118 tobacco: its use and abuse. 



usual marks of the habit itself, and when present in any 

 obstinate or anomalous disease, whether of the respira- 

 tory, circulating, alimentary, or nervous system, would 

 warrant a special inquiry as to the habits of the patient 

 in the use of tobacco. In all cases, the quantity of snuflF 

 used, or tobacco smoked, per diem or per week, should 

 be ascertained, as patients are apt to say they only smoke 

 a little ; meaning, if pressed, that they smoke from half 

 an ounce to an ounce of tobacco per diem — and the same 

 with snuff." 



131. The following paper, published by the British 

 Anti-Tobacco Society, was written by a physician of high 

 standing and extensive practice in London: — 



" The habit of smoking tobacco has given rise to the 

 following ill effects, which have come under my obser- 

 vation in numerous instances, and that of all the medical 

 men with whom I am acquainted. I shall state the 

 bad effects of this poison categorically, premising that 

 chewing tobacco is the most injurious, smoking not much 

 less so, and snuffing least, although also most decidedly 

 injurious. As smoking holds a middle position of these 

 three injurious habits, or vices, especially when adopted 

 by the young, I shall therefore make it represent the 

 others. 



*' 1. Smoking weakens the digestive and assimilating 

 functions, impairs the due elaboration of the chyle and 

 of the blood, and prevents a healthy nutrition of the 

 several structures of the body. Hence result, especially 

 in young persons, an arrest of the growth of the body; 

 low stature; a pallid and sallow hue of the surface; an 

 insufficient and an unhealthy supply of blood : weak 



