314 The Soverane Herbe 



and will cause certain heart troubles which are known 

 to doctors under the name of " smoker's heart." Both 

 ailments are cured by giving up tobacco for a time 

 and by using it afterwards in strict moderation. 

 Tobacco is a sedative, and has certainly a soothing 

 effect on mankind. It is not a necessity of life, but 

 is a luxury, and I suspect it has to be ranked with 

 these little " extras " in the way of additions to our 

 life which have for their aim the rendering of exist- 

 ence a little more pleasurable and contented. Most, 

 if not all, nations, it is curious to observe, have some 

 such form of indulgence to be laid to their credit. 

 Even savage peoples discover some representative or 

 other, for example, of the " wine that cheers " the 

 heart of their more civilized neighbours. It seems 

 as though there existed a craving in humanity at 

 large for some form of stimulant on the one hand, or 

 for some other kind of narcotic on the other, and 

 this craving is satisfied in one fashion or another 

 according to the climate, degree of civilization, and 

 opportunities of any particular nation whose habits 

 we may examine.' 



The judicial tone of these dicta is evident ; there 

 is no partiality displayed towards tobacco, and its 

 use in moderation is declared to be absolutely bene- 

 ficial. In striking contrast with the rabid denuncia- 

 tion of tobacco by doctors thirty or forty years ago 

 is the equanimity with which smoking is now re- 

 garded by the faculty. 



About twenty years ago a Bill was introduced into 

 the French Chamber of Deputies to prohibit smoking 

 by children under sixteen years of age. The 



