482 NIGHTSHADE TRIBE ; TOBACCO. 



poisonous properties of this tribe, to remember its distinguishing 

 characters ; and the following definition comprehends all that is 

 necessary to distinguish this order from every other ; the flower 

 is monopetalous and regular, the ovary superior with two cells ; 

 and the leaves alternate. The fruit consists of a capsule, which 

 is very commonly swollen into a fleshy berry. 



657. The native British plants contained in this order are 

 the Bitter-sweet, whose red and tempting berries are a dangerous 

 decoy to children, the Deadly Nightshade, Henbane, and Thorn- 

 Apple. They are all distinguished by their narcotic properties, 

 which render them serviceable in medicine when skilfully admi- 

 nistered ; but they have also a considerable degree of acridity, 

 and often operate as violent irritants, when taken in an overdose 

 or accidentally eaten. The order is widely spread over the globe, 

 however ; and some species of it are found in almost all countries 

 except the polar regions. A large proportion are natives of 

 tropical countries ; and among these are several which are much 

 employed by Man. The first to be mentioned, because the one 

 in most general use, is the Nicotiana, the leaves of several species 

 of which constitute Tobacco ; this was used in Persia, in which 

 country it grows, long before the discovery of America ; but it is 

 from that continent, and from the West Indian islands, that 

 Europe now derives its chief supply. Two species only are in 

 sufficient repute to make their cultivation desirable ; and these 

 must be very extensively grown, to supply the enormous demand 

 that now exists for what was once considered a noxious weed. 

 The practice of smoking tobacco was introduced into England by 

 Sir "Walter Raleigh, and the settlers who returned from Virginia, 

 about the year 1586. The use of tobacco, like that of coffee, 

 encountered much opposition. Laws were made against its 

 importation, and severe penalties were ordered against the 

 employment of it. Book after book was written to deter the 

 public from its use ; but, as in the case of other forbidden grati- 

 fications, the more attempts were made to prevent it, the greater 

 was the use made of it. Even King James I. of England wrote 

 a book against it, bearing the name of the " Counterblaste." In 

 this, the habit of smoking is execrated as barbarous, being 



