220
FURTHER RESTRICTIONS ON DIVANS,
The divan will gradually disappear with the cessation of smoking, and till then it is a useful agent for control. Persons who exceed should be treated as habitual drunkards or dipsomaniacs are, and placed under control and restraint. Divan licensees on whose premises such persons are found should be liable to fine and cancellation of licenses. They should only be allowed to be open during fixed hours say 7 am, to 11 p.m. and no customers should be allowed to sleep on the premises, Restrictions of this kind are being placed on divans so long as any remain in Hongkong.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
1
in a British Colony, and the step more drastic, drink heavily if they did not smoke. The since it is fully enforced.
introduction of railways into China will facilitate the supply of alcohol, hitherto restricted by lack of transport, which opium being light and portable does not need. It is also alleged, but I know not whether on good authority, that local manufacturo is increasing. Thore seems then to be a distinct probability that alcohol may replace opium. In Hongkong the danger of alcohol as a substitut for opium is a real one since cheap liquor-shops abound. Opium is a sedative which tends to inaction, and there is a concensus of opinion, that it is responsible for no crime, while alcohol is a stimulant which disposes towards aggressive action and admittedly produces crime. The effects of opium are rarely visible and are never seen in public places, Drunkenness on the Every race in the World in every age has contrary is a canse of inconvenience in the exhibited a desire for something to act pleasur-public streets, and is a degrading spectacle. ably on the nervous system either as a stimulant or a sedative and Sir William Roberts who analysed the medical evidence given before the Indian Commission (of which he was the expert medical member) refers in his extremely interest- ing report to the "Euphoric and non-medic inal effects of stimulants and sedatives, which are so essential to the nervous organization of man, as to constitute "a profound instinct of
COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF OPIUM AND
OF SUBSTITUTES.
human nature."
(A) OPIUM.
Lord Brassey's Commission (which recorded its proceedings in seven volumes totalling 2.550 pages of small print) is an encyclopedia of in- formation on every aspect of the opium question, which should be studied by everyone interested in the matter. Innumerable witnesses of every class were examined and reports (in reply to a series of questions) were received from Hong- kong, Singapore, and other places. The most eminent of Indian Administrators wrote reports and collected statistics for it. The commission ers record this weighty opinion: We have made exhaustive enquiry into the consumption of opium in India and its effects. We find no evidence of extensive moral or physical degrad- ation from its use. It is extensively used for non-médical and quasi-medical purposes in some cases with benefit, and for the most part with- out serious consequence." This verdict refers to the eating of opium, which expert evidence goes to shew is much more potent in its effects than smoking. Sir William Roberts in his sum- mary states that it has been proved that smokers might continue the habit for 10..20, or 30 years without detriment to their health. It has been the universal household remedy for centuries, and is entensively given to children, and is a useful digestive to a rice-eating people. It is stated to be a prophylactic against malaria, and though modern research would probably ne- gative this theory, there is no doubt that it affords a means of relief where remedies are not available and is therefore of special value in å country like China where irrigation is so extensive, and low lying valleys planted with rice field abound. Dr. Crombie, Superintend- ent of the Govenment Hospital at Calcutta, went so far as to state it as his opinion to the Commission that to deprive the people of a malarial district of opium would be "a terrible and wanted cruelty."
Such authoritative opinions as these, based on one of the most exhaustive enquiries ever held into any such subject must arrest the attention, and demand the earnest consideration of those who approach this subject from no ex-parte point of view. The question at issue is whether looking to the fact that all races at all times have adopted some form of stimulant or sedative, we may not by misdirected zeal substitute a worse for a comparatively harmless habit. Few I think will be found who will oppose efforts for restriction and control, and for ensuring moderation, but for my own part I view with much misgiving the attempt at total abolition of opium smoking, and of the methods by which the habit is at present kept under dus control.
(B.) ALCOHOL.
Professor Giles has demonstrated that in ancient time the Chinese were addicted to alcohol till it was replaced by opium drunken- ness is not considered disgraceful, and the Chinese are proud of their powers of drinking and are never voluntary abstainers. Mr. Fox Consul General of Canton informs me that a large majority of the officials and gentry are already fond of wines and spirits, and would
(C) EATING OPIUM.
A second alternative to the use of alcohol to replace the smoking of opium is found in the eating of the drug-a method hitherto practically unknown in China. The many kinds of "anti- opium" pills which have been distributed gratis or sold in vast quantities throughout China are all said to contain opium, and thus the habit of eating instead of smoking has been encouraged. This as Sir John Jordan points out is a far more dangerous practice and infinitely harder to eradicate. Dr. Main, C.M.G., is quoted in the public Press as stating that whereas his Mission formerly always had a large number of persons under treatment for the cure of the habit they have ceased to come now that these pills can be procured.
(D.) MORPHIA.
Another still more deplorable substitute is morphia whether consumed internally or injected hypodermically. Dr. Morrison, correspondent of The Times, bears witness to the immense increase in the consumption of morphin.- and lays special stress on the fact that its importa tion cannot be checked by an increase in duties, In 1904 the duties were raised from 5 per cent. to 200 per cent. and the recorded import fell from 195.133 oz. in 1902 to 96 ozs. in 1907, but there is no reason, he says, to doubt that at the present time the import is nearer to ten tons (smuggled). He adds that "orders have been given for 1,000 lbs. weight in one transaction the morphia being packed in 7, 14, 21, and 28 lb. tins, four in a case. This emuggling is wholesale. while Chinese returning from Borneo. Fara, Malay and Siam in a large number of cases bring back morphia as savings to China" The morphia is I believe ordered wholesale (chiefly from London) and transhipped at sea for smuggling.
|
[March 15, 1909.
samples of pills for analysis. The contained 1/7 1/12 1/13 1/21 1/26 and 1/37 grain (13 to 17 grammes) The Viceroy Boting on the orders of the Central Government thereupon issued a Proclamation, directing that a scheme must be devised for the supervision of all shops selling anti-opium pills, the amounts of sales reduced, and the analysis more carefully made. He particularly laid emphasis upon the fact that in my letter to the Consul General I pointed out that the vendors of the pills were in many cases exhibiting sign-boards stating that' they were sold under Government authority, and in that case the Chinese Government were merely substituting a worse form of opium consumption, after obtaining from India and the British Colonies, under false pretences, a co- operation which seriously affected their Revenue. Thirty samples of pills from Shanghai were also recently analysed at the request of Sir A. Hosie. In 17 samples each pill contained from 1/5 to 1/10 of a grain of morphine, the remainder (all but two) contained lesser quantities.
The Government Analyst in Hongkong has found as much as 26 per cent. of morphía in some of the anti-opium pills imported for sale here, but the local restrictions to which I shall presently allude have been effective in excluding any containing more than about 16 per cent.
from the market.
Dr. Graham Aspland writing from Peking has addressed a very striking appeal on this subject to the China Times. He says:- nti-opium tabloids contain morphia in large doses.
They are sold and prepared by
41
a British firm doing both wholesale and retail. business here in China. How many tons of morphia tabloids are being sold in China at this prosent moment I would not like to venture to guess, but I am prepared to Even in believe it is appalling. remote country villages morphia tabloids and hypodermic syringes are frequently seen; and a condition of things which allows a Chairman I know to buy daily a dram bottle of Japanese morphia (60 grains) imperatively calls for restriction if not prohibition. There can be no extenuating circumstances associated with the sale of these anti-opium tabloids for I have not found one that contained any antidotal drug
-any stimulant or tonic ingredients, but simply morphia made into tabloid with ordinary household flour, so that the sale is not accom- panied with any honest intention of relieving the suffering, but finding that there is a big market for morphia under the name of anti- opium tabloids and powders of foreign trading companies
follow this lucrative trade
"
#
!S
MAGNITUDE OF THE DANGER.
under the heading of benefactors." The writer goes on to quote the recent Editorial of the The Powers have recently agreed that from Ching Medical Journal"a scathing denunciation 1.1.09, the importation of morphia into China of the Trade in patent medicines" which shall be prohibited, while both they and China- reeks with filth and stinks to heaven with its undertake not to manufacture it in China.gross aud abominable selfishness.”. The Chinese Government thereupon issued elaborate instructions to regulate the import for medicinal purposes. These Regulations will no doubt be operative as regards the 96 oz. legitim- ately imported, but since China has already shewn herself so entirely powerless to check smuggling over her 7,000 miles of land and 4.000 miles of sea frontier, it is to be feared that little benefit will accrue from this conven- tion. The Government of Hongkong has how- ever, at once come forward to assist so far as it
can.
What the danger is may be gathered from the report of the Government Analyst made after careful enquiry by my instructions, as to the comparative quantities and cost of the four methods of indulgence. He endorses the state- ment that 4 mace of opium (233) grains) may be considered as an excess smoker's quantum, as being in accordance with his own observations:
Smoking
Eating
— opium.
morphia.
Injected
morphia.
Eating
Regulations to control more effectively the transit trade have been issued, making it obligatory to obtain a license and to declare Quantity in grains, 233 (4 mace)=12-2 port of destination, and establishing one Govern- ment warehouse only.
The present exports to all countries through Hongkong amounted to about 400 cases in 1907, -two which may be added the trade in " opium compounds". (which are chiefly opium and morphia pills), amounting in 1906 and 1907 to an average of 7,938 lbs.
MORPHIA IN ANTI-OPIUM PILLS.
Morphia is not only imported in a liquid form for injection, but also in the insidious form of so-called "anti-opium" pills, which are sold in vast quantities as a cure for opium smoking. The Commissioner of Imperial Maritime Customs states that these morphia pills are obtainable in every medicine shop in anton and their sale is increasing. The offer of a reward of Tls. 15 for every 12 oz. detected produced no result, and proves how lucrative the business is. The Consul General at Canton sent
me some
Cost
$1.32
-11
-14
cents cents cents Thus to produce the same narcotic effect 1 grain of injected morphia at a cost of 7 cents 233 grs. of smoked opium costing $1.32! The profit to the sellers of these pills is also enor- mous for they are sold at four times the cost- 75 per
cent. profit. There is little occasion for surpise that vendors and purchasers are alike eager to obtain them!
+
There is I rejoice to say, some indication that the Chinese Government are waking up to the danger. The Governor of Kiangsu sub- mitted a Memorial to the Throne pointing out that, there was some chance of curing opium smoking, but none of curing the morphia habit-morphia is obtainable at a fraction of the cost. This led to the Ediot of July 16th (Times August 22.08) in which it
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