has beeu distributed. It is undoubtedly difficult to put forward any 

 other cause which would satisfactorily account for such an extensive 

 decline ; for there has been no change to speak of in the mining 

 industry, the price of tin has beeu well maintained, there has not been 

 any labour trouble and no exodus of Chinese from the State. It 

 api^ears, therefore, that the cause is attributable to there being less 

 opium smoked, not of necessity, but from choice. 



The details above given appear to go far towards pi'oving that 

 there is some efficacy in the treatment, and further, that it is not 

 merely the substitution of one drug habit for another. Whether the 

 active ingredient is the anti-opium plant or the burnt opium adminis- 

 tered internally in gradually decreasing doses, is a subject worthy of 

 investigation. The latter is possibly the true cause and the anti-opium 

 plant may only act as an astringent, preventing the distressing intes- 

 tinal troubles which usually supervene on a stoppage of a customary 

 supply of opium. The amount and nature of the alkaloids present in 

 burnt opium is also a promising field of enquii*y. The charred state of 

 the anti-opium drug, which was in use up to quite recently, suggests 

 that any alkaloidal principle which it might possess had been destroyed 

 in the process of roasting, or rather charring, to which it had been 

 subjected. Should the above suimise prove correct, it is possible that 

 gambler or some other astringent might, with advantage, be substitu- 

 ted for the anti-opium plant. 



The favourable results so far attained appear to warrant the experi- 

 mental trial of the treatment on the opium smokers who, from time to 

 time, find their way into the various lock-ups and prisons of the 

 Federated Malay States. These wretched people, as all those who have 

 either seen or heard them must be aware, suffer very severely during 

 the first few days of their incarceration from the compulsory cessation 

 of the supply of opium. It might be argued that pity was thrown 

 away on them, but it shoidd be remembered that the innocent suffer 

 as well as the wrong-doers ; for it is by no means everyone who is 

 detained in custody who is either guilty or is subsequently convicted 

 of the charge brought a^'ainst him. Besides these humane considera- 

 tions, it w^ould be a most favourable opportunity of testing the efficacy 

 of the treatment under circumstances where the results could be 

 watched and recorded. 



The writer wishes to gratefullv acknowledge the kind assistance 

 which was given to him by Mr. H. C. Eidges, Protector of Chinese, 

 Selangor ; the Eev. W. E. Horley, of the Methodist Episcopal Mission; 

 Mr. Choo Cheng Khay ; and the representatives of the Selangor 

 Anti-opium Society at Weld Road, by furnishing information, 

 supplying sj^ecimens and affording opportunities for personally 

 investigating the ])rocess of the preparation and distribution of the 

 drug. 



