84 ST NICOTINE 



' custom and conversation will make the fiercest creature 

 familiar.' Yet he seems quite unable to break away 

 from the common belief, that, ' the qualities, nature, 

 and uses of tobacco may be very considerable in 

 several cases and circumstances, although King James 

 himself hath both writ and disputed very smartly against 

 it.' The reader is next informed that a French author in 

 the Journal of Science (1681) has 'writ a peculiar tract on 

 tobacco, wherein he commends it for bringing on sleep;' 

 an idea probably derived from Dr. Thoriu's Hymmis Tabaci 

 (1625) which passed through many editions in London, 

 Paris, and Utrecht. In this elegant Latin poem Thorius 

 playfully alludes to the drowsiness tobacco-smoking produced 

 upon the gods : — 



. . . . The gods Bacchus, Liber, 



Jove, Mars, Vulcan, Mercury, Apollo, 



Lustily through their nose the smoke did take, 



As if another /Etna they would make. 



The goddesses, pleas'd with the novelty, 



Laugh'd all the while, but when they did see 



How much to sleep that night the gods were given. 



Angry, decreed it should be banish'd Heav'n. 



The purifying action of tobacco-smoke on unwholesome 

 air was fully recognised in Pe])y's time, when during the Great 

 Plague of 1665-6 the pipe was to be seen in almost every 

 mouth. Pepys like others sought protection in the weed, 

 and purchased roll-tobacco to ' chaw.' Alas, poor man, it 

 took away his apprehension ! In his immortal diary is a 

 note under date, June 7th. 1665 : 



This is the hottest day that I ever felt in my life. This 

 day, much against my will, I did in Drury Lane, see two or 

 three houses marked with a red cross upon the doors, and, 

 ' Lord, have mercy upon us,' writ there, which was a sad 



