Year: 1872

An inquiry among druggists reveals
the fact that there are In New York
City about five thousand confirmed
users Of opium in its, various forms OF
sulphate of morphia, laudannm, and
the crude root. The ranks Of these
inebriates embraces all classes Of soci-
ETY., from the lady Of Fifth avenue to
Sohn Chinaman, Of Baxter street. The
drug is sold by many respectable drug
gists over the counter without ply
sician's prescription, but, as q general
thing, only to known and regular GUS
toners, who have become thoroughly
used to it. Sometimes stranger can
get il, but it is only because his appear
mce Enthusiastically indicates that he is


aYou can always till 'en,,y said a
worthy uptown druggist. "There's
something about their expression, about
their complexion and eyes, and about


their nervous manner, that tells on 'em
at once. They are all sure BEATS
They'll pay at first, probably, and then
they'll let q little stand over greater,
or they'll get full credit, and then they
won't COME any more. They'll 70 to
some other druggist and work 1t on
him."
Sometime the unfortunate, brought
to q low ebb by the cravings of the
horrible appetite, will steal all the
laudanum he can find in the store. A
respectably-dressed lady was recently
detected by clerk in drug store, on
Third avenue, hiding bottle of lauda-
mum in her dress. The appetite de-
stroys all moral sense as surely as it
ruins all the physical faculties.


1t is estimated that each drug store
in this city has an average of three
daily customers, who buy morphia or
opium, and probably as many more
who buy laudanum for the purpose Of
intoxication. The opium in its crude
state is sometimes bought and greediiy
eaten ON the spot. "They chew it,1


says one druggist, ssas you wonld wax"
The crude opium, however, is not the
favorite form of the drug among the
confirmed eaters. 1t is used more
generally both for eating and smoking
by the Chinese pagans in the dark cell


lars of the Sixth Ward, than by any
other class ofcustomers.


1t takes longer than morphine to af-


feet the system, and then the principal


desire of the inebriate is to betake him


self to the. gorgeous land of fancies,


that delicious garden of perfect rest to


which morphine at once transports


him. Sulphate of morphia is the fa-


vQrite form of the drug, and it is i'm


this state thxte New York deyee1es


mainly use it. Some Of the doses tn


ken by the "sotsv are enough to kill


half q dozen men innocent Of the habit


ual use of n. One lady, some time


ago, bought ten grains of it, and drank


it off af once, without leaving the store.


An old gentleman, well known for his


old age, is said to be in the habit Of ta-


taking twenty-five grains Of it daily.


A quarter of an ounce of was drank


at one sitting in drug store up town,


recently, by man who had an incura-


BILE disease, and who admitted that he


did not care whether it killed him or


only eased the pain. Numbers Of


wealthy people doubtless buy the ar


ticle at wholesale, and thus avoid the


necessity ofa physicians prescription,


and also avoid the exposure conse-


quent ON frequent applications for it at


the druggists. In this way, also, they


prevent the possibility Of any very


close calculation as TO the number of


hasheesh worshippers in the metropo-


lis but our estimate. from the rough


calculation of druggists, is probably


very near the correct figure.