, 1856-02-08
IntOIIcNtIon from Opium ptuary LIseS-
IRtIOn.

Ahtohachuoh from OIluln--sum ptuary LiseS-
We adverted to the fact the other day
that the employment of opium as an intox-
icating agent has alarmingly increased in
the United States-that this increase is
directly traccable to the adoption of pro-
hibitory liquor laws in several Of the States
and that in anticipation Of the general
adoption Of these laws, shrewd merchants
engaged in the Chinese trade have sent out
orders for greatly enhanced supplies of the
deleterious drug We recur to the subject
for the purpose of furnishing the reader
with some additional facts touching the
use OF opium as a stimulant, furnished by
a lady correspondent Of the New York
Tribune: fr." F.... r.
'The intoxicntion produced by this fatal
drug is certainly no less repulsive than that
which follows the abuse of strong liquors,
and the gradual wasting Of the form and
ruin of the intellect which accompanies the
use Of this poison is dreadful to behold,
especially when bcheld in the person of
relative My feelings are daily narrowed
by the sight of young relative who has
taken to this awful species Of intoxication;
every means have been tried to break her
Of it; money has been withheld from her,
the druggists nearest home have been
warned against furnishing her any, but all
has been in vain. 1t is idle to think Of
being able to warn all the druggists IN
this vast city. She procures it in immense
quantities in various places on trust, gives
a false name and address, aud when she is
prevented from going ont, brbes my serv-
ants to get It for her. In despair at this
state Of things, which is fast hurrying her
to tho grave, have sought information
respecting this singular species Of vice, and
have discovered among families knopn 10
1le, no less than fire persons whose lives and
intellects have been sacrificed 10y this dele
terious 'drng. II the druggists were con-
suited they could show long list of ruin
accomplished in this fearill manner. These
discoveries have led me to request the pub
Iicity of your columns to call upon those
who are similarly afflicted with myself to
pray the authorities to devise some means
to put a stop to this dreadful vice. If the
abuse Of strong liquors has required the
strong arm Of the law to interfere to re-
press it, is it not equally needful that some
ordinance should interpose to save these
voluntary and stubborn victims from an in
toxication as revolving, and in some res
poets, much worse, for rs far MS l can learn,
no habtual drinker of laudanum has ever
been reelaimed2 Idiocy or the grave alone
closes the scene" .r OBJ. .,.-l -.-
This is sad revelation, but such as may
be made, VIC apprehend. in respect to thou
sands Of neighborhoods. Could the truth
be known, we have no doubt It would be
found that, even now, opium is productive
of moro misery and greater calamity in the
United States than spirituous liquors. If
this be so, or Il the evils Of the use Of OPT
um are a moicty of those arising from the
use Of spirits, what will be our condition
when spirits shall be abolished and opium
inNugnrated9 ..... ............ ......
But, the fair correspondent of the Tri
bune wants opium abolished too. Pre-
cisely; tho passage Of prohbitory liquor
laws is but the beginning Of sumptuary le-
gislation, if it be conceded that moral evils
can be cured by legal enactmcnts. There
are plenty OF other narcotics, quite as in
furious as opium, which must also be ban
ished, or they will take the place of the
prescribed drug The legislature, if the
determination be to carry the work Of COM
pulsory reform through, cannot stop at
spirits and opium, IT must prescribe what
people mag cat and drink, as well as what
they may not. 1t mnst go through the
whole materia medica, and ascertain what
products of the land, sea and air are bene-
fetal and what deleteriouS to the human
frame, aud construct statutes accordingly.
On the whole, may there not be some
thing in the maxim, "the world is governed
too much" i .a A.8 .iI."d
4Et Hs