84 tobacco: its use and abuse. 



smoking; and I have annexed, in a continued series, 

 excerpts from the several papers which appeared in that 

 journal, being convinced that the audi alteram partem 

 is the only legitimate mode of dealing with the question: 

 " It is almost unnecessary to make a separate inquiry 

 into the pathological conditions which follow upon ex- 

 cessive smoking. Abundant evidence has been adduced 

 in the correspondence in our columns, of the gigantic 

 evils which attend the use of tobacco. Let it be granted 

 at once, that there is such a thing as moderate smoking, 

 and let it be admitted that we cannot accuse tobacco of 

 being guilty of the whole of Cullen's ^ Nosology,' it 

 still remains that there is a long catalogue of frightful 

 penalties attached to its abuse, 

 "Let us briefly recapitulate — 



"1. To smoke ^arZy in the day is excess. 

 " 2. As people are generally constituted, to smoke 

 more than one or two pipes of tobacco, or 

 one or two cigars daily, is excess. 

 " 3. Youthful indulgence in smoking is excess. 

 "4. There are physiological indications, which, oc- 

 curring iu any individual case, are criteria 

 of excess. 

 " We most earnestly desire to see the habit of smoking 

 diminish, and we entreat the youth of this country to 

 abandon it altogether. Let them lay our advice to 

 heart. Let them give up a dubious pleasure for a cer- 

 tain good. Ten years hence we shall receive their 

 thanks.'' 



108 The subjoined extract is taken from a second 



