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The Friend of China has criticised me very severely for what I have said on this subject in previous reports, and, I think, in a very one sided and intemperate manner. It is asked "what peculiar advantages Dr. AYRES has to enable him to correct the errors of his predecessors in the Held?" Now, although I have no desire to set my opinions up against such notable authorities as have been quoted, still. I have some right to give an opinion. In Hongkong, which is purely n trading port, are to be found natives of all parts of the Chinese Empire, and I speak from personal inspection of their homes and habits. I think Hongkong has the only prison in China inder European supervision that contains anything like a daily average of five hundred Chinese prisoners of overy class, from compradores to beggars from all parts of the Empire. I have had now nearly six years' experience in this Colony; and I doubt if many have had greater advantages than nyself for forming an opinion on the subject of opium smoking; and over seven years in Bengal and Assam should give me some experience in opium eating.
Much has been said about the Western nations not taking to the habit of opium smoking. As if any Western people had the patience necessary for the enjoyment of the habit. Has any Western nation taken up the Indian Hooka and Narghile for the purpose of smoking tobacco? I think not. Neither has the use of opium for eating or Indian hemp for smoking and eating been indulged in by Western nations to any extent for similar reasons. As little would an Asiatic think of indulging in the athletic and violent exercises, coinmon among all Western nations, for pleasure. It is rare for the most inveterate Western tobacco smoker to sit down and smoke a pipe and do that only, he must read talk, walk, or do something else at the same time, so the ehort pipe, cigar, or cigarrete, or chewing, are the favourite Western modes of using tobacco. And therefore my friends would look upon me as a fool if I advised them, as the Friend of China suggests, to give up alcohol and tobacco in favour of opium smoking.
I distinctly say that opium smoking, as generally indulged in by the masses, is too limited to produce injurious effects on the constitution. It is a very small minority that are able to indulge in the habit to injurious excess, the drug being far too costly to admit of the masses indulging to such extent, independent of other reasons.
I also distinctly state that the habit of opium smoking is not of necessity an increasing one, any more than the habits of tobacco smoking and spirit drinking. The habit of opium eating is, but that of opium smoking is decidedly not. In the majority of cases, or rather I should say except in a very sınall minority of cases, it is usual to find that the opium smoker has indulged in the same quantity of the drug daily for years, neither increasing it or lessening it. Why, in the reports quoted by the Friend of China, the quantities used daily by individuals are given, and the proportionate numbers using the drug in those quantities daily, and so evidence is given of the correctness of my statemen by the authorities quoted against me.
Dr. JAMES WATSON says: "My opinion of opium is that, except as a medicine, it is never necessary, and for other purposes is scldoin if ever of any service." Just so, and that is my opinion also, but the same may be said of alcohol and tobacco.
Dr. WATSON continues: "While alcohol is only injurious when taken irregularly and in toe large quantities, und, to the majority of people, who either work with head or hands, is, in some shape or other, if not a necessity, a great comfort, and, as a dietetic agent, of considerable value."
Well, opinions differ us the Friend of India snys, and Dr. PARKE's experiments go to show that alcohol is anything but a benefit to workers with head and hands, and is certainly not a necessity. but used medicinally may be of grent benefit as a dietetic agent and otherwise.
My opinion is that opiun, tobacco and alcohol, except when used medicinally under competen direction, are in no case necessities, but in the way generally used by habit are distinctly luxuries fortunately indulged in to excess by only a small minority. Generally used for pleasure and comfor by the individual indulging in them, very often, even when the indulgence is limited, to the discom fort more or less of his family and friends. Such being my opinions, I should not think of recom mending the use of any of these drugs as a habit to any one, used in that way they may do harm an cun do no good.
Being an individual of active habits and restless temperament. I have no sympathy with the opin Ninoker or enter. I like tobacco smoking, and indulge, though very moderately, in alcoholic liquor but have no prejudice in their favour, believing that they are not necessary, but simply luxuries, which moderately indulged in, do mne no harm. I prefer tobacco to alcoholic liquors, which I rarely indulg in except ns Dr. WATSON observes as a dietetic agent"; yet do not set myself up as an example he followed.
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There has been a considerable alteration in the type of prisoners in the Gaol of late years. Inster of the sturdy desperadoes and pirates that used formerly to form the majority of the prisoners, m have now a considerable number of weak and broken-down prisoners in for minor offences, such petty thefts, gambling, begging and committing nuisances, who spend a great deal of time in Horpi and have to be put to light work all the time they are in confinement. They are a great trouble ar unxiety and in many cases the loss of freulom is about the only punishment that can be permitte with that exception they have never been as well off in all their lives. The separate cells and th new diet scales have been very useful in dealing with this class of prisoners.