®N THE HABITUAL USE OF OPIUM 
68 
CHAPTER X. 
ON THE BEST MODES OF REMEDYING THE PRIVATE AND 
SOCIAL EVILS OF OPIUM SMOKING. 
Having examined the physical and moral evils resulting from the 
habitual use of Opium, and having seen how general, how almost 
universal, is the adoption of this habit by the inhabitants of this is¬ 
land, what remains for me to do in this paper is to shew the best 
manner of remedying the evil individually, by indicating the proper 
means for re-establishing the moral and physical health of him who once 
has given way and has sunk beyond his own power of elevation ; but 
who still, not altogether enslaved, is yet desirous of being a man, and 
a social man again. After which, with all humility, I will endeavour 
to shew the policy which an enlightened and Christian Government 
ought to adopt to remedy a national disease, which promises soon to 
cure itself by carrying off all who are afflicted. 
Hundreds I have met with during these investigations, who, hav¬ 
ing frankly denounced the evils attending the habit and as frankly 
confessed the miseries with which they were surrounded, yet had 
not the moral power to commence the attempt of breaking off their 
evil custom, from their dread of the greater misery which the first 
temporary deprivation causes. Neither is this to be slighted as 
death has ensued in many instances, from the too sudden relinquish¬ 
ment of the drug, a fact which both Drs. Oxley and Traill have tes¬ 
tified to, and which I can corroborate. When death does not ensue 
the misery of the wretch is great and heart rending, and which no 
one could bear to witness who had the power of relieving, however 
eoncious of the final good it would do. W r ell do I remember, and 
my Friends who were with me at the time cannot but recollect, the 
Chinaman whom we got on the banks of the Sakodai to carry part of 
our luggage to Gunong Pulai. This man though an Opium smoker 
performed his'task well, for not only did he carry double the quan¬ 
tity of any of the other coolies, but he was the first of them that 
reached the top of the hill. Next day our Malay servants told us 
that this Chinaman would die if not relieved, his Opium was expend¬ 
ed and could not be replenished, he could neither eat nor drink, a 
