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health. He has been in the Office for Good for the last 20 years & performed his duties satisfactorily & never once absented himself unnecessarily through illness. About 18 months ago, he left off smoking the drug but took it in the shape of lozenges for a few months only. He now regularly takes instead about half a wine glass full of brandy as a stimulant but no opium in any shape or form.
7. I am acquainted with Chinese merchants who smoke opium but have not noticed in them any lack of efficiency in their calling. I have noticed several cases among the Asiatic people who were rendered incapable from the use of alcohol & also one or two cases of Indians in India who were in the habit of eating opium in a similar condition.
8. I should say the effect produced from Opium compares favorably with that from alcohol.
9. The habit of opium smoking is considered degrading by a certain class of Chinese but not the moderate use of alcohol.
10. Opium consumers can break themselves off the opium habit, as evidence vide answer No 6.
11. If the supply of Indian opium were cut off the Chinese would not abstain altogether from opium smoking. They would produce opium, which is yearly on the increase, as much as they would require, besides the import from Persia will undoubtedly keep pace with the demand. A great many would also likely take to alcohol as a stimulant.
13. People of European race do not contract the opium habit in any number because they find in alcohol a fair substitute. Some Asiatic people take to opium because they are more acquainted with it & it is more within their reach. I do not think there is any reason to suppose that Asiatics are more liable than Europeans to contract the opium habit.
14. Opium is taken firstly as a prophylactic against fever & malaria.
16. However...
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