New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-15
OPIUM AT FOUR DOLLARS.
HOLDERS OF THE DRUG NOW ASKING
THAT PRICE FOR A POUND.
INJURY TO THE CROP ~ TURKEY HAS cAUsED
PHENOMENAL ADVANCE IN VALUE
HOW OPIUM Is BROUGHT TO
THIS COUNTRY
THIS COUNTRY.

Not a little sensation in the drug market has
been caused in the last few weeks by the phe-
Lomenal rise in The price Of opium. Those who
have large quantities Of the drug IN their pos
session are congratulating themselves and hold
ing their valuable wares in the confident ca
pectatiOn OF stll further advance. On January
Of this year opium was worth 81 80 4 pound
good price. considerably higher than the aver
age one for the last few years. BY February 1
it had risen to 81 ~. and by March to So %.
At this figure unusually large purchases were
made. consumers and spectators evidently feel
ing sure that the market price was destined to
climb still higher On April 50 ID was reached.
and on May 50 81. Last Monday the drug
was selling at from s. 60 70 So %. with some
holders asking 81.
The reason for the remarkable increase In the
value of opium is due to the scarcity OF the
present years crop. The severe we1ther last
winter in Turkey. where nearly all Of tho
opium imported into this city comes from. did
great damage to the poppes There were first
heavy frosts. which destroyed large part OF
the autumn .owings. and this misfortune was
followed about two months ago by drouth
Besides the ac,ual injury which this second evil
brought about II had the effect OF dscouragns
the opium-raiscrs. and they did not plant nearly
been an unprecedented falling off in the crop
which accor ling to the latest estimates from
Smyrna the centre Of the Turkey opium trade
will be only about 100 eases for the year
1898 \ Of opium contains. on he aver
age. 100 pounds. y fair annual crop Is reck-
onrd at 5000 OF 700 cases. or nearly three
times as much as the amount predicted for tnis
season The duty Of 81 a pound imposed by the
new tariff upon crude opium which hal come In
FREE. Under the / T viJUs tariff. has OF course had
the effect f raising the price somewhat since the
Dngley bill became law on July u. 1871.
THE TURKISH VARIETY.
The Turkish opium referred 10 is an entirely
different article from the Chinese smoking
opium. which is raised chiefly in India. Not
much Of the latter comes to the Eastern States
though a certlin amount Of il could probably
be found in the neighborhood Of Mott and
Doysrs SITS The duty upon il is 81 a pound.
which Is sufficient 10 prohibit much lmpOrta-
|, n except that Of particularly unoStcnta-
iious character. Large quantities or II nave
been shipped from China 10 the Pacific Coast
but little is consumed in New-York. This smok-
ing opium comes in small tin cans, containing
about a pound each 1t is of very inferior
strength showing usually not more than or
: per cent If morphine. while the crude opium
for drug purposes must yield at least , per cent
If morphine when tested, or It's importation IS
not allowed II arrives from Turkey "a small
auantity also from PERSIA by way II England,
hacked a. has been stated in cases OF about
. ne hundred ard sky pounds Raw opium IS
IA Ter hard gum II a reddish brown color. Much
II u looks not unlike chocolate. + has pecul-
iar strong od r. and slightly bitter taste. IL
comes in lurps or cakes ~ vari rs Sz's. rang
Irg from f.,v ounces u three or four pounds in
weight \ piece about the size of mans ist
W.I weigh pound.
The process Of obtaining the gum from the
poppy IS 4 simple one. y shallow "ut is made
in the unripe poppy head. so'n after the Hover
petals have fallen. This Is done In the after
noon. and Ia. next morning the milky juice
which has oozed cut is sciapel Off. and made
into Jumps ready for packing and shipment
DRUGS MADE FROM OPIUM.
\ coed quality II Turkish opium viii yield
fror, II 70 II per cent Of morphine the most
important medicinal substance obtained from it.
Tie present advance in the price Of opium has
forced the manufacturers Of morphine 70 raise
their prices also in corresponding degree. Other
familiar opium preparations which will be at
fected more or less audanum and paregoric-
I.audanum Is a simple ,incture of opium. Of
which twenty five drops are equivalent TO
grain Of the crude drug Paregoric is known al
a camphorateI tincture. being compounded Of
OPIUM camph)r benzoic acid. oil Of anse honey
and diluted alcohol Half a fluid ounce u this
tircture represents about grain OK opium.
According to the annual report of the drug
trade Just prepared for the Chamber Of Com
MERGE Of the state Of New-York the importa-
tiops Of crude opium for the fiscal year which