270 SNUFF AND SNUFF-BOXES. 



snuff; as, for example, to make an evacuation of 

 offending humours from the head, eyes, &c, without 

 the usual ill consequences of it." Thus, tobacco being 

 washed and deprived of its native virtues, was impreg- 

 nated with foreign ingredients, and sold as a much- 

 improved article ! The author's directions for its use 

 are as follow : — 



" Take some of this tobacco, and dry it either in 

 the sun or before the fire, till you can rub it into a 

 gross powder, and put it into your snuff-box, either 

 alone, or you may mix it about half one and half the 

 other, just as you please, with your other snuff that 

 you usually take. And so at times take it, and you 

 will find it fragrant, odoriferous, delicious, and plea- 

 sant, recreating and refreshing the head and brain, 

 and will answer at once what is to be wished for in 

 the taking of snuff." 



One of these quack snuff-vendors issued an adver- 

 tisement of so grandiloquent a nature that it is here 

 reprinted as a curiosity from the General Advertiser of 

 June 21, 1749 : — 



" Once more I desire you to remember, I have 

 published my Imperial Snuff, for all disorders in the 

 head ; and I think I might have gone farther, and 

 said, for all disorders of bodj r and mind. — It hath set 

 a great many to rights that was never expected, but 

 there is but few, or none, that careth to have it pub- 

 lished they were a little out of their senses, although 

 it be really an ailment that none can help ; but here 

 is present relief, if not a cure : but I hope both, as by 



