, : 3 PAPAVERACEEE, ee ae 
extended use of opium amongst the general population: There 
can be no doubt that opium-eating ‘was greatly resorted to in 
the famine year, because.it mitigated the sufferings arising 
-. from hunger and sickness, and enabled the poor people to . 
exist on Jess food. The nuntber of opium-eaters examined by 
444 men, 29 were between 15 and 25 years of age, 87 between 
» 25 and 85 years, 165 between 85 and 45 years, and 183 above 
4 45 years. Thus, by far the greater number were over 35 years 
| ofage. Gf those above 45 years, 56 were between 45 and 50 
_ years, 74 between 50 and 60 years, and 33 above 60 years, Of 
_the 169 women, 10 were between 15 and 25. years of age, 83 
me was 613, of whom 444 were men and 169 women; of the 
were from 25 to 35 years, 47 from 35 to 45 years, and 79 were — 
above 45 years of age. Here, also, the proportién of those — 
bove 35 years is greater. Many were over 50 years of age 
d not a few 60. It must.be understood that the ages are 
t given as exact; they are, however, approximately correct, 
nd arrwed at after careful inspection and inquiry. These 
emarks apply equally to the following, though the periods _ 
are not likely to be’very inaccurate, as they embrace such a 
number of years. Nota few mention the famine year (1866) 
as the time at which they first “contracted the habit. Of the 
-™en, 274 are said to have taken the drug for from 8 to. 10 
ears, 100 for from 10 to 20 years, °48 from 20 to’ 30 years, 
and 22 for more than 30 years. Of the women 104. for from 8 
sto 10 years, 43 for from 10 to 20 years, 14 from 20 to 80 — 
ears, and 8 for more than 30 years. The average ages ab. 
hich the habit was commenced were amongst the men from — 
0 to 26 years, and amongst the women from 24 to 3@ years. 
