HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



iSi 



sold under the name of "Maw-seed," for feeding 

 cage-birds. 



The most important use, however, of this plant is 

 the production of opium, for which purpose it is very 

 largely cultivated in India, China, Asia Minor, Persia, 

 Egypt, &c. There are two varieties more especially 

 known in cultivation — one with violet or white flowers 

 and black seeds; the other, with white flowers and 

 seeds. The latter is the variety cultivated in India, 

 where we may easily judge it forms an important article 

 of trade by the " opium-pipes " kindly allowed for 



(where such exists), and placed into large troughs or 

 vats, when it is kneaded into a homogeneous mass 

 by native vvorkmen ; it is then examined by native 

 examiners, and the true quality is ascertained, and 

 freedom from adulteration is insured. When the 

 drug has arrived at that state, it is ready for ex- 

 portation. 



It is moulded into spherical masses, from 4 to 5 

 inches in diameter, and invested with dried petals 

 fastened together with inferior opium, packed in 

 cases, and exported in very large quantities to China, 



^m£=W^ 



Fig. 151. Arnotto Plant Bi.va crcllniia). 



exhibition by the Prince of Wales, presented to him 

 during his recent visit to India. 



The way in which opium is obtained in India is 

 similar to, if not wholly the same, as that in other 

 countries. When the plants are in flower, the petals 

 are taken off and preserved for the investment of the 

 opium balls. The capsules, when but imperfectly 

 ripe, are lanced from top to bottom by small instru- 

 ments known as "nushturs," — an operation which is 

 only performed on favourable occasions, usually about 

 three o'clock in the afternoon. The milky juice 

 quickly exudes from the incisions, hardens upon ex- 

 posure to the atmosphere, and is collected in small 

 iron "scoops." After repeated incisions are made, 

 and the juice collected until the supply is exhausted, 

 the drug is carried into the Government factory 



where the practice of "opium-smoking" is carried 

 on to an alarming extent, about which we have 

 all heard. Its effects, of course, are most inju- 

 rious to the persons habitually practising that habit. 

 A small amount also finds its way to this country ; 

 but the chief supply of this country is obtained from 

 Turkey and Egypt, and is the most esteemed : it is 

 usually in the form of irregular lumps, varying from 

 four ounces to two pounds, and covered with dock 

 seeds. It is worthy of remark that the workmen 

 employed in opium-factories, although exposed for 

 several hours in a day to opium fumes, do not mate- 

 rially suffer therefrom : occasionally they are troubleil 

 with a drowsy sensation at the latter part of the 

 day. 



The chemical nature of opium is very complex ; its 



