prophylactic against malaria in damp districts; and also as enabling men to undergo prolonged muscular exertion on a small allowance
and
as
a
That it is
of food.
other diseases
a
prophylactic
also
against
cholera, asthma, &c., was not admitted. generally 4. That it is somewhat exceptional to begin as
the habit before 30 years of age, and that in the large majority it is begun between 30 and 40. 5. That the average daily ration probably
grains in the mofussil (Vincent Richards) ; but is probably larger in towns. 45 per cent, of the cases investigated by Dr. Ram Moy Roy consumed less than twelve grains daily, and 95 per cent, less than 24 grains
does not exceed
In
daily.
seven
estimating
the effect of these
doses,
the
contained in Indian
of
morphia quantity opium must be kept in mind, namely, 1'5 to 7 per cent., against 10 to 21 per cent, in Turkey opium.
small
That the moderate daily consumption of opium is compatible with good health, bodily and mental, and do es not obviously tend to the pro6.
duction of any disea se, or to shorten life. 72 per of the cases quoted by Dr. Ram Moy Roy were over 50 years of age, and 37 per cent,
cent,
over 60.
7.
That
opium
habit
to
external
the most usual ill are
impressions, timidity,
rate ; and when the to
Dr. CROMBIE'S SUMMARY OF THE OPIUM DISCUSSION. The as
following propositions
representing 1.
That
the
opium
gist -
may be
regarded
of the discussion
eaters
death from
:?
constitute from 5
to
10 per cent, of the people of Bengal, and that in certain parts of India, especially Rajputana, Gujerat and Sirhind, &c., the proportion is pro-
bably
much
assumes
the
larger.
In some of these parts opium in social life and ceremonial
position
lon?" ?Tanted to alcohol
othei countries. for which the opium 2. That the purposes a as habit is contracted are, prophylactic against, and in the treatment of malarial fever, to alleso
in
viate rheumatic pains, to cuie chionic dysentery and diarrhoea, chronic bronchitis, asthma, dyspepsia, aud diabetes, and veiy often as an aphrodi-
siac. 3. is
of small daily doses of opium of distinct benefit in almost all the
That the
probably
diseases
use
enumerated,
but
especially
in diabetes
t o
some
a
tendeucy
to
diminution of the birth-
quantity
disorder of the
emaciation,
effects of the
hebetude, lassitude, indifference
business and
neglect
-
consumed is
bowels,
and
intercurrent disease.
large, early These
results are, however, appare ntly not of frequent It is sometimes an indirect incentive to pilfering and petty theft; but even when
occurrence.
taken in excessive
quantities,
it does not lead
perceptible tissue-changes, grave or violent crime, to insanity or to infringements of public decency or order, or frequently to domestic unto
to
happiness. That the habitual use of even very large quantities (of a drachm and upwards) is often compatible with the enjoyment of excellent 8.
health, ness,
the keen and successful an honoured old age.
and
referred for
to of men
pursuit of busiInstances were
consuming a drachm of opium
years, meanwhile accumulating of one man who died at the rein the of 106 puted age complete possession of all his faculties and iu the of au
daily huge
forty
fortunes
:
important business, who had
management uinety grains
paten
INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
212
[July
1892.
years of his Alcohol is a potent cause of tissue-changes affectlife ; of a Sunyasi (Hindu devotee) 60 years of ing the vital organs, and its abuse leads indubitage who took the incredibly large allowance of ably to early death. Reference was made to 22 tolahs (9 ounces and 225 grains) daily with- several families which had become extinct in Calcutta through alcohol. That it is a direct out obvious ill effect. of opium
daily
for the last
sixty-six
That the
9.
morphia habit is extremely rare and is confined to large towns. ReferIndia, ence was made to a pleader who carried on his
in
business for many years
grains
of
on a
ration of 90
daily
of poverty, insanity, and domestic misery, bodily and mental weakness in the progeny. That gcinja is an excitant of the most cause
morphia.
That chundoo is the preparation used by 10. Chinese in smoking opium ; that it is universally smoked by Chinamen in Calcutta and also by a small and fairly well to do section of the -
-
community ; that the Chinamen are the healthiest, most industrious, intelligent, and orderly section of the community ; and there does native
not appear to be any reason to think that chundoo smoking is more harmful, bodily, mentally, or than tobacco
morally
and frequent cause of crime and violence ; that of 100 persons apprehended by the police in Calcutta in a condition of iutoxication over 99 per cent, are drunk with alcohol; that it is a frequent
smoking.
and of
powerful description, leading acute mania
used
natives of lower social
deprived of his daily ration, must be discounted; first, because of the theatrilargely cal modes of expressing grief and misery habitual with natives on all occasions ; and, secondeater when
ly,
because of the
ease
with which
they
can
be
deceived by substituting gentian, &c., for the habitual opium pill. The pleader referred to to 90 grains of morphia and apparent danger of imminent death when deprived of it, was completely comforted by a bolus of flour containing 10 grains of morphia on one day, and by a bolus consisting entirely of flour on subsequent days.
above, accustomed
in
That the reduction of
13.
an
opium-eater's
daily ration is neither difficult nor infrequent One of the speakers, himself an opium-eater, had without difficulty reduced his quantity from 24 to 6
grains daily.
That the substitution of
14.
toxicant for auother is not
one
form of in-
infrequent
; and that
obstacles placed in the way of those accustomed to eat
opium
would
probably
lead to
an
extended
use of alcohol and ganja. That alcohol and ganja are incompar15. ably more deleterious iu their effects on the
human
constitution
and
on
society
than
opium.
to
violent crime,
teudeucy,
to
and is the
frequent cause of chronic insanity. The figures for the lunatic asylums of Lower Bengal for the past ten years, show that of 2,202 admissions, 641 were ganja smokers, 117 spirit drinkers, and 8 only were opium-eaters. The figures for the other provinces of India show most
16.
preparation for smok- similar position. Eviby ing dence was adduced to show that madat smoking is capable of inducing deteriorated health in a considerable number of those indulging in it. That the misery evinced by the opium12. That madat is the
11.
of homicidal
results.