Medicinal Properties of Tobacco. 1 1 '^ 



and chewing. Its effects, when habitually used in each of 

 these modes, will now be examined. As far as my observa- 

 tions extend, few, if any, of all the devotees to this stupifying 

 substance, ever resort to its use without some supposed 

 necessity ; and often, alas too often, by the advice of physi- 

 cians. 



The benefit to be derived from the exhibition of a medicine 

 in the cure of disease, should not alone induce us to prescribe 

 it, without due regard to the injury which may result to the 

 constitution. Had this rule been observed relative to the 

 subject under consideration, I apprehend the use of this bane- 

 ful drug would have been less extensive. 



Snuff has been prescribed for a variety of complaints, among 

 which are headache, catarrh, and some species of opthalmia, 

 and no doubt sometimes with very good effect ; as I have, in 

 a very few instances, witnessed. But the fact seems to have 

 been overlooked, that its only power to relieve these com- 

 plaints arises from the copious discharge of mucus from the 

 nostrils, during the violent paroxysm of sneezing which inva- 

 riably attends its first application ; and that its salutary in- 

 fluence ceases, whenever these peculiar effects cease to 

 accompany its exhibition. Hence in all cases where it is 

 continued an indefinite time, or until the schneiderian mem- 

 brane loses its sensibility, it not only fails of its medicinal 

 effect, but actually becomes pernicious ; aggravating the very 

 disease it was intended to cure. It not only does this, but 

 goes on committing great ravages on the whole nervous sys- 

 tem, superinducing hypocondria, tremors, and premature decay 

 of all the intellectual powers. A thickening of the voice, is 

 also the unavoidable result of habitual snuff-taking. This disa- 

 greeable consequence is produced, either by partially filling 

 up the nasal avenues, or by destroying the sensibility of the 

 parts. Be that as it may, we would say of the change, in the 

 forcible language of Gowper : ' O! it is fulsome, and offends 

 me more than the nasal twang, heard at conventicle from the 

 pent nostril, spectacle bestrid.' 



It also occasions loss of appetite, frequent sickness at the 

 stomach, with many other disagreeable symptoms. A case 

 in point, is related by Dr. Cullen, of a woman, who had been 

 in the habit for twenty years. At length she found on taking 

 a pinch before dinner, she had no appetite. This having 

 frequently occurred, she was induced to postpone her pinch 

 till after dinner, when she ate her meal with her accustomed 

 relish, and went on snuff-taking in the afternoon without 

 inconvenience. 



