COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTRACTS. 119 



bodily powers ; and, in many instances, complete emas- 

 culation, or inability of procreation. In persons more 

 advanced in life, these effects, although longer in 

 making their appearance, supervene at last, and with a 

 celerity in proportion to the extent to which this vile 

 habit is carried. 



" 2. Smoking generates thirst and vital depression ; 

 and to remove these, the use of stimulating liquors is 

 resorted to, and often carried to a most injurious extent. 

 Thus two of the most debasing habits and vices to which 

 human nature can be degraded, are indulged in to the 

 injury of the individual thus addicted, to the shortening 

 of his life, and to the injury and ruin of his offspring, 

 if, indeed, he still retain his procreative powers — a very 

 doubtful result — and the more doubtful when both vices 

 are united in one person. 



^^3. Smoking tobacco weakens the nervous powers; 

 favors a dreamy, imaginative, and imbecile state of ex- 

 istence ; produces indolence and incapability of manly 

 or continued exertion ; and sinks its votary into a state 

 of careless or maudlin inactivity and selfish enjoyment 

 of his vice. He ultimately becomes partially, but gene- 

 rally paralyzed in mind and body — he is subject to 

 tremors and numerous nervous ailments, and has re- 

 course to stimulants for their relief. These his vices 

 cannot abate, however indulged in, and he ultimately 

 dies a drivelling idiot, an imbecile paralytic, or a suf- 

 ferer from internal organic disease, at an age many years 

 short of the average duration of life. These results are 

 not always prevented by relinquishing the habit, after a 

 long continuance or a very early adoption of it. These 



