114 TOBACCO. 



The boy of our age does not accept this logic. 

 He cannot comprehend why that which is of such 

 service to the adult should be so injurious to him. 



It would be interesting to know at what precise 

 point this remarkable change occurs in the diges- 

 tive organs, to draw a definite line between a boy 

 and a man. Does the change take place in the 

 substance of the organs, or their form, or what? 

 One is tempted to ask the question, which I trust 

 is not irreverent, Can one who avowedly indulges 

 in the nightly smoking of "five or six moderately 

 strong cigars," and declares that he is a "wiser, 

 better, and happier man for it," can such an one, 

 even though both medical and scientific, be pre- 

 sumed to judge impartially? 



At one stage a poison, and at another a promoter 

 of wisdom, morality, and happiness! Surely, it is 

 of the utmost importance to learn the exact mo- 

 ment when the peril ceases and the advantage 

 begins. 



Now, is there not a sort of ohfuscation in such 

 reasoning that only tobacco-fumes could occasion? 

 According to Dr. Cate, the non-smoking physician 

 just quoted, the stimulation to the secretion of 

 saliva and gastric juice is a strong argument 

 against tobacco, and as really so for adults as for 

 youth. He goes on, — "The sight and taste of 

 food and the act of eating are physiological 

 stimulants to the glands concerned in digestion, 

 exactly fitted to the sufficient performance of this 

 office ; and the assertion that these glands need 



