46 tobacco: its use and abuse. 



curring in tobacco-smokers, afford strong proof that to- 

 bacco, besides affecting the nervous system through the 

 medium of the nerves of the nose and mouth, when 

 gmoked, must also enter into the circulation of the blood, 

 by being mixed with the saliva, and swallowed, and thus 

 taken up by the lacteals or absorbents. The latter pro- 

 cess must take place in those who use tobacco in the 

 form of snuff, as it must often be swallowed, especially 

 during sleep. It must also occur in those who chew or 

 quid the weed. The relaxation of the bowels, termina- 

 ting in obstinate diarrhoea, proves that it passes down 

 the alimentary canal with the saliva, even in the smoker. 



66. When nux vomica, or its alkaloid, strychnia, is 

 prescribed in small doses, several days elapse before its 

 effects on the constitution are exemplified ; and, in like 

 manner, a considerable period intervenes before its effects 

 leave the system, after it has been discontinued. The 

 same apparent result seems to take place with tobacco. 

 It is evidently a cumulative poison, as is shown by its 

 ultimately producing softening of the brain, and fre- 

 quently amaurosis. 



57. In the above view of the action of tobacco, I am 

 supported by Mr. Solly, in his interesting and able Lec- 

 ture on Paralysis, published in the Lancet for the 13th 

 December, 1856, and of which I have given a brief ex- 

 tsact. There is also an interesting paper in the Lancet 

 for 3d January, 1857, by Mr. Fenn of Nayland, Suffolk, 

 wherein he states that " he has seen very mild cases of 

 typhoid fever rendered fatal from the excessive use of 

 tobacco." The extreme liability to attacks of typhus 

 fever is now well ascertained; for every febrile state, 



