The opium, as received at Singapore from Cal cutta, is in boxes containing forty balls, each of the size of a 32 lb. cannon shot. These balls are enclosed in a husk of compressed poppy leaves, and contain a certain quantity of moist opium inside, but which in this state is unfit for con sumption, for which it is prepared by four processes, in the following manner :—About three or four o'clock in the morning, fires are lighted, aud, as the first process, a ball is divided into two equal halves by one man, who scoops out with his fingers the soft part inside, and throws it into an earthen dish ; frequently during the operation moistening and washing his hands in another vessel, the water of which is carefully preserved, into which also is thrown the hardened poppy leaf husks, when all the removeable opium is obtained. In the second operation, the husks are boiled until all their adhering opium is dissolved, and then strained through a double filter of cloth and China paper. The strained fluids are then mixed with the opium that was scooped out in the first operation, and boiled down in a large iron pot to the consist ence of treacle. The refuse is dried and sold to Chinese, who adulterate good opium with it ; and the filter paper is used by the Chinese as an ex ternal application in affections of the lower bowels. In the third operation, the dissolved treacle-like mass is seethed over a charcoal fire, strong and steady but not fierce temperature, during which it is worked, spread out, and again and again worked up to expel the water, but prevent it burn ing. When brought to the proper consistence, it is divided into half-a-dozen lots, each of which is spread like a plaster on a nearly flat iron pot, to the depth of from half to three-quarters of an inch, and then scored in all directions to allow the equal application of heat. One pot after another is then placed over the fire, turned rapidly round, then reversed, so as to expose the opium itself to the full heat of the red fire. This is repeated three times, the time and proper heat being judged by the workman from the aroma and colour. In this part of the process the greatest delicacy is de manded, for a little more or less fire would destroy the morning's work, or 300 or more dollars' worth of opium. - The head workmen in Singapore are men who have learned their trade in China, and from their great experience are paid very high wages. The fourth operation consists in re-dis solving this fired opium in a large quantity of water, and boiling it in copper vessels till it be reduced to the consistence of the chandoo of the shops, the degree of tenacity being the index of its complete preparation, which is judged of by drawing it out by slips of bamboo. The quantity of chandoo obtained by the soft opium is about 75 per cent. But from the gross opium, that is, in cluding the opium and the husk, the proportion is not more than from 50 to 54 per cent. In this lengthened seething process, the chandoo or ex tract becomes less irritating and more soporific, the vegetable matter, the resin and oil, the extract ive matter and a little opium, being all thrown out in the refuse matter. The quantity of the extract or chandoo obtained from opium depends much on the skill of the workman. But the produce from new opium is almost 10 per cent. higher than from old. Maiwa and Persian opium yield almost equally ; and the opiums of the Chinese districts all vary. In 1881, Surgeon - Major Sheppard analyzed samples of Shansi and Amoy opium, and found them yielding a better extract than Patna or Behar, but deficient in aroma. The burning of this extract, in an incomplete manner, as is carefully practised by the Chinese, yields a smoke, containing sundry incomprehensible empyreumatic compounds unknown to the chemist, but producing by absorption into the pulmonary vessels a soothing'torpor. The person about to use the pipe lies down and lights the drug at the flame of a candle ; the shrivelled skin of the emaciated, confirmed opium-smoker fills out with a soft warmth, the breathing becomes full, the pulse slow and full, and in a few minutes there is a seeming loss of consciousness. The habit can be and is frequently broken off. The use of ammoniated valerian tincture, the employment of nux 4omica and other tonics, the temporary smok ing of the powdered root of the Aucklandia costus, and above all, the regular provision of wholesome food for both body and mind, are among the plans which may be adopted, along with occasional disciplinary measures, for the cure of the habit.
An adulterated chandoo is prepared on a large scale by mixing the ashes of the opium pipe with the raw opium, which facilitate the making of the watery infusion, and this is further filtered and evaporated to the consistence of a thin extract, which is combustible in the opium pipe held in the flame of a small lamp. This extract, when con sumed, leaves a refuse, consisting of charcoal, empyreumatic oil, some of the salts of opium, and a part of the chandoo not consumed. One ounce of chandoo gives nearly half an ounce of this refuse, called tye or tinco. This is smoked and swallowed by the poorer classes, who only pay half the price of chandoo for it. When smoked, it yields a further refuse, called sam-shing, and this even is used by the still poorer, although it contains a very small quantity of the narcotic principle. Sam-shing, however, is never smoked, as it can not furnish any smoke, but is swallowed, and that not unfrequently mixed with arrack. Nothing is lost by the Chinese practised manipulator. From the ash about 50 per cent. of a smokeable extract is obtained. It is this adulterated article that enables the opium saloon to sell opium at appar ently cost price, the ashpaying for the light, attendance, house rent, and profit. Chandoo has never been analyzed ; it is often adulterated ; 75 per cent. is obtained from soft opium, 50 to 54 per cent. from the gross opium, i.e. including the husk. In the lost portion, what has disappeared of the opium alkaloids—morphia, narcotine, codeia, etc. —has never been shown, nor what is the com position of the resulting chandoo. Sir George Birdwood says that none of the active principles of opium are volatilizable, i.e. smokeable ; and what chandoo smoke is remains unknown. Chan doo is largely exported from China.
Adulteration.—The value of opium increases for a short time by age ; but this soon ceases to be the case, and Turkey opium in particular deteri orates unless carefully preserved from the air. To be enabled to judge of good opium, one must be well acquainted with the different varieties 01 their respective colours; tastes, and textures, sis well as tho natural dereo of moisture, and sec that no mechanical admixtures are apparent, not left on a filter. The modes of adulterating opium are various. Pounded leaves, catechu, cow-dung, coarse sugar, and many other ingredients, are used for this purpose.
Dr. Boyle says the most injurious fraud is that of washing out the soluble and most valuable parts of opium, and bringing the residual mass for sale. In this case the opium loses its translucency and redness of colour, also its adhesiveness. Sand, clayey mud, sugar, molasses, cow-dung, datum leaves, the glutinous juice of JEgle marmelos, and even pounded poppy seed, aro employed to adulterate opium. Maiwa opium often contains oil and other matters obtained by the expression of the poppy heads. Some kinds of opium from which morphia has been extracted have been occasionally met with in European commerce. Adulteration, in China, is by adding mud, sesa mum, and hemp seeds, and an extract from the fruit of the Sophora Japonica ; but the Rev. Dr. F. P. Smith, 111.B., says it is less tampered with than foreign opium.
In the Indian drying room, the balls of opium are liable to be attacked by weevils during moist winds.
Opium greatly varies as to its alkaloids. Sir 1Y. O'Shaughnessy found that the morphia and narcotise in the Behar opium ranged from lt to 10i per cent. The Pharmacographia notices six teen natural alkaloids.
It may be said that a percentage of the popula :iou of the Panjab, of Rajputana, of Telingana, the Jentral Provinces, and the Mabrattas use opium,— he infants most largely. Deputy Surgeon-General oore, during 1870, found 6.73 per cent. of the Jut-patients at Rajputana dispensaries using opium n the form of a solution or cold infusion, called mal-pani. In another inquiry, however, he found :lie percentage 11.32 out of 36,636 persons to bo males, ; females, 10.74 ; children, 25.94. lc found that all children get amal-pani. Other 'orms than amal-pani are only •31. Those using )pium in Rajputana do not, as a very general rule, ndulge in alcohol.