CHAPTER V 



THE USE AND ABUSE OF TOBACCO 



Ye hot, ye cold, ye Rheumatick draw nigh ; 

 In this rich leafe a sovereign dose doth lie. 

 We'll cure ye all ; Physick ye need not want, 

 Here, 'tis i' th' gummy inside of a plant. 



— 1670. 



Though differences of temperament may not allow every- 

 one the mild indulgence of the pipe, all are interested in 

 learning that in the leaves of the Indian's weed dwells a 

 friendly genius ready to protect us from the virulent attacks 

 of the myriad host of invisible life which floats around us, 

 in some cases infecting the air we breathe, the food we eat, 

 and the water we drink. This assurance comes to us from 

 the bacteriologist, whose experiments conducted under the 

 microscope, demonstrate that contact with the smoke of 

 tobacco destroys the vitality of microbes. Especially 

 comforting is it to know this at the season of the year when 

 the air lies heavily upon the land. 



Here, then, we come upon ground interesting alike to 

 the smoker and the non-smoker, for both will agree that 

 it is infinitely better to let the weed spread its wings on the 

 blast and breathe in the face of the foe than to go 

 unprotected through unwholesome air laden, it may be, 

 with noxious germs. 



