49^ ■D''' Psrdvahn the Effeifs of Famine , &c. 



whenever they undertake a long journey, and 

 are likely to be deftitute of provifions. It is 

 probable, the fiiells are not burnt into quicklime^ 

 but only To as to deftroy their tenacity, and to 

 render them fit for ievigation. The mafs is dried, 

 and formed into pills, of a proper fize to be held 

 between tlie gum and lip, which, being gradually 

 dilTolved and fwallowed, obtund the fenfationa 

 both of hunger and of third. Tobacco, by its 

 narcotic quality, feems well adapted to counteract 

 the uneafy imprefTions, which the gaftric juice 

 makes on the nerves of the ftomach, when it is 

 empty : And the combination of teftaceous pow- 

 ders with it may tend to correft the fccretionthat 

 is fuppofed, by an eminent anatomift, to be the 

 chief agent in digeftion, and which, if not acid, 

 is always united with acidity. f Certain at 

 leaft it is, that their operation is both grateful 

 and falutary i for we find the luxurious inhabitants 

 of the Ead Indies mix tiiem with the betle nut, 

 to the chewing of which they are univerfally and 

 immoderately addifled. Perhaps fuchabforbent$ 

 may be ufefuUy applied, both to divide the dofes, 

 and to moderate the virulence of the tobacco. 

 For, in the internal exhibition of this plant, 

 much caution is required, as it produces ficknefs, 

 vertigo, cold clammy fvveats, and a train of 

 other formidable fymptoms, when taken in too 



f See Mr. John Hunter's paper, on the digeftion of 

 the ftomach after death. Philof. Tranfaft. for 1772. 



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