150 tobacco: its history. 



mentions cases of inflammation and ulceration of the 

 larynx. The action of the heart is depressed, and with 

 certain outrageous smokers its pulsations are more feeble 

 and slightly irregular, the rapidity of the cerebral action 

 and the free flow of ideas seem slackened, and it is this 

 nervous depression which gives to tobacco the epithet of 

 soother and consoler. 



" Desperate smokers are pale and livid ; their teeth are 

 black ; their lips blue ; their hands tremble ; their muscles 

 are without vigour ; they are bereft of energy and decision. 

 The mucous membrane of the mouth becomes vascular, 

 swollen ; irritation sets in with hemorrhage. This explains 

 in a degree tbe great number of bleeding stomatitis 

 common among military men. 



" Now, if we weigh without prejudice the advantages 

 and inconveniences of tobacco, we shall find that both 

 have been somewhat exaggerated. It is not a digestive 

 agent ; it does not prevent scurvy, nor does it produce it, 

 &c. It does not besot smokers and chewers ; it does not 

 emaciate them by the loss of saliva, &c. ; it does not soil 

 the angles of the lips with a black foam, excepting amongst 

 those gluttons who, instead of being satisfied with a simple 

 plug, fill their mouths with tobacco intended for the pipe. 



" When it is accused of brutalizing its votaries, its 

 effects are confounded with those of drunkenness and gross 

 intemperance (crapule). 



" Doubtless in the atmosphere of smoking-rooms, where 

 the Flemings spend several hours given up to the absorp- 

 tion of the molecules of nicotiana which act on their 

 nervous system, their hopped ale adds to the slight nar- 

 cotism which they acquire every day ; and this double 

 influence, being renewed every day, ends with dimming 

 their understanding, benumbs their sensations, &c. ; but 

 the use of the cigar, the pipe, or the plug in the open air 



