Glenn Robinette

Volume Three translates in full Lin Zexu's two letters to the emperor describing his unique process for disposing of the confiscated opium as well as previous edicts and letters that explain his actions.

A study of prohibitions: why they fail, how they begin, what causes them, who benefits, the methods and results. Drug wars are not only failures, they are counterproductive and are associated with regime change. They are motivated by political jealousy, social disruption, bad medicine, economic greed and religious hysteria.

Lin Zexu may not have destroyed the English opium in 1839. This work suggests he may have made a morphine salt to distribute as anti-opium pills to Guangdong province. In 1839, the emperor sent Lin to Canton to stop the opium trade. He seized the British opium. He did not burn it. He dug three huge ponds and soaked the opium in salt, then added quicklime and let it sit overnight while it separated. He then filtered the result. This repeats a number of simple experiments done by 19th century European chemists using the same ingredients and methods. Could Lin Zexu have manufactured a simple morphine salt?