Tobacco. 279 



The effect of all narcotics, of which nicotine is one, is 

 to lessen the secretion of the gastric juice, giving rise to 

 dyspepsia. By interfering with digestion the nutrition of 

 the whole body is affected. 



Tobacco and Circulation. Tobacco has a very powerful 

 effect on the action of the heart. The nerves which con- 

 trol the action of the heart are affected by the nicotine. 

 The beat of the heart becomes irregular. It is said that 

 one in four among tobacco-users shows this effect in the 

 beat of the heart. So well known is this condition that it 

 has received the name, as a distinct disease, of "tobacco 

 heart." The beat may be now feeble, now violent, now 

 slow, and soon rapid. Of course such a condition unfits 

 one for any work calling for severe muscular exertion. 



Tobacco and Respiration. Tobacco smoke has a very 

 decided effect on the mouth, throat, and all the air pas^ 

 sages. In the first place the smoke is hot and would have 

 an unnatural effect even if there were no injurious vapors 

 in it. The vapors in the smoke are very irritating to the 

 mucous membrane of all the respiratory passages. The 

 mouth is dried and irritated, and frequently shows inflam- 

 mation. This inflamed condition may extend along the 

 eustachian tubes and interfere with the sense of hearing. 

 Very many habitual smokers are troubled with what is 

 known as " smoker's sore throat." Chronic bronchial 

 catarrh may be produced, or if already present, made 

 worse. From the interference with respiration the blood 

 may not get enough oxygen, and the whole system will 

 suffer. When a person unused to tobacco enters a room 

 filled with tobacco smoke, its poisonous effects are quickly 

 apparent He coughs, often soon gets a headache, and 

 shows the symptoms of tobacco poisoning. The fact 



