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418J. How much do you think would be an anrage amount to
smoke ?-To satisfy the moderate smoker?
4184. Among your friends w.hat is the average smoke ?-About two
packets a day, eight pipes, six hoons.
4185. Haven't you any friends, well-ta-do people, who smoke two or
three times a day?-Yes.
4186. Any the worse for it ?-No, he keeps in fairly good health.
4187. You do examinations for insurance?-Yes.
4188. There is a particular office, which I shall not name, which gives
you two chees a day. Have you ever known them to refuse people smoking
double that amount ?-No.
4189. Then it is evident they do not think opium has much effect in
shortening life. Do you think it shortens life ?-Indirectly a little, perhaps.
4190. Have you any idea of the percentage of smokers among the
general population of all classes ?-Including females and childTen?
4191. Among adult males say?-Not more than fifteen per cent.
4192. Is there any particular class of the population that uses it more
than any other ?-The cooly immigrants from China.
4193. Do you think it is very prevalent among these men as they come
from China ?-Very prevalent.
4194. You think it is more than fifteen per cent?-Much more.
4195. Among the sinkhehs, how much ?-Forty per cent.
4196· On what do you base your estimate ?-On the prisoners at Batu
Gajah Gaol. About ferty per cent of them are smokers.
4197. But have they not learned here ?-They might have.
4198. It is rather an important question. Do you think that as many
learn here as bring the habit with them from China ?-No, I.do not think so.
4199. You think most of them bring the habit with them ?-Yes.
4200. And if they have not brought the habit they have brought the
familiarity?-That is 50.
4201. And when they have money to spare they take to spending it
on opium instead of in other ways ?-Yes.
4202. In fact. you think it has been the national type of relaxation
In China?-Yes.
4203. They are familiar with it as a means of enjoyment ?-Yes.
4204. And when they get the money they use it?-Yes.
. 4205. Of these three things which is the most deadly, smoking opium,
swallowing chandu or dross, or the injection of opium alkaloids ?-The
injection of morphia alkaloids.
4206. There are very few injectors now?-Very few indeed.
4207. Did you know that atone time it was very prevalent?-Yes.
420B. You know quite a number of men who swallow dross?-Yes.
4209. In fact it is a very common habit?-Yes.
4210. What do you ascribe that to ?-The high price of chandu.
4211. When you spoke of the two-packet man just now you meant the
man who bought two packets and smoked them and then swallowed all the
dross ?-I should say yes.
4212. Have you ever known of any' cases of suicide by swallowing
opium, as a means of suicide that is ?-Yes.
4213. Frequently?-I have had about six cases during twelve years.
4214. Taking it all round, not as a doctor but as an observant man,
if opium were drastically stopped here what effect would it have upon the
gtneral situation as regards labour. You say most of the coolies are
smokers. If opium were difficult to get, I do not say stopped, but difficult