The Hickman courier., 1874-01-17
Opium Smoking.

rible effects of opium smoki4
can writer's have also comT, M =!
inous papers upon the SAM ~ 3TZ
all instances China is spoil ~
place where the practice MOI I II
Perhaps the Americans who hsw< ss
ten so much in relation to the matte s
not aware that in New York, the en- &
city of their country, there is an op-S&
smoking saloon which, for dirt, squalor
and sliminess, can we'll rank with the
most frequented dens of Canton.
In Donovan's lane, miserable little
alley opening from Baxter street, room
is kept particularly and solely for the
service of opium smokers. 1t is con-
Quoted by a withered old wreck, who,
although only forty years of age, by
hyNinveterate use of the drug, has the
APP earance of being at least 20. The
roo \ if it can be called such, is about
twelts feet long by wide; slanting
board shelf is fixed lengthwseto one OF
the walls. This is long enough to allow
a man of full stature to lie at full length,
but no more than four persons could be
on it at time. It is upon this that the
opium smokers recline when indulging
their terrible longing. The place was
visited a few evenings since, and was
fonnd occupied by two Chinese, one of
them very old man, and the other a
youth, who stated that he had just been
discharged from the Uuited Stares
steamer Juniata, upon which he had
served as officers steward. Both were
smoking opium.
Many persons suppose that opium is
used in the same way that tobacco is.
This, however, is a mistake. Tobacco
can be smoked standing, walking, and
| at business. The opium smoker al
ways lies down when induIging his
/ habit, and gives his whole attention to
the process of inhaliDg the fumes OF
/ the drug. Before opium can be used
it has to be prepared most carefully by
persons skilled in its concoction. 1t is
reduced from solid to a liquid by
boiling with a small quantity of water,
and when ready for the pipe looks like
a thi1spaste or thick, muddy molasses.
The opium pipe consists of reed an
incl $in diameter. The aperture in the
boG which admits the drug is not
much larger than the head of a pin.
One hundredth part of an ounce is all
that can be smoked by beginner. Old
debauchees, however, can use from a
| quarter to a third of an ounce daily.
| Tobacco smokers always emit the smoke
from their moaths, but an old opium
smoker invariably blows the fumes
from his nostrils, and very often absorbs
them IN his lungs. A tobacco pipe .
be lighted easily by match or cog
fire, but the opium pipe must be lig
with great care, and always
steady flame of an oil lamp.
! opening IN the bowl is held
and the light is drawn in
After the opium is ignited
/ of smoking is very short
one or two whiffs can be take.
this way, lighting and smoking, scy
Of persons, inhabitants of this eli
spend hour after hour, never ceasif
until they drop of into the death-liki
stupor which is the aim of all opiu
smokers.
Inveterate smokers live for noti
but the qualification of their appeti
When it cannot be satisfied they SD
tortures of the most horrid charace%(
Those persons who are addicted to tbs
use of this poison, seldom live to
more than 90 years Of age; most tas
have reached that stag in which they
can consume a third of an ounce a de-
| The Chinese admit that the effects
| the drug upon the human frame are rI
Gus in the extreme they argue, b,
ever, that all nations indulge in Sd
dissipation; the Americans, they say
drink whisky until they are drunk, AM
they ask if this be so, why is it wroni
for Cinnamon to become senseless wi
opium? Those who live in New Yq
are, wi few exceptions, dey -
the practice of opium smok
what is far more terrible,
Der of white girls residing
borhood are becoming addS
same vice. They live with tfN
when they can find no other home
although the people of their own r
close their doors against them, they /
, always welcome at the fresides of thos
to whom they sell their souls for IL
sustenance of their bodies.-M
Times.