138 tobacco: its use and abuse. 



Since the publication of my third edition, I have re- 

 ceived accounts of not a few cases, and have had undel 

 my own treatment, several examples of ulceration of the 

 lips, tongue, soft and hard palate, and of the mucous 

 membrane of the cheek — some of these being purely 

 carcinomatous and incurable : and all of which occurred 

 in individuals greatly addicted to smoking tobacco. The 

 number of patients frequenting my surgery in the morn- 

 ings is upwards of 2000 annually, and these afford me 

 an extensive field of surgical observation in eveiy de- 

 partment. It would appear that the cigar, or pipe, first 

 produces a small blister of the mucous membrane of the 

 mouth, which, being daily irritated by tie pungent weed, 

 progressively ulcerates and becomes cancerous. I am 

 decidedly of opinion, that a cigar or pipe, impregnated 

 with this cancerous fluid, is a ready medium to commu- 

 nicate the disease to another person who uses the same 

 cigar or pipe. 



THB BND. 



