August, 1886.]
MOORE ON THE OPIUM DYSCRASIA.
225
milk, and opium, and without the latter they could scarcely endure the fatigue and monotony of tending camels in the sandy desert tracts. Many commence to use, and continue to use, opium as others do wine or spirits, as a matter OPIUM DYSCRASIA. of habit, or for the pleasurable sensations or exhiliration produced. As a comment on the By Surgeon-General MOORE, C.I.E. deleterious effects of opium, it may be here mentioned that, whereas a Briton concludes his That a very large number of the population (s cheery glass," of India suffer from opium dyscrasia is one of mercantile bargains with the " a Chinaman takes his opium before he bargains ; the numerous delusions of the Anti-opium for the latter knows the opium will brighten his Society," all of which I have exposed in my " while the former is aware that alkohol intellect, Other Side of the The work Opium Question" Still a considerable number will have an opposite effect. Others take to and elsewhere.* of Indians are the subjects of opium dyscrasia, opium simply as a solace against the worries although not equalling the proportion suffering of life just as some people take to drinking, and from chronic alkoholism in other countries. For others commit suicide to avoid the evils of exthe assumption is a mistake, that when a person istence. Iu the magic of opium they find such content that they care not for the Xantippe of once commences to use opium lie cannot leave their domestic life, and would not trouble themit off, and must continue to increase the dose. so much as selves Diogenes did if Alexander As a matter of fact, finding the practice does between them and the sun. drinker or appeared himnoharm,the opium-eater, smoker, Much ignorance, owing to misrepresentations, does not leave it off; but equally as a matter prevails as to the kind of opium which is used, of fact, he is no more compelled to increase the and as to the manner in which it is used. Some dose than those using alkohol are. Many take little pills of crude opium, but the majordoubtless do, but the majority do not, and they ity use little balls of chandul, the preparation find in opium a pleasurable enjoyment at a mentioned below. A large number take " umalsmall A pecuniary expenditure. very very a solution of opium in water ; and in large number of those using opium commenced pawnee," the desert districts of Rajpootana the "stirrup the relief of for some painful ailment, so doing " of umal-pawnee is commonly offered becup and the sensational reports of the deplorable fore the guest mounts his camel for the lonely are in a of measure condition opium-users great ride home. The preparation called derived from the diseases for which opium is desert " (< " chandul" or chandoo is used for smokiug. taken as a relief, being described by ignorant of opium. Others take Chandul is prepared by first breaking the crude persons as the effects opium into small pieces aud drying in a metal to opium as a prophylactic against malarious It is then put into over a fire. fevers, as which it is not only used in many receptacle water aud is boiled it then strained, the result; parts of India but also in other parts of the decoction of opium a in ing liquor even being strong first Others took and world, England. In the about the consistence of, and looking very like, to opium to still the pangs of hunger. thick treacle. Sir Greorge Birdwood holds chanfamine years 1869-70, opium was Rajpootana the salvation of thousands who must otherwise dul smoking to be a strictly harmless indulhave succumbed to famine as tens of thousands gence, aud he attributes this to chemical changes the opium undergoes iu its conversion did succumb. Opium, like tea, prevents erema- which into chandul, aud in the combustion when of waste and a or tissue, causis, person using smoked. For chandul is not smoked as tobacco opum can live on much less food than without A little ball of chandul is put the drug. Others use opium to enable them to is smoked. into the peculiarly shaped opium pipe, which is tide over periods of great physical strain. The and the kossids, or runners, formerly maintained to held in the flame of a spirit lamp smoke is inhaled as the chaudul burns. For from one native court to convey messages another habitually performed long distances with convenience, the chandul-smoker reclines, so almost incredible speed, their principal support that his pipe may reach the flame, as poor natives do not use tables aud chairs. The anti-opiumists en route being little pills of opium carried in Camels also are given opium foolishly make a great point of the fact that a small tin-box. with other Chinamen, when they smoke opium, lie down combined things, to promote their to do it, and John Bull is called upon to believe endurance of fatigue. The camel-breeders in in the terrible power of an intoxicating agent, Western Rajpootana, who accompany the herds which cannot be imbibed standing or sitting the into solitudes of the semi-desert of camels But chandul as the Briton takes his liquor ! on a little live camel's bajree districts, bread, or as well as in be used sitting standing, may there is the preparaLastly, any other posture. * The opium shops of Bombay. tion known as "muddut." The word muddut
?rijiual (fommunuaiioni
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
226
in the vernacular
means
help, aid, assistance,
and this name may be accepted as an index of what the natives think of opium. Muddut is prepared from chandul and dried bran, and is smoked through water from the native pipe known as the " hubble-bubble." Muddut is less costly than chandul, also less powerful, but if smoked sufficiently long, the effects are the It is simply a matter of choice or fancy, same. just as one of ourselves may fancy brandy and another whisky. The first effects of either eating, drinking or smoking opium are excitant. If taken in a larger quantity, the effects are calmif still more is consumed, narcotic. ative ; Opium may be taken or smoked for an indefinite period, if only used up to the two first effects, without injury. It is impossible to state what the amount is which may be consumed without injury. Much depends on the circumstances of the person, and more upon his temperament and idiosyncracy. There are few articles the use of which, being injurious or the There reverse, depends more on idiosyncracy. are people in Bombay who take large quantities of opium and perform responsible work well. There are others who would be injuriously affected by one-tenth of the amount. Something doubtless depends on whether the person was habituated to the use of opium as a child ; although there are many Indian children killed or seriously injured by opium, there are many dosed every day, and who yet seem plump and well. Only the other day a child was brought to the Mahableswar dispensary suffering from an over-dose of opium, to whom opium had been given since its birth, and yet this child was in an excellently healthy condition. So long as a certain amount of opium is not exceeded, there are no recognizable evil effects. If the amount is exceeded, the person becomes apathetic and neglects his affairs. He becomes forgetful and does not perform his duties satisfactorily. Until he has had his daily dose, he is unfit for any employment, his body emaciates, and he has a prematurely aged appearance. Yet even among the confirmed opium users, there are none of the distressing effects of alkohol. There is no noise or quarrelling such The different stages of as results from liquor. to the consuunknown are alkoholic inebriety No one under the influence of mer of opium. opium desires to quarrel witli his friend, or jump on his wife. A little conversation may take place, but it is in low strains and principally between An opithose settling down for their smoke. um shop is usually as quiet as the readingroom of the Athenajum Club. The confirmed opium user also becomes more or less impotent, although this is not, as has been stated, a primary effect of opium. In my description of "the opium shops of Bombay," I remarked as a comment on the alleged anti-phrodisac
[August,
1886.
effects attributed to opium, that in the immediate neighbourhood or ou the same premises are located modern specimens of those Cyprians who in the Theban chorus are alluded to as
MOORE ON THE OPIUM DYSCRASIA.
225
milk, and opium, and without the latter they could scarcely endure the fatigue and monotony of tending camels in the sandy desert tracts. Many commence to use, and continue to use, opium as others do wine or spirits, as a matter OPIUM DYSCRASIA. of habit, or for the pleasurable sensations or exhiliration produced. As a comment on the By Surgeon-General MOORE, C.I.E. deleterious effects of opium, it may be here mentioned that, whereas a Briton concludes his That a very large number of the population (s cheery glass," of India suffer from opium dyscrasia is one of mercantile bargains with the " a Chinaman takes his opium before he bargains ; the numerous delusions of the Anti-opium for the latter knows the opium will brighten his Society," all of which I have exposed in my " while the former is aware that alkohol intellect, Other Side of the The work Opium Question" Still a considerable number will have an opposite effect. Others take to and elsewhere.* of Indians are the subjects of opium dyscrasia, opium simply as a solace against the worries although not equalling the proportion suffering of life just as some people take to drinking, and from chronic alkoholism in other countries. For others commit suicide to avoid the evils of exthe assumption is a mistake, that when a person istence. Iu the magic of opium they find such content that they care not for the Xantippe of once commences to use opium lie cannot leave their domestic life, and would not trouble themit off, and must continue to increase the dose. so much as selves Diogenes did if Alexander As a matter of fact, finding the practice does between them and the sun. drinker or appeared himnoharm,the opium-eater, smoker, Much ignorance, owing to misrepresentations, does not leave it off; but equally as a matter prevails as to the kind of opium which is used, of fact, he is no more compelled to increase the and as to the manner in which it is used. Some dose than those using alkohol are. Many take little pills of crude opium, but the majordoubtless do, but the majority do not, and they ity use little balls of chandul, the preparation find in opium a pleasurable enjoyment at a mentioned below. A large number take " umalsmall A pecuniary expenditure. very very a solution of opium in water ; and in large number of those using opium commenced pawnee," the desert districts of Rajpootana the "stirrup the relief of for some painful ailment, so doing " of umal-pawnee is commonly offered becup and the sensational reports of the deplorable fore the guest mounts his camel for the lonely are in a of measure condition opium-users great ride home. The preparation called derived from the diseases for which opium is desert " (< " chandul" or chandoo is used for smokiug. taken as a relief, being described by ignorant of opium. Others take Chandul is prepared by first breaking the crude persons as the effects opium into small pieces aud drying in a metal to opium as a prophylactic against malarious It is then put into over a fire. fevers, as which it is not only used in many receptacle water aud is boiled it then strained, the result; parts of India but also in other parts of the decoction of opium a in ing liquor even being strong first Others took and world, England. In the about the consistence of, and looking very like, to opium to still the pangs of hunger. thick treacle. Sir Greorge Birdwood holds chanfamine years 1869-70, opium was Rajpootana the salvation of thousands who must otherwise dul smoking to be a strictly harmless indulhave succumbed to famine as tens of thousands gence, aud he attributes this to chemical changes the opium undergoes iu its conversion did succumb. Opium, like tea, prevents erema- which into chandul, aud in the combustion when of waste and a or tissue, causis, person using smoked. For chandul is not smoked as tobacco opum can live on much less food than without A little ball of chandul is put the drug. Others use opium to enable them to is smoked. into the peculiarly shaped opium pipe, which is tide over periods of great physical strain. The and the kossids, or runners, formerly maintained to held in the flame of a spirit lamp smoke is inhaled as the chaudul burns. For from one native court to convey messages another habitually performed long distances with convenience, the chandul-smoker reclines, so almost incredible speed, their principal support that his pipe may reach the flame, as poor natives do not use tables aud chairs. The anti-opiumists en route being little pills of opium carried in Camels also are given opium foolishly make a great point of the fact that a small tin-box. with other Chinamen, when they smoke opium, lie down combined things, to promote their to do it, and John Bull is called upon to believe endurance of fatigue. The camel-breeders in in the terrible power of an intoxicating agent, Western Rajpootana, who accompany the herds which cannot be imbibed standing or sitting the into solitudes of the semi-desert of camels But chandul as the Briton takes his liquor ! on a little live camel's bajree districts, bread, or as well as in be used sitting standing, may there is the preparaLastly, any other posture. * The opium shops of Bombay. tion known as "muddut." The word muddut
?rijiual (fommunuaiioni
THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
226
in the vernacular
means
help, aid, assistance,
and this name may be accepted as an index of what the natives think of opium. Muddut is prepared from chandul and dried bran, and is smoked through water from the native pipe known as the " hubble-bubble." Muddut is less costly than chandul, also less powerful, but if smoked sufficiently long, the effects are the It is simply a matter of choice or fancy, same. just as one of ourselves may fancy brandy and another whisky. The first effects of either eating, drinking or smoking opium are excitant. If taken in a larger quantity, the effects are calmif still more is consumed, narcotic. ative ; Opium may be taken or smoked for an indefinite period, if only used up to the two first effects, without injury. It is impossible to state what the amount is which may be consumed without injury. Much depends on the circumstances of the person, and more upon his temperament and idiosyncracy. There are few articles the use of which, being injurious or the There reverse, depends more on idiosyncracy. are people in Bombay who take large quantities of opium and perform responsible work well. There are others who would be injuriously affected by one-tenth of the amount. Something doubtless depends on whether the person was habituated to the use of opium as a child ; although there are many Indian children killed or seriously injured by opium, there are many dosed every day, and who yet seem plump and well. Only the other day a child was brought to the Mahableswar dispensary suffering from an over-dose of opium, to whom opium had been given since its birth, and yet this child was in an excellently healthy condition. So long as a certain amount of opium is not exceeded, there are no recognizable evil effects. If the amount is exceeded, the person becomes apathetic and neglects his affairs. He becomes forgetful and does not perform his duties satisfactorily. Until he has had his daily dose, he is unfit for any employment, his body emaciates, and he has a prematurely aged appearance. Yet even among the confirmed opium users, there are none of the distressing effects of alkohol. There is no noise or quarrelling such The different stages of as results from liquor. to the consuunknown are alkoholic inebriety No one under the influence of mer of opium. opium desires to quarrel witli his friend, or jump on his wife. A little conversation may take place, but it is in low strains and principally between An opithose settling down for their smoke. um shop is usually as quiet as the readingroom of the Athenajum Club. The confirmed opium user also becomes more or less impotent, although this is not, as has been stated, a primary effect of opium. In my description of "the opium shops of Bombay," I remarked as a comment on the alleged anti-phrodisac
[August,
1886.
effects attributed to opium, that in the immediate neighbourhood or ou the same premises are located modern specimens of those Cyprians who in the Theban chorus are alluded to as
