COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTRACTS. 53 



CHAPTER III. 



COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTRACTS. 



66. In his valuable work on the " Nature and Treat- 

 ment of Stomach and Urinary Diseases," Dx. Prout, at 

 pages 24 and 25, observes : ^* There is an article much 

 used in various ways, though not as an aliment, the 

 deleterious eiSects of whigh on the assimilating organs, 

 &c., require to be briefly noticed, viz., tobacco. Although 

 confessedly one of the most virulent poisons in nature, 

 yet such is the fascinating influence of this noxious 

 weed, that mankind resort to it in every mode they can 

 devise, to ensure its stupefying and pernicious agency. 

 Tobacco disorders the assimilating functions in general, 

 but particularly as I believe, the assimilation of the sac- 

 charine principle. I have never, indeed, been able to 

 trace the development of oxalic acid to the use of to- 

 bacco ; but that some analogous and equally poisonous 

 principle (probably of an acid nature,) is generated in 

 certain individuals by its abuse, is evident from their 

 cachectic looks, and from the dark and often greenish- 

 yellow tint of their blood. The severe and peculiar 

 dyspeptic symptoms sometimes produced by inveterate 

 snufi-taking are well known; and I have more than once 

 Been such cases terminate fatally with malignant disease 

 of the stomach and Uver. Great smokers, also^ esjpe* 



