PREFACE. VII 



" That most extraordinary plant tobacco," says Dr. 

 Paris, " notwithstanding its powers of fascination, has 

 suffered romantic vicissitudes in its fame and character. 

 It has been successively opposed and condemned by phy- 

 sicians — condemned and eulogised by priests and kings — 

 proscribed and protected by governments ; whilst at length 

 this once insignificant production of a little island, or an 

 obscure district, has succeeded in diffusing itself through 

 every climate, and in subjecting the inhabitants of every 

 country to its dominion. The Arab cultivates it in the 

 burning desert — the Laplander and Esquimaux risk their 

 lives to procure a refreshment so delicious in their wintry 

 solitude — the seaman, grant him but this luxur^^, and he 

 will endure with cheerfulness every other privation, and 

 defy the fury of the raging elements ; and in the higher 

 walks of civilised society, at the shrine of fashion, in the 

 palace, and in the cottage, the fascinating influence of this 

 singular plant commands an equal tribute of devotion and 

 attachment." * 



Were Dr. Paris alive I opine he would think 

 this movement of Mr. Solly and his confraternity 



face this fact with a newspaper report of a great diminution 

 in the normal increase of the population of France, and 

 actually ascribe it to the use of tobacco ! But sauce for a 

 goose is sauce for a gander, and our thousand a-day is a tole- 

 rably rich one, in spite of tobacco-juice. If the doctors and 

 others would like to get some wholsesome knowledge on the 

 important subject of population-increase, I beg to refer them 

 to Dr. Levy's 'Traite' d'Hygiene Publique et Privee, ii. 736 

 et seq., just published at Paris. Many a smoker with a large 

 and increasing family would, perhaps, be glad if the fumes 

 of tobacco could diminish his superabundant energies. 

 * Pharmacologia, p. 8L 



