ON THK HABITUAL USE OF OPIIM 
CHAPTER V. 
THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL EFFECTS RESULTING FROM THE 
HABITUAL USE OF OPIUM. 
“ What is commenced in amusement frequently terminates in 
earnest.” “ Evil habits being - easily acquired and as the facility of 
their acquisition so is the difficulty of their relinquishment.” How 
exemplified do we find these remarks in the career of the opium smo¬ 
ker. Often have I asked him what could be the inducement to learn 
Such a vice, and he said, amusement. Often have I abraided a young¬ 
ster with his precocious depravity, and his excuse was that he was 
no slave to it; but only taking it for mein mein, that is amusement. 
Which amusement repeated now and again is at length continued 
daily, until the Habit at last established can never be broken off un¬ 
less with the life of the individual. 
Hie causes which induce opium smoking are various, but the one 
now mentioned is the principal, although most opium smokers, espe¬ 
cially Malays would fain refer the cause to bodily sickness, which 
compelled them to take to smoking, to alleviate pain, the remedy at 
last proving the greater evil of the two. One Malay gave compul¬ 
sion, as his reason for smoking, as his master the Rajah of Sialt an 
inverate smoker would allow no attendants near him who did not use 
the drug.Sometimes children are taught by their parents and wives 
by their husbands. In fact the same causes which are well known 
to induce spirit drinking at home, exert an analogus influence here 
in producing opium smoking. 
The effects produced by the use of this drug are variously stated 
by different authors. Men of weight it science have insisted that 
while it makes life miserable it does not shorten it, and many believe 
this aphorism. Literary men of reputation have spread abroad by 
the elegance of their statements the dreams that attend the use of it, 
and many believe them. In itself the operation of the drug is plea¬ 
sant, slow', and deceitful, and being easily concealed from public gaze 
offers a strong temptation to the lovers of secret excitement The 
Merchant finds it ’a profitable article Of trade and would persuade 
