CO129-042 - Sir Bonham - 1853 [1-6] — Page 229

5th.

chest, and to direct the supply of it's deficiencies.

To consider what medical comforts

and indulgences might be

necessary

to sustain the health

of the Coolies during

the voyage.

The foregoing inquiries being spe=

cifically of a medical nature, were entrusted

to the medical members of the Commission.

1st.

wers

-one

Coolies

Two hundred and fifty. brought under the inspection of the

examiners i

of these, 214 were

a state not requiring

found to be in

medical treatment.

The majority of them were,

men.

found able-bodied

Indeed, considering the indiscriminate

queans by which they had been assembled.

whence they

and the grade in society together, emanated, their exemption from organic

and

-functional disorder, their general physical perfection and aptitude are very significant and interesting facts. Many of them,

3

220

however, presented the signs of that enervation and lassitude produced by Opium smoking,

and some

openly avowed their submission to this vice, and their present. sufferings under immediate deprivation. We discovered that about one third of the whole were Opium smokers in various degrees, and as they were in that peculiar state which sudden abstinence produces, we saw them under the meet unfavorable circumstances, From the information

we

-

information we could collect,

inferred that the

average quantity weed by each individual was 21⁄2 candareens

a dram.

a day, or about a quarter of a

There

are a

few coolies on board who much exceed this average,

very

which is not

regarded indeed, is the habit of Opium-smoking

as and excessive amount. Nor-

in moderation, much as it is to be

deprecated, inconsistent with a steady enduring labor, for we are all taught

and