A man gave the cigarette to his friend after arranging it. It can be seen from the picture that his friend has no strength. He has to help his friend drag the cigarette, and the friend quickly smokes. After one sip, I felt energetic. At that time, opium was rampant in the Qing Dynasty, and decadence and depravity could be said to have become a unique symbol of the late Qing Dynasty. "There must be an opium den among ten rooms, and there must be smokers among ten people." Opium, poppy extract, can be found in Hua Tuo hemp boiling powder . Raw opium contains more than 20 alkaloids, has the smell of stale urine, is bitter in taste, and has a strong smell. After cooking or fermentation, it turns golden brown, and then it will emit a sweet smell when smoked. Once you take it once, you will become addicted to it and you will never be able to do without it again. This was the first generation of large-scale drugs that Chinese people came into contact with, but at that time it was still sold as a luxury product. At that time, the way of entertainment for young men was to get together and smoke opium. Looking at the photos of opium smoking left in the late Qing Dynasty is shocking.
One person is reading a newspaper, smoking opium and discussing the current situation. Two heavy smokers are lying on the cigarette stand and smoking. One person is playing with the pipe, and the other person is in a daze, maybe is addicted to cigarettes . If you use too little, you can cure diseases and save people; if you use too much, you can't stop. Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty Emperor Wanli stayed in the palace for 23 years without going to court. Most of the time he smoked cigarettes. Emperor Xianfeng of the Qing Dynasty was also a smoker. He once gave opium the name "Yilongshou Ruyi Ointment" and gave it to him himself. The British and French coalition forces chased him out of Jehol , and he never left his smoking gun. Why was opium so widespread in the late Qing Dynasty?
In 1773, the British East India Company began to export opium to the Qing Dynasty. Relying on its addictive properties, opium quickly opened up the market in China. In 1839, Lin Zexu went south to Guangzhou to launch an anti-smoking campaign and achieved certain results. In 1840, China's anti-smoking campaign affected British interests, so the first Opium War broke out, and the Qing government suffered a complete defeat. After that, opium became widespread in China. In 1859, the Qing government promulgated the "Regulations on the Collection of Taxes on Native Medicines", which opened the door to opium. From then on, everyone from princes and ministers to poor people started smoking. People who don't smoke also regard smoking as a social item.
When guests come, you should first place a cigarette lamp and use cigarettes to greet the guests, otherwise it will be suspected of poor service. This young woman holds a pipe in her hand, her eyes are empty, and she is drunk all day long. When she reaches this state of opium consumption, no matter who touches her, she will be completely unresponsive and at the mercy of others. Once you become addicted to smoking, you cannot stop smoking. The body is as soft as mud, and the laziness is so inherent that the bones become emaciated and the family is ruined. The dumping of opium in China brought astonishing benefits to Britain and broke China's long-term advantage in foreign trade. It also shook the already weak Qing Dynasty. Can China, which is so decadent and degenerate at this time, be saved?
Opium has seriously damaged social atmosphere and devastated people's bodies and minds. It has caused huge harm both mentally and physically. Historical records show that in 1880, the country's population was 364 million, and there were more than 8 million opium smokers, an extremely terrifying number. Opium not only corrupted social morals, but more seriously brought industrial and commercial depression to the coastal areas of Southeast Asia, leading to economic decline. Such a Qing Dynasty was destined to embark on the path of destruction. It was precisely because of opium that the Chinese at that time were dubbed the "sick men of East Asia." It was not until the founding of New China that opium completely disappeared. With the experience of Opium War , we have become one of the countries in the world that treats drugs the most harshly. Now we can have a profound understanding of the dangers of opium through old photos and real images, and know that these are the consequences of opium smoking.
Drugs can not only tear a family apart, they can also tear a country apart. Therefore we must stay away from drugs. Today, our country is developing at a rapid pace. China is no longer the decadent, weak country that was poked in the spine by people as the "sick man of East Asia." Step into the world stage and create another chapter of prosperity.
