580 



DUl'GJ-, >'ASCOTICS, ETC. 



THE POPPY. 



Opium is the concrete inspissated juice of the white poppy, Fap- 

 aver somniferum and its varieties, obtained by scratching the cap- 

 sules and collecting the exuding juice. The plant has been long 

 known, and is perhaps one of the earliest described. It is a native 

 of Western Asia and probably also of the South of Europe, but it 

 has been distributed over various countries. 



In 1826 the imports of opium into the United Kingdom were 

 79,829 lbs., of which 28,329 lbs. were consumed in this country. 

 The imports and consumption in subsequent years are shown by 

 the following figures : — 



Imports. Consumption, 

 lbs. lbs. 



1827 113,140 .. 17,322 



1830 ...... 209,076 .. 22,668 



1833 106,846 .. 35,407 



1836 130,794 . . 38,943 



1839 196,247 41,632 



1842 72,373 .. 47,432 



1845 259,644 .. 38,229 



1848 200,019 61,055 



1819 105,724 .. 44,177 



1850 . 126,318 .. 42,324 



1851 118,024 .. 50,682 



1852 205,780 .. 62,521 



Few who have not looked into the statistics of this trade, are 

 aware of the enormous consumption of opium all over the world, 

 but chiefly in China and India. 



In 1845, 18,792 chests of opium were sent from Calcutta to 

 China, and nearly the same number of the Malwa opium from 

 Bombay and Damaun. The total production of India exported to 

 China, in 1844, was 21,526 chests from Bengal, and 18,821 from 

 Bombay, in all 39,847 chests. The number of persons in China 

 given to the consumption of opium wa,s estimated, in 1837, at 

 three millions, and the average quantity smoked by each individual 

 is about 17-| grains a day. The consumption of Indian opium 

 (independent of Turkey opium) in China has gradually increased 

 from 3,210 chests in 1817, to 9,969 chests m 1827, and about 

 40,000 chests in 1837, valued at 25,000,000 dollars. ]Now it has 

 reached 50,000 to 60,000 chests. Notwithstanding severe penal- 

 ties, imprisonment, temporary banishment, and even death, the 

 number of those who smoke opium has multiplied exceedingly, 

 and the contraband trade in the drug is carried on to so large an 

 extent, that it is to be feared the practice will become general 

 throughout the empire. 



According to Mr. E. Thornton's statistics, the production of 

 opium in Bengal has increased cent, per cent, in the last ten 

 years : — 



chests. 



1840- 41 17,858 



1841- 42 18,827 • 



