PHYSIOLOGICAL POSITION OF TOBACCO. 173 



tion of tobacco, but in concluding it may be well to point to some 

 portions of the evidence which are especially noteworthy. ' 



The fact that tobacco reduces the animal temperature is an impor- 

 tant one. It shows the fallacy of those who smoke to keep the cold 

 out, and proves conclusively that tobacco is neither a generator nor 

 conserver of vital heat, but, on the contrary, a wasteful destroyer 

 of it. 



The influence of tobacco, in liberating the heart from those re- 

 straints which regulate its healthy action, naturally leads to the con- 

 clusion that in frequent doses that organ must, sooner or later, undergo 

 a structural transformation. Although when thus excited it has less 

 pressure to overcome than when in a normal condition, yet the extra 

 exertion cannot but be evil in its results, since it causes an irregularity 

 in the supply of blood, and thus degrades tissue. 



Tobacco belongs to the class of narcotic and exciting substances, 

 and has no food-value. Stimulation means abstracted, not added, 

 force. It involves the narcotic paralysis of a portion of the functions, 

 the activity of which is essential to healthy life. 



It will be said that tobacco soothes and cheers the weary toiler, 

 and solaces the overworked brain. Such may be its momentary ef- 

 fects, but the sequela? cannot be ignored. All such expedients are fal- 

 lacious. When a certain amount of brain-work or hand-work has 

 been performed, Nature must have space in which to recuperate, and 

 all devices for escaping from this necessity will fail. It is bad policy 

 to set the house on fire to warm our hands by the blaze. Let it, then, 

 be clearly understood that the temporary excitement produced by to- 

 bacco is gained by the destruction of vital force, and that it contains 

 absolutely nothing which can be of use to the tissues of the body. 



Tobacco adds no potential strength to the human frame. It may 

 spur a weary brain or feeble arm to undue exertion for a short time, 

 but its work is destructive, not constructive. It cannot add one mole- 

 cule to the plasm out of which our bodies are daily built up. On the 

 contrary, it exerts upon it a most deleterious influence. It does not 

 supply, but diminishes, vital force. 



It has been denied that tobacco leads to organic disease, but the 

 evidence is very strong the other way, and it would be very remark- 

 able if continued functional derangement did not ultimately lead to 

 chronic derangement of the organs ; that it causes functional disturb- 

 ance no one dreams of denying ; indeed, it has been remarked that no 

 habitual smoker can be truly said to have a day's perfect health. Ab- 

 stract from the Quarterly Journal of Science. 



