Am"octuSarm"}       Opium  Smoking  by  the  Chinese.  497 
(2)  In  persons  presenting  a  more  or  less  weakened  motor  power 
of  the  stomach,  the  decrease  lasts  longer  than  in  those  with  a  normal 
one. 
(3)  The  digestive  power  of  the  gastric  juice  is  diminished. 
(4)  The  transformation  of  proteids  into  peptones  is  retarded 
(hence  an  increased  proportion  of  propeptones,  i.  e.,  intermediary 
products  of  peptonisation). 
(5)  The  proportion  of  lactic  acid  in  the  gastric  juice  is  augmented, 
the  rise  proceeding  parallelly  with  diminution  in  the  proportion  of 
free  hydrochloric  acid. 
(6)  The  motor  power  of  the  stomach  grows  weaker  (in  about  one 
hour  after  the  ingestion);  in  initial  stages  of  the  digestion,  how- 
ever, it  may  occasionally  undergo  some  increase. 
(7)  The  absorptive  power  of  the  organ  improves,  which  seems  to 
be  dependent  upon  a  favorable  (stimulating)  influence  of  menthol 
on  the  circulation. 
(8)  Contrary  to  the  statements  of  Ossendowski  {vide  the  Journal 
of  Laryngology  and  Rhynology,  May,  1 890,  p.  202),  L.  Braddon,  M. 
Reichert,  S.  Rosenberg,  Hugo  Koster,  and  many  other  observers, 
menthol  does  not  appear  to  possess  any  special  "  appetite-making  " 
power. 
(9)  In  1  and  2  gramme  doses,  the  remedy  gives  rise  to  a  kind  of 
intoxication,  followed,  in  4  or  5  hours,  by  sensations  of  languor  and 
drowsiness. 
(10)  Menthol  may  prove  useful  as  a  substitute  for  camphor. 
OPIUM  SMOKING  BY  THE  CHINESE  IN  PHILADELPHIA.1 
By  Stewart  Culin. 
One  of  the  effects  of  the  McKinley  bill  has  been  an  advance  in 
the  price  of  opium  at  most  of  the  Chinese  shops  in  Philadelphia 
and  other  cities  where  it  is  sold  to  opium  smokers.  The  purchasers 
now  receive  only  1 1  fan  (about  54  grains)  of  the  best  kind  for  25 
cents,  instead  of  12  fan  (about  70  grains)  as  formerly.  The  Chinese 
are  responsible  for  the  introduction  of  this  habit,  one  of#the  few 
customs  or  innovations  they  have  introduced,  and  it  now  has  a 
strong  hold  among  a  class  of  our  people  who  are  best  defined  by 
the  word  "  fast,"  and  who  often  take  considerable  pride  in  the 
1  From  the  Public  Ledger,  August  19,  1891. 
