TOBACCO AND ITS II I STORY. 31 



It is luorc rciulily induced by the use of cigars than of pipes, 

 and is said to be incurable whih' smoking is continu(;d. 



According to latt; discoveries, it is the ammonia in tobacco 

 whicli excites the salivary glands to undue action, bites the 

 tongue, and exerts an inlluence on the blood, which in time 

 imparts a deathlike liue to the victim of the weed. The lassi- 

 tude, sleepiness, headache, and other similar disorders whicli 

 often pester the smokei-, are also believed to ))e largely due to 

 carbonic acid in the smoke. The unpleasant odour is caused by 

 the empyreumatic material ; and the abominable taste ex[)eri- 

 enced by him who for the lirst time puts a foul pipe into his 

 mouth, is caused by the resinous extract; while the nicotine 

 working in conjunction with the other elements of tobacco, 

 exerts a deleterious effect u[ion the whole system. 



The influence of tobacco on health and morals, has long been 

 a fruitful subject of controversy in Europe. Encyclopedia 

 Brittanica says : " On all grounds, except as a medicine, it met 

 the most uncompromising opposition when it first became 

 known ; but it was precisely the expectations entertained 

 regarding its medicinal virtues which were completely dis- 

 appointed." 



AS A MEDICINE TOBACCO IS ENTIRELY DISCARDED 



by the leading profession, as the most dangerous drug in 

 the whole list ol Materia Medica. Chambers Fiici/clopcdia 

 states, " If it continues to hold a place in the Pharmacopaua, it 

 will probably be as an antidote to strychnine." 



However much tobacco may have been recommended for 

 diseases of mankind in the past, it is doubtful whether any can- 

 did physician of repute could be found to-day, willing to stake 

 his reputation by publicly advocating its use as otherwise than 

 injurious to health, corrupting to morals and degrading to 

 humanity. 



It is evident that the " tobacco problem " is mounting the 

 public platform for discussion. Gospel ministers, like Spurgeon, 



