks, labourers, artisans, etc., is gradual deterioration.
First, the opium consumer, hitherto however bright and diligent, is observed to get duller, more stupid and decidedly more lazy. His methodical and cleanly habits little by little disappear. Then instead of an early riser he was, he keeps his bed till late in the day, and he is often observed to be either asleep at or absent from his post, and little articles of value vanish from time to time as if by magic. Then he becomes untruthful, dishonest and unreliable, and finally shameless and devoid of all conscience and manly feelings. These remarks are the results of personal observation in hundreds of cases, two of them happened to be my own employees, and over a score my own friends and associates.
There is no comparison between the moderate...