The truth about opium : being a refutation of the fallacies of the Anti-Opium Society and a defence of the Indo-China opium trade

In this vigorous pamphlet, a former resident of Hong Kong takes on the moral crusade against the opium trade that dominated 19th‑century Indo‑China. Drawing on personal experience and contemporary statistics, the author argues that the vilified substance was far more complex than the simplistic evils painted by the Anti‑Opium Society. He frames the debate as a clash of truth and falsehood, inviting listeners to hear a perspective rarely heard in the Western press of the era.

Through a series of sharply delivered lectures, he dismantles the arguments of prominent critics such as Rev. Storrs Turner, exposing inconsistencies and exaggerations in their campaigns. The prose is peppered with literary allusions, witty sarcasm, and vivid descriptions of the trade’s economic and social dimensions. Listeners are treated to a compelling blend of historical insight and polemical fire‑branding that challenges conventional narratives while remaining grounded in the author's firsthand observations.