IN SINGAPORE. 
53 
to prove that the habitual use of Opium did not shorten life, and 
fo the best of my belief he gave it as his opinion that while the abuse 
of Opium rendered life miserable it did not shorten it; a contradic¬ 
tion which the talented Professor might not to have been guilty of, 
and which in a late edition of his work on poisons, he endeavours to 
smooth over. 
Professor Christlson says ct the general impression is that the prac- 
“ tise of Opium eating injures the health and shortens life. But 
K the scientific Physician in modern times, has seen so many proofs 
“ of the inaccurracy of popular impressions relative to the operation 
“ of various agents on health and longevity, that he will not allow 
9 
“ himself to be hastily Carried along in the present instance by vague 
“ popular belief. The general conviction of the tendency of Opium 
“ eating to shorten life has obviously been derived in part from the 
“ injurious effects which Opium used medicinally has on the nervous 
“ system, and functions of the alimentary canal, and partly on the 
*.* reports of travellers in Turkey and Persia, who have enjoyed op- 
“ portunities of watching the life and habits of Opium smokers on a 
6i great scale. The statements of travellers, however, are so vague 
(( that they cannot be turned to use with any confidence in a scienti- 
“ fic inquiry. ” 
The Professor then makes a few quotations from a few Authors 
who have written on this subject, and who have expressed their opi¬ 
nions strongly , and without equivocation of the deleterious effects at¬ 
tending the use of Opium, even quoting Mr. Madden, a recent 
and professional authority, who states that an Opium eater seldom 
reaches the age of 30 if he commences the practise early. “ But 
“ on the other hand a few late observers deny altogether the accura- 
“ cy of these statements; to this number belongs Dr. Burnes who 
“ says *• this powerful narcotic does not seem to destroy the powers 
“ of the body, nor to enervate the mind to the degree it might be 
“ imagined. ” Without impugning this qualified assertion of Dr. 
Burnes I believe there are two reasons which may have influenced 
his opinion. The first and most probable reason is that Dr. Burnes 
living' at the Court in Ciitch in an official capacity seldom or never 
