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4134. Have you made any special experiments or pathological
o\)servations on the effects of opium smoking on opium smokers 1'-1n our experience
of the postmortem appearances and diseases in this country we
recognise, that certain findings are associated with certain diseases such
as phthisis, dysentery, or the like, but I do not recognise any findings charactenstic
of death from opium 'smoking or the opium habit as having contributed
to such a result.
4135. Then you do not consider that the use of opium produces any
pathological changes ?-I, personally, do not. It is known that such changes
are described by certain writers, but they are ill-defined and fanciful, in
my judgment.
4136. Have you ever had an opium suicide ?-I have never done a
postmortem on an opium suicide. .
4137. Have you ever heard of any?-There is' none in my mind at
the moment.
4138. Taking it all round, although you have given us already fairly
specific proof, do you consider that the habit is undermining or detenorating
the population in any way?-Considered from that large point of view, the
question of the pubhc health of the country, I should say that the habit of
opium smoking is not a serious menace; that it is perhaps rather more serious
than tobacco smoking and definitely less serious than the consumption of
alcohol.
4139. In spite of all that, there are some people who think that
restriction is a vital necessity if we are gomg to exist and one or .two points
are put up for our consideration, namely, registration, licensing, the
fixation of a uniform limit of supply and qUite a lot of other things. Do
you consider that the effects of opium-in spite of what you have told us
I put the question-do you consider that such things as those are cal\ed
for ?-From the public health point of view, I think not.
4140. Then you hold the opinion that much less drastic measures than
those proposed would be quite effective ?-That is so.
4141. What action would you suppose would be necessary to carryon
a less stringent campaign than this one, having for its end the eventual
extinction of the habit ?-I would advocate the education of the people in
the' possible dangers of the habit by various means, such propaganda
by means of posters, general\y on the lines along which we have proceeded
with regard to diseases such as malaria.
4142. In fact an anti-opium campaign might be carried on very much
on the same lines as an anti-malaria campaign ?-I think so.
4143. Chiefly illustrative work, pamphlets and so on; getting people
to know what they are dealing with?-Yes, calling the attention of the
people to the possible dangers" of the habit by any means that can be
devised; among these are advertisements in newspapers, posters, and, as
has been suggested to me by Mr. LOKE CHOW THYE, plays in Chinese theatres.
These are admirable methods, I consider.
4144. Those are more on the question of prevention. Is there any
possibility of . dealing with the evil as it exists ?-In that connection, an offer
on the part of Government has already been made to treat those opiumsmokers
who wished to get rid of the habit in Government hospitals
under favourable conditions by special methods of treatment. The Anti­
Opium Societies had an interview with the Chief Secretary to Government
about the 25th November last and the Chief Secretary made certain suggestions
to the members amongst them the suggestion that one Chinese member
should be appointed to the Public Health Education Committee, that thi;
question of the cure of opium-smokers and those who wished to undergo
treatment in hospital should be considered, and that certain investigations
should be carried out with regard to cures for opium. These were the
suggestions made by Mr. MAXWELL and they have been carried out. At
a meeting of this committee which was held last Friday and at which
Mr. LOKE CHOW THYE of Selangor and Mr. CHEAH CHEANG LIM of Perak
were present, the question of this Anti-Opium Society campaign was dis-