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Social duties do parents, wife, children, and friends, as well as to society at large
may
The Chinese smokers opine (4) &
And do not as a rule eat it or drink it. It may be remarked... that smoking is more seductive owing both to its lasting relish as well as more wasteful of time and money than swallowing the drug.
(5) Habitual Opium Consumers
Almost always become slaves to the drug.
There are some Consumers who might be said to be moderate as to the relative quantity they consume, being limited by the necessities of life and means, perhaps by their own moral force; they are slaves to their daily allowance. In their case the evil effects are also relating to their daily consumption.
Moderate,
(6) It is correct to say there cannot be such a thing as moderation in habitual Consumption of opium except in the sense explained under the section. The slavery is analogous to that of drinkers, only it tends to be more dangerous and more sedative and more apt to be injurious even in so-called moderation. I do not think a majority of any class in Hong Kong consume opium habitually, except perhaps Coolie handlers, and ricksha coolies who do their work by spurts.
In general, the opium habit incapacitates for steady work and hinders it. I have travelled in China and learnt by experience to avoid Chair-bearers that smoke opium. The hunger for opium is much more keen and difficult to satisfy than hunger for food, and is inconvenient to the employer, for the convenience of the Coolie.
(8) The use of alcohol in excess is so rare among the Chinese here, that no Comparison can be made between that and opium-smoking. The obvious difference, however, between the two is that an occasional use of alcohol adds to the animal spirits and energy of a man for the time being, whereas occasional doses, even to a poor smoker, would have the contrary effect (depression followed by partial exhilaration like a bewitching railway); and also that habitual opium smoking tends to enfeeble and deplete the system, so that the total energy is reduced obviously below the average. A British sailor who takes his grog would appear to an ordinary observer to be better above the average, while being drunk.
Seafaring men tell their Highland tale "of the grog that makes them 'arlot'...
(9) The habit of consuming opium is...