Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1877-02-26
ulArH IN THE PIPE.
opium sn.ks and what Hay Come
Prem 10.


Iron the s. r. Chronicle, Feb. al
There are some facts connected with
the habit OF opium-smoking. as prac
ticed in this city. which are not known
to the general public, and which have
hitherto found no place in the an
malls Of the history Of that vice. and Al
appreciation OF which Is calculated 70
startle those who are difting under The
spell wrought by the drowsy drug OF thu
Levant. What pathological interest
these facts may have IL left 10 the medi'
cal fraternity to determine. The gen.
sral public only know that opium Is eI.
tracted some way from the poppy. and
the scientists, TO speak exactly. that 1t Ii
the inspissated juice Of the Papavsi
somniferum. But the article as smoked,
and Of which this article Is intended to
treat. Is something more than this. II
Is prepared. according to accepted Chi.
nese formula. by thesepsople. and. save
in one place hereafter mentioned, nc
opium Ii thus prepared except In
China.
oRCDk OPIUM,
Az known to commerce. Ii 0 ysllowish-
green resin. Prepared opium or "0pien
Yen" Is a dull black In color. and Is oil
the consistency Of thick honey. It IL
imported in tins Of Ave taels and upward.
Accepting this quantity as the standard,
according to accurate authority II can.
not be laid down at this port. duty paid.
at = cost Of less than nine dollars, and
yet the present market price Is but
seven dollars. This circumstance would
seem TO point 10 an extended evasion OF
the duty /; but there Is another sxplana-
ton for II, viz: the successful establish
ing Of = factory for the preparation OF
this drug at Oregon, the product OF
which enters into active composition
with the imported article. This mixture
|, Is that Ia smoked, not by the Caucas-
ian. however. but by tho Chinese them
selves. The outsids barbarian who az
fects this vico Il rarely II ever permitted
10 inlale the seductive anu sedaiive
aroma Of 0pien Yen. This privilege Is
reserved 10 the naughty Monaghan,
whose Celestial breath first taints tho
lsthal drug. What is II. then, that
THE CAUCASIAN DEvorEE
Inhales? There il the residence Of n
wealthy Chinese merchant, and here the
place Of business OF q prosper.
Gus Chinese firm. In each will be
found mn inner room fitted up with
divan and pillows. pipes. lamp and
tray, and those little etceteras which
complete the usual paraphernalia Of the
opium.smoker. Hither the Mongol Wis
itor, bent ON business or u friendly
call, will be conducted; aud usually be.
tween alternate whiffs Of opium the
business will be arranged or the
visit concluded. These places to
the Caucasian visitor. unless ho comes
with proper credentials, are inaccessi-
BILE. The Chinese merchant keeps no
opium den for profits; he asks his
friend to smoke much tho Same M m
American proffers his visitor a cigar.
From tho bowls Of the smokers pipes
ut such places M these " gathered the
Yen Chez. or second opium, which with
still viler stuff forms tho product dealt
out In the only quarters readily accessi
bic to those Americans who pursue this
pernicious habit. As MI know who
have investigated the subject. opium Is
not burned In smoking, as Is tobacco.
A gentle heat is applied, the enthralling
vapor IL inhaled. and the residue gum.
when the moisture IL expelled. drops In
q ssmi.crystallizsd state in tho hollow
bowl OF the pipe. This, an before init.
mated. Is garnered. aud tho total pro.
duct. after the pipe has passed, may DO.
THROUGH FIFTY AsIATic MOUTHS,
Is mixed in n pasty mass, and IL dealt
out for the use Of Caucasian customers
and the lower class Of coolies. Again
smoked la the vilest dens OF Mongol
d~epravity. breathed upon by the fetid
breath Of hidsous leprosy-siricken
wretchss, holding tho presidential ex.
halations Of tho loathsoms victims Of
venerable plague. catching the noisoms
salival drippinss Of coolis bawds In dens
shut out from air and sunlight, this
polluted mass il again mixed In n Tester
Ing compound aud Is put to
the lips Of Christian imiiators OF
q fatal pagan vice. These are
tho cold. unyielding fncis. The force
Of the English language cannot ade-
quately portray the situation. What in.
and mysterious diseases fnd
their origin in tho uso OF this doubly
infected drug. thus distilled in all that
In noxious. gentlemen Of scientific attain
may tell us; what hitherto unox.
plainable ailment may be traced TO lis
in these charnel houses Of opium
the medical fraternity may yet record,
aud to this branch Of the subject il In.
the careful attention of those who
minister to the public health. The facts
here given. while conveying mn import
ant aud snlutary ndmonition. may profit
form the basis OF n thorough inyes.
LEGATION,