110 TOBACCO. 



ated with, the regularity and rapidity of this meta- 

 morphosis of the tissues." 



Dr. Willard Parker, from whom I have already 

 quoted so freely, asserts that there is no occasion 

 for this talked-of arrest of waste, except for the 

 starving, and affirms that free waste and renewal 

 are among the most essential hygienic conditions. 

 f? Where the processes of waste and of repairs are 

 maintained in balance." he says, "the system is 

 in its normal state, or in health. Disturb the 

 balance, and disease commences. Every system 

 is worked by force, and this is the one cause of 

 waste. Diminish waste, and you diminish force. 

 The work of all poisons is to diminish force. Now, 

 if tobacco diminishes waste, it is because it dimin- 

 ishes force, and so far marches toward death. Let 

 us have no more of such sophistry." 



In conversing on the subject, Dr. Parker made 

 use of an illustration which I will give in my own 

 words : I have a house which will accommodate 

 five persons. Every day I take in five and 

 every day send out the same number, and the 

 house is in good condition. But I take in five and 

 send out three, and the condition is disturbed. I 

 take in five more, but must push aside the two 

 dead to make room for the incoming five. I now 

 send out two, and have three more dead to pile up 

 with the former two. How long will the dwelling 

 be inhabitable? It is already a sick-house. The 

 dead avIio are retained are not only no addition to 

 the strength of the house, but are a positive ob- 

 struction, a source of disease and death. 



