De Quincey's Life rather than his Writings the Best Evidence of the Effect of Opium upon Him.--Disapproval of his Manner of Treatment of the Subject in His "Confessions."--From First to Last the Effect of Opium is to Produce Unhappiness.--The Difference between the Effect of the Drug taken Hypodermically and Otherwise, Explained.--The various Effects of Opium, Stimulative and Narcotic, Described.--The Effect of my First Dose at the beginning of Habit.--Remarks of De Quincey on his First Dose.--My own Remarks as to First Dose.--Difference between Opium and Liquor.--Stimulation is followed by Collapse.-- Melancholy from the Beginning.--Nervousness and Distraction of the Intellectual Powers.--Sleeplessness.--Different and Peculiar Influences of the Drug Detailed.--Pressure upon the Brain from Excessive Use of Opium.--Distress in the Epigastrium.--The Working of the Brain Impeded 70 CHAPTER IX. De Quincey _versus_ Coleridge.--Stimulation and Collapse Considered.--The Use of Opium always to be Condemned.-- Coleridge Defended.--Wretched State of the Opium Eater.--An Explanatory Remark 77 CHAPTER X. The Delusions and Miseries of the First Stages of Opium Eating 82 CHAPTER XI. Later Stages.--The Opium Appetite.--Circean Power of Opium.--As a Medicine.--Difference between Condition of Victim in Primary and Secondary Stages 91 CHAPTER XII. The Address of the Opium Eater.--How he Occupies his Time.--The Refuge of Solitude and Silence.--Indifference to Society or Company.--Disposition, Predilections, and General Conduct 96 CHAPTER XIII. On Energy and Ambition as Affected by the Opium Habit 98 CHAPTER XIV. Opium _versus_ Sleep.--Manner of Taking Opium.--Different Considerations Relating to the Habit.--A Prophetic Warning 105 CHAPTER XV. Difficulties of Writing this Book.--An Attempt to Renounce Opium in the Later Stages of the Habit Described.-- Coleridge and De Quincey.--Animadversions upon De Quincey's "Confessions" 115 CHAPTER XVI. Conclusion 129 APPENDIX. NOTE NO. 1.--Coleridge and the Critics 131 " " 2.--Coleridge and Plagiarism 132 " " 3.--A Mare's Nest 134 " " 4.--Second note on Coleridge and Plagiarism 136 " " 5.--On De Quincey's Style of Writing 138 " " 6.--Third Note on Coleridge and Plagiarism 140 OPIUM EATING. CHAPTER I.