346 The Narcotics — Their Chemical Constituents. [August, 



THE NARCOTICS— THEIR CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS. 



(class essay.) 



Pre-eminent in tlie list of Narcotics, wticli are employed by man 

 to soothe tlie nerves and intoxicate the brain, stands Tobacco. 



It undoubtedly is in most general use throughout the world and is 

 one of the least injurious to the system. It is grown in almost every 

 part of theworld and seems to flourish equally as well in the Torrid 

 Zone as in Temperate Zones. It was first found native in Tropical 

 America and thence introduced into other countries. Its introduc- 

 tion was met by the opposition of the rulers of all nations where 

 it made its appearance, and in some places even death was made the 

 penalty of its use ; but, like many other works of the Devil, it tri- 

 umphed over all opposition, until it is now admitted into the very 

 best of society. Its taste is nauseous in the extreme, and the eater 

 of the filthy weed must undergo a severe seasoning before the habit 

 becomes confirmed, but after it is once fastened the user would 

 rather do away with his meat and drink, than be deprived of his 

 quid or cigar. There are three different ways of using it, and some 

 are such slaves to it that they consume it in all of its forms. The 

 first and most common, is to burn it and inhale the smoke. This is 

 certainly the least disgusting, but at the same time the most injuri- 

 ous of the methods, for, according to Johnston, " the vapors of the 

 burning tobacco are more penetrating, and act more speedily than the 

 juice of the leaf as it is chewed in the mouth, and, when indulged in 

 to excess, brings on nausea, trembling, paralysis, torpor, and in some 

 cases death." The second form of its use is, to chew it and thus 

 extract the flavor from the leaf, and this is the most disgusting habit 

 which a man can form. 



Think a moment of man, made only a little lower than the angels, 

 continually chewing a substance which, if he should accidentally 

 swallow, would cause death in a very short time. No animal but the 

 goat keeps man company in this filthy habit, and even it must be 

 taught to use it. And added to its own qualities are those of the 

 substances with which it is adulterated, such as the leaves of the 

 beech, walnut, rhubarb, mosses, bran, sproutings of malt, beet root 

 dregs, liquorice, terra japonica, rosin, yellow ochre, fuller's earth, 



