A  a^SST}      The  Poppy  and  Opium  in  Persia.  435 
one  uniform  reply  to  them  all — that  everywhere  they  are  comply- 
ing with  the  terms  of  the  law. 
Two  cases  of  violation  of  the  high  license  law  that  have  come  to 
our  knowledge  were  in  the  town  of  Butler.  One  druggist,  an  old 
offender,  who  was  arrested  about  a  year  ago,  plead  guilty  and  was 
sent  to  jail  for  eight  months,  and  required  to  pay  a  fine  of  $2,500. 
The  other  one  was  a  dentist,  who  purchased  a  store  about  two  years 
ago.  He  was  not  registered,  and  was  without  any  practical  knowl- 
edge of  the  business.  The  store  was  run  by  a  registered  pharma- 
cist. He  was  tried  last  fall  for  violation  of  the  high  license  law, 
found  guilty,  sentenced  to  jail  for  seven  months,  and  required  to  pay 
a  fine  of  $1,500.  This  case  has  been  appealed  to  the  Superior 
Court  on  the  ground  that  the  owner  was  not  responsible  for  viola- 
tions of  the  law  by  his  clerk. 
The  result  of  the  inquiries  we  have  made  confirms  the  belief,  so 
frequently  expressed  in  the  meetings  of  this  Association,  that  the 
high  license  law  is  observed  by  all  its  members,  and  that  alcoholic 
liquors  are  only  sold  on  the  prescriptions  of  physicians.  Those  who 
violate  the  law  are  mostly  ignorant  and  disreputable  persons,  who 
have  no  qualifications  for  the  business,  and  who  are  willing  to  earn 
a  living  by  the  sale  of  such  articles  as  minister  to  the  baser  appetites 
and  desires  of  their  customers. 
THE  POPPY  AND  OPIUM  IN  PERSIA.1  _ 
By  Alexander  McDonai/d. 
I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  a  report  upon  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  poppy  and  the  preparation  of  opium  in  Persia.  This 
report  has  been  prepared  to  meet  some  inquiries  from  the  Southern 
States,  and  is  submitted  with  a  view  to  its  publication  in  Consular 
Reports,  so  that  the  information  contained  therein  may  be  at  the 
service  of  those  who  are  interested  in  the  cultivation  of  the  poppy, 
and  in  the  preparation  of  opium  for  medicinal  purposes. 
Opium  is  largely  cultivated  in  Persia.  About  6,000  chests, 
weighing  each  about  130  pounds,  are  exported  annually,  and  it  is 
probable  that  nearly,  if  not  quite,  an  equal  quantity  is  consumed  in 
the  country. 
1  Consular  Reports,  Vol.  51,  83. 
