text:  The reasons therefore for prefixing some account of a "passage" in childhood to this record of a dreadful visitation from opium excess are--1st That in colouring it harmonizes with that record and therefore is related to it at least in point of feeling; 2dly That possibly it was in part the origin of some features in that record and so far is related to it in logic; 3dly That the final assault of opium being of a nature to challenge the attention of medical men it is important to clear away all doubts and scruples which can gather about the roots of such a malady