376 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1897. 



nardes says, was its curative qualities with wounds. He further says 

 it was first carried to Spaiu as much for its beauty and ornament in 

 gardens as for its virtues. 



" The name tobacco was given to it by the Spanish from the island of 

 the same name, and wliile only the use of the leaves of the plant is 

 advised, seed was at times utilized when the leaves were not avail- 

 able. These leaves were strung together, hung in the shade and dried, 

 and used whole or powdered, and were considered good for headache, 

 lockjaw, toothache, coughs, asthma, stomach ache, obstructions, kidney 

 troubles, disease of the heart, rheumatism, the poisoning from arrows, 

 carbuncles, polypus, consumption," etc' 



The methods of using the plant were almost as numerous as the dis- 

 eases for which it was considered a cure, a few of which are enumerated 

 as follows: To heat the leaves and apply them to the parts affected ; to 

 rub the teeth with a rag dipped in the juice; wrapping a leaf into a pill 

 and inserting it in the tooth; boiling the leaves; decoctions of its 

 leaves; made into a sirup; smoking it by the mouth; reducing the 

 leaves to ashes; pounding the green leaves and mixing them with oil 

 or steeping them in vinegar ; if leaves are not to be had, the powder may 

 be used as a poultice; in fomentations; by smoking through the nose; 

 rubbing the leaves on the afflicted parts; inserting the juice into the 

 wound or applying bruised leaves to the wound. 



Monardes says: ^'Tobacco smoke was received by the nose, and in 

 smoking the i^riests received the smoke through little tubes or canes, 

 and after they tumbled as if in ecstacy. Upon recovering, they related 

 what they had conversed about with the evil spirits, and gave ambigu- 

 ous replies to their followers. In addition to this, the people take the 

 smoke both by the mouth and by the nose for pleasure when they 

 desire to see the future in their dreams. For just as the devil is an 

 imposter and knows the virtue of herbs, he has posted them on the 

 power of this plant, for by the illusions of their dreams he deceives 

 the people miserably."^ 



"The Indians, tired from carrying their burdens or from other work, 

 inhaled tobacco smoke and fell suddenly as though deprived of reason, 

 and when they recovered found themselves refreshed by their sleep and 

 their strength restored. The Ethiopians, carried to these x)arts as slaves, 

 wishing to lighten their condition, inhale too much, which causes their 

 masters to chastise them severely, and they burn their tobacco to keep 

 them from using so much, which leaves as a sole alternative to use it in 

 secret. The Indians use tobacco to keep away thirst and hunger, and 

 do it in the following way: They burn certain river shells, then powder- 

 ing them as fine as chalk, they mix them with an equal quantity of 

 powdered tobacco and chew it until it forms a solid mass; then they 

 make it into pills slightly larger than a pea; then, drying it again. 



■ Girolamo lien/.oni, History of the New "World, p. 520 ( Haklnyt Society). 

 ■^Nicolas Monardes, Ilistoire des Drogues, p. 535, I^yons, 1602. 



