Considerable time was spent in discussing and passing resolutions urging the Government (1) to prohibit the importation of strychnine and cafferine; (2) to resume and increase the Customs reward to opium informants; and (3) to ask the authorities of the International Settlements to employ the Chinese regulation of reward in respect of opium prohibition.
It was pointed out that strychnine and cafferine were indispens sable components of anti-opium pills. These two drugs are mixed with heroin, gum tragacanth, milk and quinina to make the called anti-opium pills. While they are intended as substitutes for opium, these pills stimulate the nervous system and create the drug habit.
Thousands of people ara said to be killed by them, especially in the provinces of Shensi, Shantung, Chihli, Honan and Kansu.
Prior to tha year 1914, the importation of strychnine and caffer-me into China was limited to two or three ounces a year, the amount. necessary for a dispensary to use in making up prescriptions, but millions of pounds of these two ious drugs are now imported rly. 5 Opium traffic has greatly increased recently both from aboard and from the interior. The Chinese, Government should try to stop it at its source. According to previous Customs regulations for seizure of opium amounting to Tls. 100 the informant was to be rewarded with $4. Later this reward was reduced, with the result that informants have been discouraged and opium smuggling has actually increased. Accordingly the price of opium has come down (it is only $3 per ounce at present). Poor people who had given up opium smoking, have once more become victims. If the Government does not resume and increase the Customs reward, the inevitable result will be a marked increase in opium smuggling.
Opium smuggling and smoking are more active in the Settlements than in any other places in China, There are fines for opium smug. gling but no reward to informers. Owing to the rewards in the interior opium smokers and smugglers find it difficult to 1 and choose Shanghai for protection. So the opium traffic is prosperous here. The Anti-Opium Association and joint organizations should request tha Chinese Government to issue a proclamation to governors and consular bodies, asking the Mixed Court and the Municipal Council to adopt tha Chinese regulation of reward.
The following officers were clocted to serve during the ensuing year President, Mr. Wen_Tsung-yao; Vice-Presidents, Dr. P. H. Lo, Judge C. S. Lobinger, Mr. O. M. Green, and Rev. J. W._ Crofoot; Hon. Secretaries, Dr. F, Rawlinson and Mr. Y. F. Ling; Treasurer, Mr. GE. ©. Nich; Committee, Rev. J. Mason, Dr. C. J. Davenport, Mr. G. A. Fitch, Mr. TI. Ardain, Mr. M. Yasuhara, Dr. Hi. C. Mei, Mr. G. Burton Sayer, Mx. F. J. Raven, Mrs. Mackie, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. J. A. Heal, Mr. Jabin Hsu, Mr. 8. S. Fung, Mr. Francis Zia, Mr. Zee Vee-wei, Mr. Wang I-ting, Dr. T. H. Lee, Mr. W. H. Chen, Mr. K. T. Zia, Mr. C. P. Fang, Mr. C. H. Han, Mr. T. C. Yui, Mr. Chen Chun-sung, Mr. T. W. Shen, Mr. S. C. Tsao, Mr. M. K. Chuw, Mr. T. S. Chweng, Mr. 8.
Han, Mr. S. C. Mao, Mr. C. C. Lu, Mr. C. P. Ning, Mr. P. 8. Chow, Dr. S. M. Woo, Miss Frances W. Wang, Mr. C. S. Zee, and Mr. W. L. Loo.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.