74 TOBACCO. 



had chewed continually ; and the other smoked 

 one ounce of shag tobacco daily. Both were com- 

 pletely and irretrievably blind. Lichel of Paris 

 found some cases of blindness easily cured by 

 cessation from tobacco." 



Dr. George Crichett a distinguished London 

 oculist, says he is " constantly consulted for blind- 

 ness occasioned solely by great smoking." 



Dr. T. F. Allen : " We find here the character- 

 istic physiological action of the drug, namely, a 

 persistent contraction of the blood-vessels, produc- 

 ing an anaemia of the nerve structure. This con- 

 traction is like a persistent cramp, and may pass 

 off on ceasing to use the drug; but if it continue, 

 malnutrition, and slow degeneration of the nerves 

 is sure to take place." 



Dr. Allen gives confirmatory opinions and testi- 

 monies from nine or ten eminent physicians, while 

 he frankly admits that there are some who differ 

 from them as to the influence of tobacco. 



Dr. Perry, a highly educated physician of Col- 

 chester, Illinois, was an excessive smoker and 

 chewer, sometimes in three days using not far 

 from a pound of plug tobacco. As the result, he 

 is totally blind. 



In a medical journal, among other similar 

 instances, one is given of a man about forty -two, 

 a smoker of many years, whose eyesight was 

 gradually failing. After two months' cessation 

 from the habit, his vision was restored. But the 

 ardent votary of the weed — refusing to ascribe his 



