Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-05-29
MEN WHO HIT THE PIPE.
DRUGGIST s.sEvELATIoEs ABOUT
OPIUM SMOKING.

Large CiIics-EEOw the Drug 10
kmOkcd-Its Effec ct.
"Although quite common in almost
all the large cities in the West, the per-
nicious habit of opium smoking or hit
ting the pipe as it is usually called, is
quite unknown in Detroit said we'll.
known druggist to reporter for the
Frse Press.
This habit" he continued, has
grown to an alarming extent on the Pa
cific slope and in all other localities
where Chinese are to be found in any
great numbers. have visited many of
the Chinese n,,iur,- t-;-L- -
1 glance whether person is addicted TO
.he use of the deadly drug or not. l
have had strangers come into my store
whose facial appearance indicated that
:hey were the slaves of the opium habit,
and so far as know there is no sure cure
for it except to shun the drug as one
would viper.
"The opium used by the Chinese is Of
an inferior quality, and is brought to
ibis country In the form of a paste, put
I'D in small, round, foil-lined boxes,
similar to those used for pills. The pipe
IS a curious looking contrivance, and
night be taken for common walking
stick were it not for the little metallic
oowl placed mid way between the mouth
piece and the end of the stem. The stem
itself is constructed of bamboo, one end
oeiug plugged, the other fitted with an
amber or metallic tip. In the bottom OF
the bowl are two small holes, one of
which leads through into the stem, the
other only about half way.
In using the pipe small quantity OF
t he opium paste is rolled up into a pellet
and placed on wire, the end of which
is inserted in one of the holes in the bowl
Of the pipe. The smoker stretches his or
her form on the floor or low divan as
the case may be, and ignites the opium
by applying the bowl of the pipe to the
flame from charcoal brazier. If it be
MS first attempt the initial Whit will be
sufficient to partially strange him, as the
fumes of burning opium are exceed
lngly pungent and distusteful. Very soon
ne becomes accus omed to the peculiar
;aste, ind gradually succumbs to its in
iuence, as one does in taking an anaes-
;hetic, and finally drops of into deep
sleep. tried it once and that proved
sufficient for me. l had the most de-
ightful dreams, and imagined that
owned the earth, and had chattel mort
gage on the other planets. When | re-
gained consciousness my head felt al
large as Saratoga trunk, and for two
days at least every bone in my body
lched as badly as if | had been pun
shed with a club. had no desire tc
Try it again.
"With some people, however, the
habit grows like the taste for liquor
md they can no more control Themselves
han can maniac The peculiar head
.che which followed my attempt doe
lot continue after the first two or three
essons, and unless a person has very
tropg will there is likelihood of thu
practice being continued. Some of th'
Joints in the Chinese quarter in Sal
francisco are fitted up regardless of ex
pense, and almost every night after tn
heatres are out men and women-ant
Iome of them belong to the upper crus
can be seen vending their wa
dong Dupont street, when all of sud
len they will disappear and that is tn,
asst that is seen of them until next day
jome of them have become so accus
omed to the narcotic influence that tw
II three pipes are required to produc
he desired result. In the morning the,
merge from the dens with haggarC
aces and deep sunken eyes, and having
look of utter desperation as caa only
,c produced by opium. The practice i
sept up day after day until their consti
utions are wrecked and death puts al
md to their sulferings.
Gas an instance of how far man cal
20 in this way | will state little Incl
lent that came under my notice when
vas walking the hospitals of San Fran
cisco. One day a poor wretch wa
brought in, and on examination foun
aim to be delirious from opium smoE
ng. In his rawlings he begged for 'ju
Dne more pipe, and finally to quiet hi
administered hypodermic injection
, audanum. He soon recovered and wt
discharged. About six weeks afterwal
The same man was brought back in pr
, cisely the same condition as at first. I
, again asked for opium, and on rolling |
MS sleeve for the purpose of giving Il
, lypodermic injection l was somewh
, amazed to find the arm covered wi
9 small pimples. On closer examination
discovered that the pimples were cause
Dy the steel needle of a hypoderm
i yringe, with which the victim had j
, ected laudanum into his veins instead
9 moking opium. He did not live to r
, pent of his folly, and that experien
=, gave me some idea of the power of Il