MEDICINAL ACTION. 149 



worst possible circumstances — not a single case 

 of any of the alleged diseases is given ! 



Mr. Solly speaks of the fauces of the smoker 

 being like a piece of dirty red velvet. A gentle- 

 man who told me he had smoked from his 

 thirteenth year — enjoying perfect health and 

 looking perfectly well — to whom I mentioned 

 Mr. Solly's reproduction of Laycock's venous 

 injection hypothesis, assured me that, not feeling 

 well a few weeks ago, he went to an eminent 

 physician, who on looking into his fauces said 

 they looked like a piece o^ parchment ! and that he 

 could not account for it, unless it was caused by 

 smoking. Between the red velvet and the white 

 parchment where will the insurance offices re- 

 quire a sign ? 



" Evident iDflammatiou of the stomach is only an ex- 

 treme case," says Dr. Le'vy, in his important work before 

 quoted. " A Utile smoke is absorbed, especially by the 

 lungs, and its narcotic action adds to the beatitude of old 

 smokers. Is it true that they lose their appetite ? By 

 no means, — but the cigar cheats hunger as any other 

 diversion would do, and perhaps also by allaying visceral 

 sensibility. 



" The abuse of tobacco directly affects the larynx, the 

 trachoma, and the lungs ; tlie voice becomes hoarse and 

 more base ; a slight cough supervenes. Mr. Laycock 



