SnufF and Snuff-takers 275 



add salts, red lead, chromate of lead, and oxide of 

 iron to increase pungency. Powdered glass, coal, 

 wood, straw, and sand, as well as burnt sienna and 

 yellow ochre, with ammonia as a flavouring, have 

 been found in snuff on analysis. 



That use is second nature is proved in the manu- 

 facture of snuff. The men employed in it move, 

 breathe, and work in an atmosphere reeking with the 

 pungent dust, but never a sneeze is heard. Nor are 

 the snuffy surroundings in any way injurious to health, 

 for the employes are strikingly hale and hearty. 



Sixty years ago fully one-half of the people of the 

 United Kingdom of both sexes and all ranks took 

 snuff. For every one that smoked there were five 

 who took snuff. The renascence of smoking has been 

 the degradation of snuff. It is, of course, still taken 

 by many, but only pounds of the leaf are put down 

 for snuff for the tons that used to be. Snuff-taking 

 to-day is indeed a curiosity. One reason for the 

 decline of the habit is said to be that white handker- 

 chiefs have completely displaced the coloured silk and 

 bandana ones of our grandfathers. Lawn and snuff 

 are incompatible. 



About ;^3,ooo worth of snuff is imported into 

 this country annually. Nearly all of this comes 

 from Brazil. In France also snuff has declined in 

 favour of smoke ; in 1869, 7 ounces were taken per 

 head, and the annual average consumption has now 

 dropped to five ounces per head, and the total amount 

 consumed from 13,000,000 to 12,000,000 pounds per 

 annum. In England the consumption is put down 

 at only 500,000 pounds per annum. Elderly people 



18—2 



