278 Physiology. 



First Effects of Tobacco. When taken for the first time, 

 tobacco usually produces the following effects : first, giddi- 

 ness, faintness, with a miserable feeling of great weakness, 

 shortly followed by nausea and severe and long-continued 

 vomiting, and relaxation and feebleness of the whole mus- 

 cular system. The skin becomes moist and pale. The 

 pulse grows very weak. These effects may be felt for a 

 day or two after the taking of the poisonous substance. 

 If a larger amount of the poison is absorbed, all these feel- 

 ings may be still more intense, and there may be cramps, 

 violent pains in the abdomen, convulsions, profuse purging, 

 and heart failure. 



No antidote for this poison is known. 



Ways of using Tobacco. The chewing of tobacco is 

 much more harmful than smoking. The disgusting habit 

 of taking snuff is fortunately on the decline, so that we 

 see little of it. 



Tobacco and Digestion. The use of tobacco stimulates 

 the action of the salivary glands. Being kept in action 

 too much of the time, the saliva is wasted, and the digestion 

 of foods containing starch is less perfect. It is also said 

 to poison the saliva, and this also has a very bad effect. It 

 is not. natural that the salivary glands should be kept active 

 so much of the time, even by such a simple substance as 

 chewing gum ; much more harm is done when the exciting 

 substance is actually poisonous. It is said that the tongue 

 of the habitual smoker is always in bad condition. Smok- 

 ing produces a dryness of the mouth and throat. 



The continued use of tobacco, especially when used in 

 large amounts, leads to a dry, foul condition of the mouth, 

 to more or less constant thirst, and to loss of appetite, 

 especially in the morning, and to chronic dyspepsia. 



