COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTRACTS. 103 



added to give color, and by retaining a large amount of 

 water, to cheat both revenue and consumer. It gives 

 rise to that form of caries of the teeth which com- 

 mences by internal decay. The tooth being unduly 

 stimulated by tl^ oft-applied heat, a bony deposit takes 

 place on the fangs, the canals are partially or wholly 

 obliterated, and the supply of nourishment being cut off, 

 some day, while perhaps eating a piece of soft bread, 

 the crown gives way, and the tooth rapidly crumbles 

 down. Sand is used to a very great extent, finely sifted ; 

 it perhaps is harmless, but affords a good illustration 

 of how openly adulteration can be carried on in a free 

 country. 



" In conclusion, I may state, that the germs of pre- 

 mature decay, which abuse of tobacco is spreading 

 through the country, will ultimately, in my opinion, 

 prove more overwhelming than even the serioiis abuse 

 of intoxicating liquors." 



116. The following is an extract from a communica- 

 tion in the Lancet, by Walter Tyrrell, M. R. C. S. 



'' More especially would I direct attention to the de- 

 pressing influence of tobacco on the sexual powers. I 

 feel confident, that one of the most common, as well as 

 one of the worst, of its effects, is that of weakening, and 

 in extreme cases, of destroying the generative functions. 

 I can illustrate this by a case which came under my 

 notice recently, and one which I believe to be by no 

 means rare. My attention has just been directed to 

 the subject by Mr, Lizars' admirable paper, when a 

 gentleman called to consult me, as he found himself 

 impotent. He was a young man, in apparently good 



