98 TOBACCO. 



" An agent that has mischievously been repre- 

 sented to be innocuous only because of the re- 

 markable tolerance exhibited by a few individuals, 

 and is actually capable of such potent evil; which, 

 through its sedative effect upon the circulation, 

 creates a thirst for alcoholic stimulation ; which, 

 by its depressing and disturbing effect upon the 

 nerve centres, increases sexual propensities, and 

 induces secret practices, while permanently im- 

 perilling virile power ; which determines functional 

 disease of the heart ; which impairs vision, blunts 

 the memory, and interferes with mental effort and 

 application, — ought, in my opinion as a sanitary 

 officer, at whatever cost of vigilance, to be rigidly 

 interdicted." 



Writes Rev. Dr. J. W. Chickering: "The Nic- 

 otine plant is poisoning the life-springs of coming 

 generations ; sowing the seeds of more bodily 

 diseases than even strong drink, — so say careful 

 observers of physical causes and effects ; while 

 those in charge of asylums for the insane, for 

 idiots and feeble-rninded persons, trace mental and 

 moral, as well as physical, effects to the same 

 source. Add to this the filthiness of these habits 

 and the selfish disregard to the comfort of others, 

 so generally characteristic of the tobacco habit, 

 and it becomes a profound mystery how any con- 

 scientious, patriotic, and Christian man can contri- 

 bute to the hundreds of millions annually spent, 

 and to the pernicious example constantly presented 

 in this direction," 



