"^"DeT'issr"'  1  Morphia  and  Opium  Trade  in  the  U.  S.  617 
is  an  over-estimate.  I  fear,  however,  that  the  quantity  produced  can- 
not be  less  than  65,000  ounces  annually  during  the  past  three  years. 
The  consumption  of  this  amount  is  appalling  enough  without  consid- 
ering the  use  made  of  the  remaining  279,000  pounds  of  opium.  The 
value  of  65,000  ounces  of  morphia,  at  $5  an  ounce,  would  be  $325,000. 
This  is,  perhaps,  calculated  at  too  high  a  figure,  but  it  cannot  be  far  from 
$300,000. 
It  will  not,  perhaps,  be  out  of  place  here  to  state  the  amount  of 
opium  received  in  the  United  States  at  various  periods  ;  it  was  : 
In  1859,    7^^^Z9  lbs.  In  1877,  230,102  lbs. 
1860,135,000        (estimated)  1878,207,752 
1867,  135.^05  1879,  278,554 
1876,  228,742  1880,  372,000  (estinnated) 
During  the  year  ending  June  the  4th  last,  the  following  amounts  of 
Smyrna  opium  were  sent : 
To  the  United  States,       .  .    2,480  cases,  or  372,000  pounds 
Holland, 
293 
43,950 
England, 
791 
1 18,650 
France, 
47 
7,050 
Spain, 
120 
1 8,000 
I.aly,  . 
12 
1,800 
Germany, 
85 
12,750 
China,  . 
246 
36,900 
Making  a  tolal  of  . 
•  4,074 
61 1,100 
Why  so  much  larger  quantity  is  consumed  in  this  country  than  in 
Europe  it  would  be  difficult  to  determine.  The  greater  number  of 
persons  suffering  here  with  neuralgic  troubles  cannot  possibly  account 
for  it.  Nearly  five-eighths  of  the  whole  Turkish  crop  is  used  by  us. 
It  is  time  that  every  physician  and  druggist  should  use  his  utmost 
efforts  to  restrain  the  improper  use  of  opium.  Undeserving,  indeed, 
is  he  of  the  name  of  good  citizen  who  carelessly  dispenses  these  or 
other  pernicious  drugs  for  the  sake  of  paltry  gain. 
If  these  figures  of  the  consumption  of  opium  are  startling,  what 
will  be  thought  of  the  amount  sent  to  China  of  Indian  opium,  namely, 
91,200  cases  during  the  year  1879,  the  value  of  which  was  ^£12,993,- 
979.  What  a  fearful  responsibility  rests  upon  those  who  encourage 
and  foster  such  a  nefarious  trade  ! 
