The Hygiene of Tobacco 303 



with difficulty of breathing. Fresh air and stimulants 

 speedily remove these symptoms. Indeed, the tem- 

 porary character of all evil effects produced by tobacco 

 is a striking feature. 



However serious may be the results of over-smoking, 

 the affection is not organic, but merely circumstantial. 

 If smoking be abandoned, the symptoms imme- 

 diately disappear, not to recur, and without leaving 

 any permanent organic affection. Tobacco never 

 permanently injures the system ; whatever effects it 

 may produce, they are temporary, and disappear on 

 smoking being given up. 



' Smoker's throat,' with its irritability of the mucous 

 membrane, dry cough, and enlarged, soft, sore tonsils, 

 is occasionally produced by excessive smoking in 

 persons with a weak larynx. It is caused more by 

 cigar than pipe smoking. 



A great deal of absurd twaddle has been written 

 on the evil of smoking too much — as if too much 

 anything were not harmful 1 Excessive smoking de- 

 ranges the liver, produces indigestion, and sometimes 

 injures the sight. The rhythm of the heart's action 

 is altered, producing palpitation and irregular pulse, 

 trembling of the limbs and headache. A first pipe is 

 gently soothing and stimulating ; continued smoking 

 excites the brain and nervous system. If still per- 

 sisted in, tobacco becomes narcotic, and stupefies. 



It is wildly asserted that tobacco is responsible 

 very largely for modern dyspepsia. Excess, especially 

 in the consumption of light fibrous tobacco, does 

 occasion indigestion. Used in moderation, there is 

 nothing more conducive to digestion. What is more 



