APPENDIX V.

Dr. Ayres, Colonial Surgeon, Hong Kong , 1877; see Friendof China , vol. iii., page 217:—

“ As regards opium-smoking, no prisoner who confessed tobe an opium-smoker has been allowed a single grain in thegaol. NeiLlier has he had any stimulant as a substitute,and I do not find there has been any evil consequence inbreaking off this habit at once, nor that any precaution hasbeen necessary, further than a closer attention to the generalhealth. Several very good specimens of opium-smokers havecome under observation ; one was the case of a man whosedaily consumption had been two ounces a day for nineteenyears, and who was allowed neither opium or gin, nor washe given any narcotic or stimulant. For the first few dayshe suffered from want of sleep, but soon was in fair health, andexpressed himself much pleased at having got rid of the habit.I am no advocate for opium-smoking. My experience of it isthat it may become a habit, but that that habit is not neces-sarily an increasing one; nine out of twelve men smoke acertain number of pipes a day, just as a tobacco-smoker would,or as a wine or beer drinker might drink his two or threeglasses a day without desiring more. I think the excessiveopium-smoker is in a greater minority than the excessive