134 TOBACCO: ITS HISTORr. 



the town of Idria, near a mine of mercury, did 

 not present a single case.* 



Dr. Stokes and others have noticed the disap- 

 pearance of intermittent fevers in the marshy 

 districts of Cornwall, after the establishment of 

 several copper-foundries which pour into the 

 atmosphere the vapours of arsenic ; and M. 

 Bayle has collected 2027 cases, of which 1948 

 prove the prophylactic efficacy of belladonna 

 against scarlatina.f 



These are facts worthy of the attention of all 

 men. Time and observation will undoubtedly 

 disclose more of the broad available facts of na- 

 ture : it matters not if we cannot understand 

 their modus operandi; let us avail ourselves of 

 the blessing, and wait patiently for its explanation. 



What influence has the manufacture of tobacco 

 on the health and diseases of the workmen ? On 

 one hand, Ramazzini, Fourcroy, Cadet-Gassi- 

 court, Tourtelle, Percy, Patissier, and Merat, 

 represent them meagi-e, discoloured, yellow, 

 asthmatic, &c. ; and the same opinion is recorded 



* Delmas, 'Diet, de Medecine/ art. Cholera. 

 t Bibliotheque de Therapeutique, ii. 331. 



