66 tobacco: its use and abuse. 



84. I lately visited a gentleman in a Lunatic Asylum, 

 laboring under general paralysis, and his mind becoming 

 idiotical. On corresponding with his former medical 

 attendant, I understand his habits were, that he lived 

 temperately as regarded drink, but worked hard in a 

 mercantile house, and smoked to excess; the phrase he 

 makes use of is — that "he blazed away at a fearful 

 rate." 



85. In Dr. "William Henderson's work on "Plain 

 Rules for Improving Health," second edition, pages 87, 

 88, 89, and 261, there are cases of dyspepsia, palpita- 

 tion of the heart, of insanity, etc. produced by using 

 tobacco. One gentleman, " from having been one of the 

 most healthy and fearless men, became one of the most 

 timid. He could not present a petition, much less say 

 a word concerning it, though he was a practising lawyer. 

 He was afraid to be left alone at night." 



In the cases of insanity mentioned by him, the patients 

 "had used tobacco to excess, though perfectly temperate 

 otherwise, as regarded drink." 



The reader is referred to pages 18 and 52, for further 

 information on mau^. 



86. In the Lancet for 3d January, 1857, Mr. Fenn 

 thus describes the result of his investigations on the 

 effects of tobacco : 



" Tobacco," says he, " has the effect of relaxing the 

 skin and mucous membranes, causing the latter to pour 

 out their secretions more freely, and to shed the epithe- 

 lium more rapidly j at the same time, the sensibility of 

 the nervous system is greatly depressed, and the vital 

 force diminished. On account of its softening and re- 



