CHAPTER XV 



SNUFF AND SNUFF-TAKERS 



Indian mode of taking snuff — Introduction into Europe — Its 

 medical virtues — Speedy popularity — Method of making 

 snuff— Fashionable use in France and by ecclesiastics — 

 Use in Ireland and Scotland — Introduction into England 

 and speedy popularity — Eighteenth century an age of snuff 

 — Its fashionable use — Snuff-boxes — Perfumed snuffs — 

 Number and names of popular brands — Condemned by 

 physicians — Medicinal snuff — Famous snuffers — Manu- 

 facture — Decline of snuff in England — Philosophy of snuff 

 and smoke. 



Friar Romano Pane, who accompanied Columbus 

 on his second voyage to the New World, noted that 

 the Indians took tobacco in the form of powder as 

 well as smoke. The herb was reduced to dust, 

 ' which they take through a cane half a cubit long ; 

 one end of this they place in the nose and the other 

 upon the powder, and so draw it up, which purges 

 them very much.' It was in this manner that the 

 first tobacco brought into Europe was taken. 

 Catherine de Medici took as snuff the leaves pre- 

 sented to her by Nicot. For the headaches of her 

 son Charles IX. snuff was prescribed, and thus 

 patronized by royalty, its use speedily became a 

 practice of the beau-monde. 



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