16.
-
632
Dross.
53. It is unfortunate that the system of retail de- rends to a large extent on the dross which now forms the only profit of the retailer. Dross is the ash left in opium cipes after prepared opium has been smoked. The per- centage of morphine is nearly as high in dross as in "re- ered opium (7 to 8 ), and this resi due may be sucked or eaten by those addicted to the habit. The eating of dross is, of course, more harmful then smoking since northine (the harmful alkaloid of ortum ) is taken into the system by that means..
54. The amount obtained is roughly 50 per cent of the opium smoked, and it has a market value of about two-thirds of the price of opium. So that of every tamlung of opium smoked, at 15 ticals cer tamlung, the value of the ash re- maining is about 5 ticals. This ash is sold by retellers and constitutes their profit, as they are not all ored a profit on the sale of opium itself, The custom of allo7. ing the reteler to make a rofit from this source has been in existence for a very long period, ende certain cle GS of opium habitus has arisen, et leest equal in number to smokers who are wicted to the habit ɗ swallowing dross, Oring to the harmful effects of this practice, at least two other countries have made an attempt to try and revent it viz., British feleye (Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States) and Java, but up to the present this Govern- ment has taken no steps in the mattor. For one thing, de-
rivation of dross would grobably drive the poorer class of opium habitués, who are the dross esters, to crime in order to obtain money to buy the higher criced opium which would be their only alternative, Further it must be reman- bered that the consumction of dross 111 decline in direct proportion to the decrease in orium smoking, as without the letter no dross can be croduced.
55.
With the advent of registration no person not addicted to either oriun or dross will take to the habit, since it is the confirmed opium smoker of reduced of cum- stances who is finally drivon to cross. Young men in the abaence of strict control may take to smoking deliberetely, pleas- or may be induced to do so rt first for amusement r ure, but no one ill trke to sllowing dross "thout al-
ready being an opium snoker since the taste is unplers- ant in the trone, with no novel sonsations ttending its consumption, It follors that if registration successfully trevents no! torsons taking to the h-bit ɗ smoking it ill also effectively trevent any increase in the use of dross.