Merwin, Samuel 1874-1936 creator text utu 2010 monographic en 1 online resource : multiple file formats "Drugging a Nation: The Story of China and the Opium Curse" by Samuel Merwin is a historical account written in the early 20th century. The book investigates the devastating effects of the opium trade on China, providing a comprehensive examination of the drug's impact on the nation and its people. The narrative is based on Merwin's personal investigation during extensive travels throughout China and interviews with various individuals who have experienced the ramifications of opium firsthand. The opening of the work establishes the critical situation in China regarding opium cultivation and usage, stemming from an edict issued by the Imperial Court in 1906 acknowledging the gravity of the opium crisis. It highlights the staggering statistics presented by officials and observers, indicating a significant portion of the population is addicted to opium. Through vivid accounts, Merwin outlines the widespread social, economic, and moral decay linked to the opium trade, portraying it as a national disaster deeply rooted in China's agricultural practices and societal behavior. The tone reflects a sense of urgency, indicating that the struggle against opium requires substantial reform and commitment from both the Chinese people and their leaders. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Release date is 2010-08-30 Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) Original publication data not identified Opium trade HV Original publication data not identified 08034255 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/33586 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/33586 UtSlPG 260607 20260610133751.0 33586