1924-12-19 — Page 7

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1924.

OPIUM PROHIBITION.

ASPECTS OF CONSEQUENT SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

[By Lim Boon Keng, M.B., C.M., O.B.E., LL.D.]

The fellowing article on "The Social Problem resulting from Opium Prohibition" is by Dr. Lim Boon Keng, President of Amoy University. As the problem is of the utmost importance at the present moment, it should be of interest to many**** China Mail" renders:-

1. He is assailed with, a host of advertisements to use cures containing opium, or cocaine or other narcotics.

2. He is advised by friends and others to use utechol as an infallible cure.'

the

We may promise, without at-

THE CHINA MAIL.

WORSE SUBSTITUTES.

TALE OF A FUR.

UNCLE FAILS TO " IDENTIFY PLEDGER

On a fur valued at $165, which was put out to dry by a wealthy

p.m.

SHADOWS BEFORE.

Coming Events Advertised In The Mail.

ENTERTAINMENTS.

...

SPORTH.

of the

personal habita, which do not in is sincerely to be hoped that this anyway involve the least inter-attempt to direct public attention ference with the rights or happi to the obvious perils of the con- ness of the public. There are templated moral activity, should therefore two sides to every ques- not be regarded in any way, as un tion for or against prohibition of endeavour to throw cold water opjum and of alcohol. Is the upon the agitation for prohibition, in the interests of the common time of day to repeat the arg Chinese living at No. 2. Saa Wah State justified to intervene, and There is no necessity at this weal, to interdict the use of menta in favour of prohibition. either opium or alcohol If we Only it seems that in order to Fong Street, on November 30, admit, the state has such a right, make prohibition a success, both hangs a tale which is now being interference such grandmother- must not only make stringent laws "A report was made by the may we not enquire whether such governments and communities tald at the Central Magistracy, ly and autocratic act, will really forbidding the sale and use of owner that the fur was stolen by be of service to the people? narcotics, but they must also take two men who ran away with it.

As we have shown already, steps to ensure that these are not In the course of their investiga Every one is agreed that the opium habit. In other cases, there is a close and necessary easily obtainable, and what is tions the police received certain opium question is of great social anxious friends counsel these relation between the two habits, Infinitely better, that the people information which resulted in the and moral Importance to all victims to take some form of There is the imminent danger of themselves may be brought to discovery, that the fur had been rivilized states and especially to alcohol. to relieve their depress-ex-opium users becoming addicted that state of mental and spiritual pawned The pawnbroker on the Chung Hwa Republic)*** Ting ennui and intolerable pains. to the alcohol habit, Undoubted-enlightenment, when they will being questioned said that he was het na suppose that opium can These then are the two greatly the drunken orgies likely to be themselves shrink from the indul unable to identify the man who' be absolutely banished from the dangers which face the, opium caused by alcohol are more of a gence in these forbidden things!. pawned it, but that he knew an- market, and that the habitues will sot, when he is deprived of his nuisance and danger to society

other who came with him. On agree to do without their poison, drug..

than the silent moral degradation This is no doubt a high ideal, this man being found, he, in This supposition is based upon two

of the opium habitués. It is which even in the United States turp, took the police to the Hong- conditions, which are themselves

therefore reasonable to require in the laudatory efforts to stop kong Trading Co., Ltd., at Des problematical Can we within a

that the State which compels the the consumption of alcohol, can-Yeux Boad Central, where the centify, entirely prevent òpium,

opium smokers to forego" their not yet be reached. Nevertheless, assistant manager said that a reaching those who are mad to.

accustomed drug, should also pre- something of the kind is needed man came to him with an offer to have it at any cost? Will the

vent them from obtaining a more in China. Otherwise the probihi-sell a pawn ticket for $7., He opium sols voluntarily undergo

potent drug to relieve their in-tion of opium means that the bought the ticket and redeemed their craving and sufferings to. The evils which, opium evitable" sufferings caused solely habitues will be driven to use the fur, which had been pawned carry out a policy of which they alkaloids especially morphine or by the action. of the State, other substitutes even more for $10. He then took the fur to naturally cannot approve or may heroin produce, are the same as Moreover, it is morally the duty deleterious, and the poor victims tailor's shop where he had it not see the urgency or ever the those caused by the vegetable of all those who advocate opium will simply be compelled to converted into a cont for his wife necessity?

extract of the poppy but only in suppresssion, to work for the exchange a bad for a possibly at a cost of $50. Case is pro- These questions cannot be a more intensive and rapidly prohibition of alcohol also at worse and certainly not a better ceeding. answered off-hand but they appearing form. This is notably least to ex-opium smokers. The mode of self-poisoning. Should, death what sort of intricate fin-the case when morphine or obstacles and difficulties to be however, alcohol be used, then the ancial adjnistratívy, socials encule is injecte "under the met with are simply enormous.

dangers to society will be psychological, medical

" skin. Apart from the risks of but in this general discussion, enhanced in every way. It is hygienic problems, thus aystemie infection and the pro- they must be fairly faced. One therefore quite necessary to point involved.

| duction of disfiguring justules, arbitrary action must lead to out that those who favour the But, even if all those difficult the hypodermic vise of the narco, another. Such is the history of prohibtion of opium, must also matters were hypothetically softic, alkaloids results in a more all paternal legislation.

Insist upon the State carrying out iled, we could not even expect the severe form of moral degenera-" REMEDIAL MEASURES.

the necessary prophylactic mea- prohibition of, such an extenvise tion, in virtue of the mare, and deeply rooted habit, to be massive dose

When the public have fairly re-ures to combat the evils and effected without grave conse reaching the cells of the nervous may be possible to think of re-the sudden, and forcible removal of the poison,cognised the dangers perhaps it dangers, which we anticipate from quepers) in virtue of the known system. Therefore, as far as the medial measures. These are off opium from its habitual users. "The Thief of Bagdad."

December 19.-Coronet Theatre; physiological and pathological removal of the opium evil is con- such a nature and on such medical experience. The publicThe Idol of the North."

This is a simple fact, based on effects.. produced by the poison incerned,

December 19-Star Theatre; the persons of chronic habitues,morphine injection, on the con- State interference and an inter- should now bestir themselves in "The Greatest Boxing Show

substitution of scale, that nothing short of a

bodies interested in prohibition December 19-World Theatre; The profound changes in the trary, enhances the dangers national control will be of the social and ethical work to induce mentality of the spium sot have manifold. to be understood. The great dan-

| slightest, ase. With regard to the possible China, there is no means of en- They should urge philanthropists "The Last Door."

With regard to individuals to give up the habit. Theatre, June Madness,"

Decerfiber 19. Queen's ger of opium is not so much in the introduction of alcoholic intcxi- forcing the real prohibition of to provide homes for the cure of December 19-20 Theatre Rnd physical effects, though these are cation into a society previously anything,so-long-as-the powers strinus enough from the medical free from its nuisance, the dan- that be wish to sanction it for

poor habitues, Until these things Royal, "The Yeomen aspects of the case, but in the gers are so great and so patent, revenue purposes. On the other be premature to stop the use of

have been thoroughly done it will Guard," 9 p.m. moral degradation of the in-that it is necessary just to call hand, the cupidity of traffickers the drug by legislation, so long as Edgar Warwick presents the dividual through the narcotic public attention to the matter.

December 26-Theatre Royal, obfuscation of the very machinery

is directly proportional to the the drug can be easily obtained. of the pin.

$ ALCOHOL AS POISON. The power to dis-

urgency of the demand. As

inimitable Wish Wynne.. criminate between right and

In the end therefore the ques- long as people will buy anything tion is whether all governments A.D.C.'s production, "St. Joan," January 12 to 17-Hongkong wrong, to respond 10: external tempting to prove, that alcohof in 10 matter what it is, opium or will join in suppressing the cul-9 pan., January 14, 4.30 p.m. stimuli and to protect vital self any form is neither a real food yellow for the most degrading full international accord, the human slaves, white, black or tivation of the poppy. Without interests becomes through pro-nor a true stimulant in the exact purposes, there will be found the attempt to prohibit the use of the Second-Tournament of the Hong- logged inertia "onfeebled. The meaning of these terms. Alcohol culprits-rendy-to-supply the drug, is simply to enrich smug kong Boxing Association, 9.15 "December, 28.-Theatre Royal, will is habitually imetize. Pro-like opium is a harcotic poison. demand. This is a psychological glers. crastination and perversion of the Like it, the drug has a strong fact which must be honestly will become habitual and eventual- affinity for the most delicate admitted,

Nevertheless, all these argu ly instinctive. This is a brief structures of the nervous system.",

December 28-St. Andrew's ments do not justify any govern-v. St. George's Golf Match at summary of the evil consequences Alcohol also produces a powerful one's head in the sand like an reeds of these habitues to make Is there then any use in hiding ment to take advantage of the of opium, tiker in small amounts craving for its effects in most in- ostrich and pretending that by revenue out of vice. Any govern.

Fanling. during a long period. These dividuals. There is a difference, effects are more readily produced which is in favour of drinkere publicity in newspapers and ment having the interests of the in youthful persons and in women. against opium. But in addition, placards, the anti-opium move people, at heart, must control and

excessive imbibition invariably Processions and

being forwarded? restrict the use of the drug with Sooner or Inter, the craving becauses drunkenness with all its noisy nuisances which achieve tion. A rich and powerful State proteste are the view to its eventual eradica- comes an important feature: This attendant evil consequences an-nothing- means that, as soon as the sol is gers and disadvantages,, which keep alive the urgency of the prohibit the use of the drug while it, They may, however, with ample resources should pro- not supplied with his usual dose at from the legal, social and moral blema at issue. But may we not at the same time, carries out the the accustomed hours, a sort of point of view, must compel the plead that the cause demands preventive measures..

PUBLIC AUCTIONS. December 20,--Lammert Bros., nerve storm arises with a complex statesmen to regard abuse of syndrome, ie, with a very com- alcohol as of more serious import and that the present helpless con- tion from the beginning, and the

something concrete being done'; Japan strictly enforced prohibi- articles for Xmas presents, noon. at Sales Room, suitable plicated series of symptoms and than the abuse of opium. The

December 20.-Lammert Bros.. ing. The phenomena of the effects, which each of them will patriots to come forth by united China unfortunately, the drug was 11 a.m...

ought to stimulate the true from the opium intoxication. In Kowloon, miscellaneous goods, opium craving are of great cause in the behaviour of the efforts to achieve something of forced upon its government, which December 22-Lammert Bros., immense importance in relation alcohol, to outbreaks of violence permanent value to the nation as had to tolerate its sale. The his at Old P. & 0. Building, Des psychological interest and are of habitués, leading in the case of

to the different measures, which and consequent destruction of life

tory of the last century proves Voeux Road Central, Office furni the statesman, the hygienist and and property. The dangers and much if they really wish to, so forced China to permit the sale of The people themselves can do that England was wrong to have the moralist may contemplate evil results of the alcoholic habit that the drug may be taken off opium as a luxury. To-day it is

ture; 11 a.m. for the eradication of this evil and drunkenness need not detain the the markets and placed out of too late. England not only admits This craving is attended with us. They have been recognized reach altogether. By example the wrong, but is also willing to acute bodily suffering and in- from the most ancient times and precept, by philanthropic en- make some sort of reparation, and Godown Co., Ltd., Kowloon,

so 255 cases window glass.

and by adequate propaganda in to-day. The danger is now within. It is therefore a serious pro-every reasonable way, surely our doors.

The whole people December 20.-Sixth meeting blem whether this prohibition of people will begin to realise that must be roused. The conscience of China Light and Power Co., the use of opium may not cause the habitual indulgence in opium of the nation must be awakened. (1918). Ltd., at St. George's the day that opium is prohibited, a widespread use of alcohol and alcohol, is a terrible menace Yes, the people, must decide that Building, Chater Road, 11.30 a.m. these hosts of habitues will be among these millions of opium to individual health, and to the opium must go, and then only will plunged into an abyss of despair users. Also it is a problem whe-happiness of society. and suffering which can be only ther the sudden převalence of the

the peril be averted. described as inferial. It can be, habit among ex-opium_smoking-tial to carry-on-the-campaign in Above all, in China it is essen- easily realised that some kind of people, will not cause a spread of the family, in the schools and in

An Antiseptic Liniment

of shareholders of the Rah Syndi- "succedaneum will be needed. The the infection of the drink habit the universities. The well estab-jsw or blood pohon resulting from a

There is no danger ha over from lock-Chater Road, noon.

eate Id. Prince's Building, sufferers will, as a rule, require to women, and children and to help and advice. It is now that their friends. This result, of discovered, should be made known aid destroy the germs which election of Japanese prints, ivory December 19-A unique col- we have to guard against those which the contingency, sharks of society who take advan- beyond the limits of possibility know the truth.

is not to children, so that every one can those diseases. It also causes wounds to and gold lacquer at Mesare.) tage of the urgent needs of their will be disastrous. The history public have only a very vague treatment. For mile overywhore

At present, the beal without maturation and in one. Komor and Komor from 9 a.m. to fellow "men, to enrich themselves of alcoholic indulgence in modern notion of the nature of the action

third the time required by the usual

6 p.m. at the expense of these helpless times, especially where victims. These would-be philan- beverages of very inferior quality which is so strongly condemned bad of these substances, the use of thropists pretend to encourage are sold at low prices, justifies as on the one hand, while on the the prohibition of opium, but in in-believing that the introduction other, it is as loudly, if not more reality they want this, in order of the habit of using alcoholic emphatically, recommended either that the sufferers in their misery drinks in the fashion customary as a tonic or a specific for many, may require opium cures which among Europeans will be a of the common illa of mankind. they sell at a big profit to them- source of social misery among In this dilemma there is no wonder selves,

the Asiatics of any country. that many people are unable to The professions of philan- The ravages done by alcohol in decide rightly what is the best thropy made for the vaunting of Africa and elsewhere are too thing to do. If influenced by one these cures, are not at all dis- well-known to need description. set of opinions, they naturally interested, and the support given Though the Chinese will, no oppose.those holding the contrary to the anti-opium cause by, these doubt, resist the spread of the views. traffickers in drugs, is purely a drunken habit more successfully neutral. This is what we find to- Or they may become trade camouflage, which is doubly than primitive tribes, yet the day. What is deplorable is, that reprehensible, in virtue of the dangers to the family and to those who work for the suppres bare-faced use of opium or its society are Berlous "derivatives in the compounding lightly

to be sion of the habit, have come to be of these vile nostrums. Society deserve the serious consideration

passed over. They looked upon as misguided faddists.

or troublesome agitators. has to be warned against these of politicians, statesmen, philoso- dangers to individuals

If it is recognised that the pharisees of social temperance, phers because the extensive use of these especially at

philanthropists proprietary drugs, will not in people indulge in mob harangues

a time when through them to their immediate entourage, and ultimately. to any way diminish the danger to to incite governments to rush society at large are manifold, then society, which the suppression of into general legislative measures, to ward against the known evils, the habit, is intended to remove. involving interference with the must be a foregone conclusion. the need for preventive measurea Another danger even more rights of private individuals. sinister than the substitution of The strongest objections can heard of these being contemplated, But so far not only is nothing opium by its derivatives, is the be made against uncalled for but even the very idea of there open inducement to use medicated meddling with the freedom of the being any dangers at all, has wines as an infallible cure of the people in all matters relating to scarcely ever been discussed. It

THE CRAVING.

ment is

ΒΟΡΙΑΣ. December 26.-Grand Carni- vals, Hongkong Hotel, Grill Room..

dinner dance. December 31-Repulse Bay Hotel, grand New Year Celebra-

signs of mental and bodily suffer- vital difference consists in thedition of the Chinese Government Japanese nation has been saved at Godown No. 6, Holt's Wharf,

brooding melancholy, which is often so severe as to drive the sufferer to suicide.

Therefore it is clear that from

as in China.

and.

a whole.

lished facts, which science basis promptly applied. It is natie ptic wound when hamberlain's Pain Balm

and

- December 28-Lammert Bros.,

at Godown No. 5, Lower The Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf

COMPANY MEETING.

* OTHER MEETING,

'December 28.-General meeting

EXHIBITION.

WHERE OPINIONS DIFFER.

OKaierieh

"S HENCH MANDATE)

bilaman

.

ARABIA

MILES

IRAK FRONTIER DISPUTE The league of nations has named a committee of three to investigate adre port on the Turkish claims in trok, over which Great Britain holds a mandate. The Turks insist that their territory in- cludes the enormously valuabla Hasul oil fields.

AÜTER INTRERATIONAL ETHICSTRI

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