PUBLIC RECORD
┬?། ། ‛། །
OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
❤
16
fact that they seemed to be in general good health, barring that peculiar half-sleepy appearance, with contracted pupils, characteristic of opium eaters, and followed their respective avocations as well as others who abstained from the habit of eating opium. The only inconvenience, and that was a very great one, which they suffered from was, if from any chance they were prevented from taking the drug at the usual time they were rendered quite miserable and wholly unfit for any kind of work until they took a dose of it. They then suffered from most excruciating pains, with a tendency to diarrhoea, and very few addicted to. the vice had the moral courage to give it at once. I have seen a few persons who did so voluntarily, and also some, such at up all prisoners, who were obliged to give it up against their wills. No ill effects of ■ permanent charactor followed its discontinuance, but they suffered much from paina in the joints, sleeplessness, and diarrhoea for two or three days. This was well exempli- fied in the case of prisoners, and it was pitiable to see the sufferings of these people during the first few days of their gaol life.
All these symptoms, however, are of a temporary nature, and entirely passed off after a few days, and in several instances this enforced deprivation of the drug whilst in gaol was the means of curing the habit entirely for the rest of their lives. And I may remark, in this connexion, that if the vice of taking opium is so general among the people of Ceylon as has been alleged one would expect to find it largely among the triminal population in the island. On the contrary, during my long connexion with the Ceylon gaols, now for over 28 years, and I have had in my charge the two largest gaols in the island (Kandy and Colombo) for several years, I have been very much struck with the extreme paucity of the number of prisoners that were addicted to the use of opium. I cannot recall to my mind more than a dozen cases among several thousands of prisoners that passed under my observation during this long period; and of these too, save two habitual thieves who appeared to have taken to smoking opium as a sort of accomplishment to their nefarious trade rather than from anything else, it had been resorted to in every instance as a remedy for some ailment or other which was designated as waté rogé (literally, windy complaint), but in reality some rheumatic
or nervous affection.
At the Jaffna Gaol, the medical officer in charge, Mr. Keegel, tells me that, during the 14 months he has been in charge, only three cases of opium eaters had come under his observation, although during the same period no less than 958 prisoners passed under his observation. Of these three cases, two took to the habit on account of rheumatism, .and the other for some syphilitic affection.
There is another form in which opium is used for smoking, and that is what is known as " Madat bonava," literally "Madat" drinking, by which is meant smoking Madat, a preparation composed of opium and tender leaves of Burulu gas (Leeu staphylea, hat. ord. Ampelidem). This is smoked in the same way as chandoo, but in a pipe constructed somewhat differently to that used in the last case.
The Indian hemp, which is known either as bhang or ganga, the first being prepared from the leaves, and the second from the flowering or fruiting shoots, of the female plant, or, according to some authorities, it is said to be prepared from little shoots that sprout from the stems after the leaves are plucked for making bhang.
very
Unlike opium, Indian hemp has been known to the eastern nations from very remote times; and their employment, both medicinally and dietetically, appears to have spread from India through Persia to the Arabian followers of the Prophet, to whom it was a very acceptable substitute for intoxicating liquors, which they were prohibited from taking by their religion. Its use in Ceylon, like that of opium, as a vice, is of recent growth, and, ao far as my information goes, it is almost entirely confined to temporary settlers, both Mohammedan and Hindu, from India and elsewhere, and the large increase in the quantity of it imported during the last few years in evidently due to the large influx of these aliens into the country during that time, and not so much to any very great increase in the number of people who have taken to it locally. To my knowledge, only a very few of either Sinhalese or Tamils take bhang or ganja habitually, and they are chiefly met with in some chief towns, such as Colombo and Gallo. A favourite preparation of this drug, which I noticed largely in use among the Moorish community in Colombo and other Mohammedans elsewhere, is what is known as tagium. It is a sort of electuary or confection, containing, I believe, both opium and bhang, with spices of all sorts, dates, raisins, ghee, honoy, and some other articles. It is considered to possess very great medicinal virtues, and is largely used both as a stimulant and aphrodisiac. The use of bhang is attended with most baneful effects on the human system, and they are both immediate and remote as well, in the
17
one case rendering the individual oblivious to all danger, and working him up to a state of frenzy, with homicidal impulses, and in the other leading to derangement of the mental faculties, which in many instances ultimately end in actual insanity. On the other hand, I am not prepared to say that the use of opium is attended with baneful effects to the same extent as bhang, and I am inclined to think they are much exaggerated by people who have no practical acquaintance with habitual opium eaters, or any knowledge as to the effects of its prolonged use on the human system. I have never seen an instance in which its use could be said to have shortened life or given rise to organic lesion or other ailment which may be attributed to its use. I have seen pensioners among the Malay soldiers over 70 years old, and some close upon 80 years, who have been addicted to the use of opium for 40 years or more, and their health seemed no way affected by it. The great evil attending its use seems to be the necessity for increasing the quantity from time to time, and no doubt the consumption of large quantities of a drug of this kind will eventually interfere in many instances with the natural functions of the secreting organs in particular, as one of its effects on the human system is to lessen all natural secretious. The same may, perhaps, be said of other articles, too, in use among mankind if indulged in to an inordinate extent.
rate,
At any
am satisfied that the habitual use of opium is not half so baneful in its effects as the use of spirituous liquors, especially those imported into this country, and their use is spreading largely among the indigenous population. I need hardly add that the evil effects arising from drunkenness are far more reaching and extensive than those brought on by the use of opium, and I think it would be well if anti-opium agitators looked a little nearer home, and took steps to prevent the importation of spirituous liquors into Ceylon and elsewhere, and adopted measures to lessen the opening of liquor shops, where the most vile stuffs are sold as gin, brandy, &c., and which are being opened up in every
nook and corner of the island, before they expended their energy and money in a crusade against the use of opium by comparatively a few Natives of Ceylon, as compared with the number of those who are given up to imported liquor. Not a few of these are ruined in health, and their families are invariably reduced to abject poverty and misery. In my long professional career, I must confess I have never come across an opium eater whose health was at all impaired as a result of the vice, nor do I know of a single case where the family of such a man suffered to any serious extent thereby. On the contrary, I can mention scores of cases in which persons found early graves by drink and many families ruined and disgraced all through the evil of drink.
The use of opium in moderate doses appears often to act as a good prophylactic against certain diseases, especially malarial fevers and bowel complaints. I recollect a gang of coolies belonging to a surveyor in the Tangalla district some years ago, all of them save two suffered much from malarial fever frequently. The two people who escaped the disease were opium eaters, and as they were living under exactly the same hygienic conditions and surroundings, their immunity from the disease could only be attributed to the use of opium. And may not the great immunity which the Chinese seem to enjoy from serious epidemics of cholera, enteric fever, and other like diseaseS be attributed to the extensive use of opium by them? It is well known that they are nost filthy in their habits, live in crowded and ill-ventilated habitations, and in disregard of all sanitary rules as known to us, and yet we seldom or never hear of a severe outbreak of cholera or enteric fever, &c. among them.
The amount of opium imported into Ceylon is no criterion as to its increased use among the indigenous population. As already remarked with respect to bhang, a good deal of it may be due to a large increase in the influx, especially into Colombo, of a larger number of aliens who were used to the vice before they came there.
A good deal of it is also used by the native Vederalles and Pariyares in the preparation of their pills and other nostrums. I also believe that of late most of the druggists in Colombo and elsewhere use a large quantity in the preparation of tincture of opium, and it must also be borne in mind that the European practice of medicine is now very largely availed of by the Natives in all parts of the island, and opium is a drug extensively prescribed by the European practitioners of the healing art in a variety of ailments. I think some idea of the increased quantity used medicinally may be formed from the quantity imported by the Medical Department itself as compared with that of 10 or more years ago
In the Northern Province, opium is very rarely used as a habit by the Natives. The greater part of the people who are addicted to it are Malays. Of the police stationed hore, and from inquiries made, I hear there is not a single place where opium is publicly sold in this Province under a license. The reason for this is that its use by the Natives
U #9300.