44 tobacco: its use and abuse. 



this necessity, thus prolongs the duration of the infancy 

 and inactivity of the human mind. These practices, 

 which have proved an obstacle to the progress of igno- 

 rant and enslaved nations, produce also their effects in 

 wise and more civilized countries, preventing truth from 

 diffusing, through all degrees of men, a pure and equal 

 light." 



52. While investigating the baneful influence of to- 

 bacco, I have been led to consider the effects of brandy 

 and other stimulants on the courage of the soldier, during 

 the last Russian war. It appears to me, that the Rus- 

 sians lost their di^erent battles in the Crimea chiefly 

 from having served out to them too much brandy or 

 raki, immediately before entering into action. This was 

 especially remarked after the battle of Inkermann. That 

 extraordinarily intelligent soldier, Philip O'Flaherty, in 

 his Sketches of the War, thus observes, after the battle 

 of Inkermann : " We took a good many prisoners who 

 were half-drunk. It appears that the authorities sup- 

 plied the men plentifully with liquor, in order that they 

 might fight well. The Russians had a great many killed 

 and wounded. The hills were strewn with them.'^ This 

 intoxicated condition of the Russians is also described 

 in several letters from the camp. Even our own troops, 

 about the conclusion of the war, were becoming exces- 

 sively addicted to drinking. It may be said that the 

 Russians, besides their prodigal allowance of raki, were 

 often led into action after long forced marches, and in 

 an ill-fed condition. Nevertheless, the over-dose of raki 

 would, in my estimation, detract from their powers of 

 endurance, instead of prolonging them. 



