Opium and Javanese society in the 17th century were like the index finger and the middle finger. All complaints, from muscle stiffness, dizziness, fever, diarrhea, tuberculosis, cholera, anxiety, depression, despair, to low sexual drive were treated with opium.

Farm laborers, forced laborers and manual workers spent 5-10 cents of their daily income on several concocted granules of opium, jicing (opium ash) and awar-awar leaves. The middle class