Narcotics 383 



the drug entirely, he reaches a point where he is never comfortable 

 without it. He has then become an "opium eater." 



The most common narcotics are tobacco, opium, heroin, 

 cocaine, and alcohol. 



Tobacco. The tobacco of commerce is prepared from the 

 dried leaves of the tobacco plant, an herb that belongs to the same 

 family as the potato. It is extensively used and owes its narcotic 

 effect to the fact that it contains a substance called nicotine. 

 Nicotine is an oily liquid without color, and is one of the most 

 active poisons known. This narcotic is soluble in alcohol as well 

 as in water. 



It is said that a single drop of nicotine placed upon the tongue 

 of a serpent will cause its instant death. Two or three drops are 

 considered sufficient to kill a man. The disagreeable sickening 

 effect produced by the fumes of tobacco burned in an old pipe 

 is due to the presence of nicotine. The nausea and discomfort 

 often felt by persons when they use tobacco for the first time are 

 caused by nicotine. These unpleasant feelings are nature's warn- 

 ings against the use of the narcotic. Although only a very tiny 

 quantity actually enters the system, nevertheless its action when 

 first used clearly shows its harmful nature. 



Why Tobacco Is Used. Although its effects on the body 

 are at first unpleasant, the nervous system soon becomes accus- 

 tomed to nicotine and a feeling of sickness no longer follows its 

 use. On the contrary, it apparently soothes the nerves and relieves 

 the restlessness of fatigue. It is this agreeable reaction that consti- 

 tutes the danger of its use. When the soothing effect passes away 

 there is a desire for more, and if the habit of using it continuously 

 becomes established, there will be taken into the body nicotine in 

 sufficient quantity to injure permanently certain of the body tissues. 



The Tissues Injured. It is generally recognized that the use 

 of tobacco in any form in early life interferes with the normal 

 development of the heart, thus causing weakness in the adult. 

 When used excessively by young or old it produces a nervous 

 condition commonly known as tobacco heart. Furthermore, it 

 causes irritation of the membranes of the throat and lungs and 

 sometimes affects the eyes. 



