Afyún (Hind.), Afím (Duk.), Afím, Afín (Beng., Punj., Kash.), Abini (Tam.), Abhini (Tel.), Kasha-kasha-karappá (Mal.), Afímu (Can.), Afín (Mah.), Afím (Guz.), Abin (Cing.), Bhain, Bhín (Burm.), Afíun (Malay).
276. Opium is one of the most valuable medicines we possess when properly employed, but as it is very powerful in its operation, it may be productive of great mischief if used without care and caution, or in unsuitable cases.
277. The Opium procurable in the bazaars is always more or less adulterated, hence the quantity procured in one shop is sufficient to procure a good sleep whilst the same quantity procured at another shop will perhaps produce no sensible effect whatever on the system. This shows the necessity of great caution in its employment.
278. The uncertainty which attends the operation of bazaar Opium leads me to recommend that establishments at out-stations should be always provided with a supply of genuine Smyrna or Turkish Opium imported from Europe. It seems advisable to have it in two forms—a. In 1 grain pills, done up ready in an impermeable covering, like those sold by Kirby and others; by keeping it in this form it is always ready for an emergency. b. In the form of Tincture, Laudanum, which is a very convenient form when small or fractional doses of Opium are required, or when it is desirable to obtain a speedy effect. Fifteen minims contain one grain of Opium; this holds good, however, only with recently prepared or carefully preserved laudanum. It should be borne in mind in all hot climates that evaporation of the spirit constituent will take place even in well stoppered bottles, and that in proportion as this evaporation takes place, the strength of the tincture is increased, so that in long kept Laudanum ten minims, or even less, may contain a grain of Opium. Hence, in using old Laudanum it is advisable to commence with smaller doses than in that recently prepared; the dose can be subsequently altered according to the effect produced or desired.
279. Preparations of Opium should always be kept under lock and key, or they may disappear at a rate which cannot be accounted for by evaporation or the heat of the climate! Opium in all its forms is a temptation which few natives have moral courage enough to resist.
280. The preparations of Opium mentioned above should be reserved for internal administration; for external application, where uniformity of strength is of comparatively little consequence, bazaar Opium may be employed, but even here it is desirable that good specimens of the best kinds should be used. A few additional observations on this point may be acceptable.
281. Of the several kinds of Opium met with in India the chief are:
1. Patna Garden Opium; and 2. Malwa Opium.—The former, prepared exclusively for medicinal purposes, occurs in square packages of from two to four pounds weight, covered with layers of talc, and further defended by a case of brown wax about half an inch in thickness. It is solid, brittle in the cold season, of a brown colour, and fine smell; it yields a large proportion (7 to 8, or even 10 per cent.) of Morphia. Of Malwa Opium there are many varieties; of these the two principal are, first, that in flat circular cakes, of about a pound and a half in weight, without any exterior covering; dull opaque, blackish brown, externally; internally somewhat darker and soft; odour resembling that of Smyrna Opium, but less powerful, and combined with a slight smoky smell; taste, intensely and permanently bitter: it yields only from 3 to 5 per cent. of Morphia. The other, a superior kind of Malwa Opium, occurs in balls or cakes of smaller size, about ten ounces in weight, covered with a coarse dust composed of broken poppy petals; colour internally, dark brown; texture, homogeneous; odour and taste similar to the other variety; it yields from 7 to 8 per cent. of Morphia. The other varieties of Indian Opium, the Himalayan or "Hill Opium," the Kandeish, the Kutch, &c., are less applicable than the preceding for medicinal purposes, on account of their varying strength. (Pharm. of India.)
282. There are some points connected with the use of Opium which should always be kept in mind: