116 tobacco: its use and abuse. 



of this action, that smoking is so habitual with studious 

 men, or men of contemplative minds. The phrases, ^ a 

 quiet pipe,^ or ' a comfortable cigar,' are significant of 

 this sedative action. 



" There are a few facts which I would now state gene- 

 rally, and which appear as secondary results of smoking. 

 Constipation and haemorrhoids are often experienced by 

 inveterate smokers. Acne of the face I have observed 

 to be excited and kept up by the habit, and to disappear 

 with the discontinuance of the latter. Blackness of the 

 teeth and gum-boils are not uncommon results. There 

 is also a sallow paleness of the complexion, an irreso- 

 luteness of disposition, a want of life and energy, to be 

 observed occasionally in inveterate smokers, who are 

 content with smoking , that is to say, who do not drink. 

 I have suspected also that it has induced pulmonary 

 phthisis. 



" The nervous system, as I have said, has peculiarly 

 suffered ; and thence have arisen obtuseness in the func- 

 tions of the several senses, irritability, indecision, and 

 loss of courage, or of determination of action, weakness 

 of the muscles of voluntary motion, and depravity of 

 the secretions. Particularly have I observed the buccal 

 membrane (in smokers) to become vascular, swollen, irri- 

 table, and prone to haemorrhage. I have never observed 

 an ^teception to the fact, that in smokers the voice has 

 deepened in tone (I suppose from relaxation), or become 

 hoarse or oppressed through excessive mucous secretion. 

 Many an irritable nervous cough, without increased se- 

 cretion from the tracheo-bronchial membrane, and many 

 a cough dependent upon increased secretion, have I 



