DICOTYLEDONS 1 29 



violent perspiration. The consequence was that 

 an absorption of the poisonous property of the 

 tobacco-leaves took place. He was taken seri- 

 ously ill on the way, discovered by the Custom- 

 house ofificers, and subsequently died. 



Tobacco for smoking was introduced into Europe 

 about 1 560, Jean Nicot (whence the name Nicotiand) 

 having sent the seeds to Catherine de Medici. It 

 did not come into general knowledge till 1586; 

 when Sir Walter Raleigh, as well as the settlers 

 who returned from Virginia, introduced it into 

 England. 



Tobacco met with a determined opposition from 

 European governments, who attempted to restrain 

 its use by penal enactments. In Turkey all found 

 guilty of smoking were condemned to death. In 

 Moscow the knout was the punishment for the first, 

 and death for the second offence. In other parts 

 of Russia smokers had their noses cut off. 



More than a hundred books were published in 

 condemnation of tobacco. 



The following is a specimen of King James's 

 Counterblaste against the use of tobacco : — 



" Now to the corrupted baseness of the first use 

 of this Tobacco, doeth very well agree the foolish 

 and groundlesse first entry thereof into this king- 

 dome ; it was neither brought in by king, great 

 conqueror, nor learned doctor of physicke. With 

 the reporte of a great discovery for a conqueste, 



I 



