Back in Dr. Mei's office we look. over some of the Government books and charts relating to drug suppress sion, There is the matter of the execution of recidivisis or "back: sliders," a widely discussed topic. So far only inveterate users of the mor= devastating narcotics (heroin, morphine) have been put to death, as well as traffickers, Last year the total executed was &49 and Shantung Province alone accounted for 620. Shansi was high up on the list with 106. Other figures:—Nanking, 58; Hankow, 15; and Shanghai, 3. Two of Shanghats three were recidivists, while the third was a traffickers.
Tk was also interesting to study the maps showing opium fields in China Jand {o realize the effect of the Government's scheme to reduce these areas by 20 per cent. annually. Gradually as the White Poppy. destroyed useful agricultural plants take its place.
Dr. Mei has recently added a new department to his hospital. Tt is for the treatment of "out-patients" need-Jing medical attention in general. The Idea of such a department is to keep former patients from falling back into the noxious habit when they get ill =falling back either because of stupidity or poverty. All medical advice is given to these out-patients free of charge and any drugs required are free. The department, Dr. Mei expects, will keep many from returning to the wards as patients who, under the law, must be turned over to the police for punishment when discharged after a secon sojourn.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.