but it is doubtful whether the plant was in- 
troduced by them from England or whether 
they continued a culture learned from the Na- 
tives. From Virginia it spread to the other 
colonies. In Peru and other parts of South 
America the growing of tobacco was well es- 
tablished at the time of the Spanish Conquest. 
In 1560 Jean Nicot, the French Ambassador 
at Lisbon, sent some tobacco to Catherine de 
Medici as a cure for headache. Catherine was 
pleased with it and is said to have become quite 
addicted to its use. Tobacco was designated 
the “Queen’s herb” and the “Sovereign herb” 
from this circumstance and Nicot himself is 
perpetuated in the word “Nicotine” and its 
derivatives. 
Many persons erroneously give credit to 
Nicot for the introduction of tobacco into 
Europe. It is quite clear, however, from 
Oviedo’s book, quoted above, that the plant 
was known in Spain very much earlier; and it 
is most probable that the immediate followers 
of Columbus brought samples of the leaves and 
pipes back to Spain with them. Moveover, in 
1558, Phillip II of Spain sent Francisco Her- 
nandez, a physician, to investigate the re- 
sources, etc., of Mexico, and on his return he 
brought back tobacco as one of the products, 
and grew it as a drug. From Spain and Eng- 
14 
