TOBACCO IN RELATION TO HEALTH 69 



already been mentioned. Although he points out the 

 highly poisonous nature of some of the constituents of 

 tobacco, he yet speaks regretfully of his inability to derive 

 from smoking the soothing pleasures mentioned by others, 

 particularly by Dr. Pereira, who remarking on its tran- 

 quillizing effects when moderately indulged in, says that 'it is 

 because of these effects that it is so much admired and 

 adopted by all classes of society, and by all nations, 

 civilised and barbarous.' Mr. Johnston continues : 



Were it possible amid the teasing, paltry cares, as well as 

 the more poignant griefs of life, to find a mere material soother 

 and tranquillizer productive of no evil after-effects and 

 accessible alike to all — to the desolate and the outcast equally 

 with him who is rich in a happy home and the felicity of 

 sympathising friends — who so heartless as to wonder or regret 

 that millions of the world-chaffed should flee to it for solace .'' 

 I confess, however, that in tobacco I have never found this 

 soothing effect. This no doubt is constitutional, for I cannot 

 presume to ignore the united testimony of the millions of 

 mankind who assert from their own experience that it does 

 produce such effects. 



He draws attention to the effects of tobacco on the 

 Turks, and speaking of the drowsy reverie they fall into 

 under its influence, asks if it is really a peculiarity of the 

 Turkish temperament that makes tobacco act upon them 

 as it does, sending the body to sleep while the mind is 

 alive and awake. 



That this is not its general action in Europe (he remarks) 

 the study of almost every German writer can testify. With 

 the constant pipe diffusing its beloved aroma around him the 

 German philosopher works out the profoundest of his results 

 of thought. He thinks and dreams, and dreams and thinks, 

 alternately ; but while his body is soothed and stilled, his 



