The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-09-05
Opium Smokers.

Poor human nature is seldom seen at
greater disadvantage than when discov-
cred in Chinese opium smoking room.
The houses devoted to this use are gen.
orally found in some narrow, dirty
street, filed with the heavy, pungent,
peculiar odor of The drug. Let us enter
lae of the establishments. The room is
lined on both sides with couches con-
structed of rattan and bamboo, nearly
every one of which has an occupant.
Some of the miserable, infatuated crea-
lures are already asleep under the in
fluence of the narcotic, and the rest are
rapidly advancing, puff by puff, to the
same Ito them) happy state of oblivion.
Here is one just coming in he takes
one of the few vacant couches, stretches
himself at full length thereon, arranges
the little bamboo pillow, and calls for
his supply Of opium, which, together
with the pipe and other instruments
necessary for its preparation and inhala-
ton, he is soon supplied with by an
obliging attendant. Let us watch the
moclus operandi You see the parapher-
MALTA Of the opium smoker consists Of
first, the pipe, bowl of some kind of
hard clay or porcelain, about an inch
and half IN diameter, but having a
! very small hole in the top. This bowl is
placed few inches frem one extremity
of the stem, which is about eighteen or
twenty inches in length, and three
quarters of an inch in diameter. Second
ly, small brass lamp, with glass
cover having circular opening at the
top through which the flame may be
reached. Thirdly, small box contain
ing the opium, which is in a semi-liquid
state, having something the appearance
of thick, dark-colored molasses, and
lastly steel, or iron probe, about the
size of a knitting-needle.
The operator commences business by
dipping the point of his needle into the
opium, and taking out as much as will
adhere to it. He then holds it over the
flame of the lamp, keeping the opium in
its place by dexterously turning the
needle between his fingers continuing
the operation until the opium has at
tanned the proper consistency. he now
places the little sputtering, tizzing NOR
sci of poison on the orifce of his pipe
and moulds it with his finger and thumb
into the form of pastil, then pierces il
down through the centre with his
needle, and it is ready. Placing the
stem of the pipe between his lips, ht
holds the bowl over the lamp, SO thai
the fame can reach the opium, take
two or three inhalations, and theI
expels the smoke in puffs from mouth
and nose.
This finishes the first pipe, and the
same proceedings are repeated unit
his brain becomes clouded, his eyes ar,
fixed in a CLASSY, idiotic stare, the pip'
falls from his enervated grasp, and h
sinks into deep slumber, having salts
factorily finished his smoke, and, at tn
same time, "driven another nail int
his coffin" How men can barter ava,
health and reason for these hours O
transient pleasure, is incomprehensible
When awake, and free from the in
Huence of the narcotic, the opium
smoker is half-dead, and, in despair, re
; sorts to his opium again as his onl,
solace, that insidious poison, which
while it comforts, kills him. We hav
reason to dread the introduction of thi
terrible drug among us, for, although
rum is a great curse, opium perform
the work of destruction quicker, and
really more to be dreaded.