. 
638 SOLANACE. 
blood regains its normal characters. The action of tobacco 
itself is so nearly identical with that of nicotine as to render 
unnecessary a detailed account of it It, however, is mainly 
exhibited in muscular relaxation and collapse. In some cases 
“ lethargy” and “insensibility” are mentioned, but the 
condition is not that of cerebral oppression so much as of 
cerebral exhaustion. Of other symptoms especially prominent 
in certain cases of tobacco-poisoning, either caused by a single 
excessive dose or by inordinate indulgence in smoking or 
chewing tobacco, may be mentioned: a rapid followed by a 
very slow pulse, hiccough, and cold perspiration, profuse 
diuresis, convulsions without loss of consciousness, sometimes 
cataleptic and sometimes hysterical, and great numbness as 
well as impaired motor power of the limbs and of the tongue. 
(Séillé and Maisch.) 
Tobacco is now hardly ever used medicinally. Formerly it was 
applied to certian cutaneous eruptions such as scabies, and as a 
palliative in rheumatism and other painful affections, but its 
local application, if the skin be broken, is dangerous, and its 
administration in the form of enema, to induce muscular 
relaxation or remove worms, has often been followed by alarm- 
ing symptoms. The value of tobacco smoking as a palliative 
in the paroxysms of asthma is well established, and in some 
- €ases its use appears to affect a permanent cure. 
There can be no doubt that the moderate use of tobacco 
smoking is not injurious to a great many people, but it is equally 
certain that on some constitutions it produces mischievous 
effects. For a full account of the injurious action of the 
excessive use of the herb by smoking, rr or chewing, 
tillés Therapeutics may be consulted. He shows that it 
fiasdne the natural appetite, more or less impairs digestion, and 
induces constipation, while it irritates the mouth and throat, 
tendering it habitually congested and impairing the purity of 
the voice. It induces a constant sense of uneasiness and 
nervousness, with epigastric sinking or tension, palpitation 
(‘irritable heart”), ay impaired memory, neu- 
ralgia, and — ini Chewing and snuffing tend to : 
