ANTI-TOBACCO. 23 



Eight of the boys were of ages from nine to twelve ; nine- 

 teen of them from tweke to fifteen. 



Professor Kirk (" Nen-es and Narcotics ") says that "nar- 

 cotics, such as tobacco, are used because of the delicious 

 sense of relief which, even upon the motor nerves being 

 relaxed, steals over the smoker. You see a man who is 

 restless and yet wear}^ Though careworn or toihvorn, he 

 seems as if he could not be still, but must be moving in 

 one way or another. There is a state of uncomfortable 

 irritation in his muscular system, or in the motor nerves 

 that supply it. 



" By means of a narcotic, such as tobacco, this irrita- 

 tion is subdued. The supply of vital force from the 

 organic centres to the motor nen-es is so much lessened 

 that the irritating movement in them ceases. This gives 

 a sense of relief to the person affected, and he fancies 

 himself immensely benefited. He is not aware that the 

 benefit is purchased at a very serious cost. He has not 

 only lessened the supply of vital force for the time being, 

 but has done a very consideral^le amount of injury to his 

 vital system. He has, in fact, poisoned the springs of life 

 within him. These will not afterwards give out their sup- 

 ply of force, as they would have done, had the poisonous 

 influence been withheld. 



" As soon as these organic nen-es rally from the damp- 

 ing effect of the narcotic, the irritation in the motor 

 system returns, and the narcotic is called for anew. Fresh 

 injury is now inflicted for the sake of the relaxed and 

 easy condition desired. This goes on till the vital cen- 

 tres, if at all delicate, totally fail to give supply to the 

 motor ner\''es, and the sore experience of paralysis begins. 

 The passing sense of ease and tranquillity produced by 



