INFLUENCE ON THE HUMAN SYSTEM. llo 



here below. A German writer has stated that 

 there is no substance so revolting that some of 

 earth's inhabitants do not crave it as a luxury ; 

 and he enters into particulars with disgusting 

 minuteness.* 



This also explains how some smokers swallow 

 their saliva without being poisoned : if the bitter 

 principle and oil do not disagree with the stomach, 

 it is clear they run no risk whatever. For myself, 

 I never swallow the saliva immediately after 

 puffing; and if the cigar be strong, or nearly 

 burnt out, I invariably reject the fluid. If I am 

 right, Mr. Johnston is clearly wrong, therefore, 

 when he states that, " when the saliva is retained, 

 the fullest effect of all the three narcotic ingre- 

 dients of the smoke will be produced upon the 

 nervous svstem of the smoker." And his conclu- 

 sion from this erroneous position is equally, and 

 for the same reason, mistaken. He says, — • 



* Schneller, * Geschichte der Menscheit,' i.24. Enumerating 

 the delicacies of all nations, he says, amongst the rest, that 

 die Kalmucken fresscn stinkendcs Aus imd die Nachjeburt von 

 Thieren ; and that die Jakuten verzehren Eaubthiere, und die 

 Nachgehu-t ihrer Weiher ist ihnen ein Leckerbissen, worauf 

 sie ihre Freunde einladen ! 



