The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-11-28

THE NARCOTICS OF THE WoRID.-The use of
narcotics is common to all nations, according to
Professor Johnston and that whether the people
are civilized rude In the gilded salons of Paris
these dangerous stimulants rcstoredto mot less
than in the hut of the Polynesian, or the wigwam
ofthe red Indian. The Americans, the English,
the French. and Europeans generally use narcotics
in the shape of tobacco the Turks, the Chinese.
and the Hindostanese employ opium; while the
Persans the Africans and the Indians of Brazil
consume the extract of hemp. The Eastern Ar
chipelago has its betelnut the Polynesans, ava;
ard New Granada the thorn apple. Int eileetsd
men, boasting the highest culture Of the schools,
are much addicted TO narcotics as unEettcrec
savages and often as guilty Of excesses IN their
use Coleridge was no less a slave to his appe-
tite in this respect, than the most degraded bar
barian that tattooes his face cats his enemies-
1t is estimated that tobacco is consumed by eight
hundred millions of men; opium by four hu adred
millons hemp by nearly three hundred mili6ons;
betel by hundred millions, and coca by ten mil
lions. --..... ...-+ 8. y.5..= s-.E eas
That men, in all ages and under the most va ried
social and intellectual conditions, should invent and
use such diverse kinds of narcotics, is presuinp.
tive proof that there is something beside
sual qualification in the smoking OF tobacco, the
chewing of opium the inhalation of haschiscli.
Professor Johnston, in his excellent work, the
Chemistry Of Human Life" explsins in what this
something consists and shows that narcotics real
ly lessen the ordinary waste of matter In the hu
man frame. A writer in "Biack wood Nj Maeazne,
goes further and points out by what law tney nave
this effect He says that anything when stinh-
lates mems spiritual essence be II tea, cofee on the
more perilous narcotics tends TO arrest corporeai
decn and waste. When deaf occurs, for exam
| plc ali vital power leaves the body, and then the
| chemica al forces come into unrestraned play and
consumption begins Immediately. But while the body
Il in full health the vital forces hold the chemical
ones In check, their influence decreasing as disease
sets In and increasing new vigor, from whatev-
| er cause, Is impaired 70 the spiritual essence
| The peril attending the employment Of marco
tics consists, therefore, in their abuse than
in their use. Some of them, indeed are SO potent
opium and haschish. for instance. as 80 render ~
doubtful whether they not, under all ercuHa-
stances, deletc-ious- But the excessive use. even
Of the simple narcotics, Is fatal to leag tie ana
health; for though the over stimulation Of me
nerves viii arrest the waste Of tissue for awhlle,
~ soon as the excitement is past the wassc goos
on more rapidly than ever.
Now tI,at Il Is knossnwhas 4 In narcoees thAs
4 beneficial we know also when they should % used
Il and how. There Ii no longer, therefore. any o.
cuse for their smployment, as improper umsss g
Il In hurtful quantities Tbs savage may sun &c
stroy himself with ava because be ID ignorant; bu
Il the civilized man has no excuse for tmlessng tht
cxsmpIe with opium az hGnp hflddslpA LAaSr