IN SINGAPORE. 
35 
Opium Eater. Allow me to say Sir, that the opinion you now 
express is entirely that which I should have expected from the Au¬ 
thor of the Anatomy, one of the most ingenious and philosophical trea¬ 
tises which has in our days been contributed to medical science. 
Modem Pythagorean . A mere trifle in my estimation I assure 
you Sir, nothing but an humble thesis. 
Opium Eater. Will you be so good as to inform me from your 
own experience, whether you think Opium or spiritous liquors taken 
for the same purpose, we shall suppose at present intoxication, be 
the more hurtful. 
Modern Pathagorean. Let me confine myself, Sir, first to the 
moral question. Spiritous liqours irritate the blood and the brain and 
excite wrath, rage, fury, and the most mortal quarrels, thence many, 
most, of the violent crimes that bring miserable men to the Gallows, 
but Sir, no instance has come within my knowledge ofan Opium 
Eater, at least in Great Britain or Ireland. 
Hogg. A capital argument, and quite unanswerable. 
Modem Pythagorean. Again Opium whether in pill or drop, is 
I believe in this country, almost always taken in secret, or in parties 
of two or three, at least I never knew or heard of any member of 
an opium club. Drunkards congregate together and thence by sym¬ 
pathy intenser corruptions, then disease and delinquency are brewed 
together, and what have you but a poisonous scum ? 
Opium Ea'er. Sir, you speak well and truly, and therefore I aslr s 
would not in your opinion, opium be a safer substitute to the poo? 
for spiritous liquors ? 
Modern Pythagorean. From the premises I have laid down I 
leave a Gentleman of your logical powers, for yourself to draw the 
conclusion. But I have no hesitation in saying, that by the use cf 
opium such as it is to my knowledge, and I confine myself to that in 
this country, less evil, far less, nay comparatively little, is done to the 
morals of those amongst the lower classes who arc addicted to that 
