DICOTYLEDONS I3I 



Dr. Taylor records instances in which a large 

 quantity of tobacco was consumed by smoking 

 and death was the result. He mentions that 

 eminent men consider that habitual smoking is 

 injurious to health. Indeed, some have confessed 

 it themselves, as they could not work at literary 

 matters in consequence of lassitude ; and so gave 

 up the practice. The reason is that it disorders 

 the digestive functions. 



A poisonous substance like tobacco, writes Dr. 

 Taylor, whether in powder, juice, or vapour, cannot 

 be brought in contact with an absorbing surface 

 like the mucous membrane, without in many cases 

 producing disorder of the system, which the con- 

 sumer is probably quite ready to attribute to any 

 other cause than that which would render it neces- 

 sary for him to deprive himself of what he considers 

 not merely a luxury, but an article necessary to 

 his existence. 



With regard to the effects of smoking upon the 

 system, the following appears to be so important, 

 that it is worth repeating here to show the con- 

 nection between physique and nicotine : — " The 

 instructors in athletics at the universities of Yale 

 and Amherst have been making some interesting 

 observations with reference to the effects of smoking 

 upon the physique of the college students. We 

 do not know whether those who conducted these 

 inquiries entered upon them with any preposses- 



