702 PLAIN PACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



ranee, many excellent men are addicted to the practice ; 

 but the nonusers of cigars are interested in this matter 

 almost as much as those who smoke, for the reason 

 that the person suffering from consumption will be a 

 source of infection to others. We have, in more than 

 one instance, been able to trace consumption in a wife 

 to the care of a consumptive husband ; and so the smok- 

 ing husband might easily infect an unoffending wife, 

 from whom the disease might in turn be communicated 

 to innocent children. Cigar-smoking must be regarded 

 as one of the most dangerous as well as one of the most 

 loathsome practices tolerated among civilized people. 



Dr. Auld, of Glasgow, also raises a warning voice 

 when he states an important fact which seems to have 

 been heretofore overlooked; viz., that tobacco may be 

 a cause of organic disease of the kidneys. As is well 

 known, the appearance of albumen in the urine is the 

 leading symptom of Bright 's disease of the kidneys. 

 Dr. Auld finds that the use of tobacco is often accom- 

 panied by this sj-mptom, and lays it down as one of 

 the results of chronic nicotine poisoning. 



This eminent physician has done the world a valu- 

 able service in calling attention to this important fact. 

 He also states that, according to his observations, 

 tobacco is responsible for a very large number of func- 

 tional disorders not commonly attributed to it. He 

 finds that tobacco poisons both the nerve centers and 

 the nerve ends, causing muscular twitching and vari- 

 ous other nervous symptoms. 



Dr. Auld makes the important observation that 

 when these symptoms are found present, it is not nec- 

 essary merely to moderate the use of the drug, but it 

 must be wholly discarded ; otherwise, a cure cannot be 

 effected. This is contrary to the advice of most physi- 



