The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-13 00:00:00

ON THE USE AND ABUSE OF TOBACCO.

Our attention is directed to this subject by a let.
ter from Sir Benjamin Brodie, in the Times, cha-
racterised by all the knowledge, candour, and good
sense which belong to whatever emanates from this
distinguished physician and philosopher. He had
been asked, it would seem, his opinion of the utility
of a Parliamentary inquiry into the growing evil
of tobacco-smoking, and, like a man of sense, he is,
of course, against it; probably agreeing with us
that a blue-book on such a subject would be as
ineffectual and as ridiculous as King James's
" Counterblast." " I am not," says Sir Benjamin,
" prepared to submit to the opinion of those
who hold that, under all circumstances, and to
however moderate extent it be practised, the
smoking of tobacco is prejudicial. The first effect
of it is to soothe and tranquillize the nervous
system. It allays the pangs of hunger, and re-
lieves the uneasy feelings produced by mental and
bodily exertion. The general drift, however, of
this letter is to condemn the practice. That habi-
tual tobacco-smoking proves prejudicial to some
constitutions is an established fact, and that the
excessive use of it will injure the very best consti-
tution is equally certain ; but it appears to us that
this is all that can be safely affirmed, and it applies
to any ether stimulant whatsoever—to malt liquor,
from London beer to Burton ale ; to all alcoholic
drinks, from brandy to blue ruin; to wines, from
champagne to Cape Madeira; to hemp juice, to
opium, even to tea and coffee. Some of these are
more likely to be used to excess than others, but
with the exceptions of tea and coffee, tobacco is
perhaps the least likely of all. The consumption
of tobacco with us has only kept pace with our in-
crease in population—a result not to be wondered
at, considering that we are paying a yearly tax of
£5,500,000 for our indulgence. We never, in fact,
should have heard one word about the abuse of
smoking if our youths of the upper and middle classes
had not of late borrowed cigar‘ smoking from the
Spaniards, in the same way in which more recently
they have borrowed beards from the Turks. Let us
look then to our consumption of cigars, the source
of all this outcry. According to the most recent
public returns, the whole quantity of cigars entered
annually for consumption was 213,6391 b., and their
cost, without duty, in round numbers, was £120,000,
The duty, in round numbers also, was £lOO,OOO,
making the wholesale price £220,000. This sum,
however, is not the cost to the consumer, who, of
course, pays the retail price, which we may compute
will raise the whole cost of cigars to about £320,000.
Besides the home tax, which is very nearly 9s 6d.
a pound, it is to be observed that cigars before their
importation had been already loaded with a mono-
poly tax in the Spanish colonies which produce
them, the weight of which may be judged when we
state that the price at which Cuba cigars are valued
at the Custom-house is lls. ld., whereas the highest
ordinary manufactured tobacco is no more than 101 d.
These facts sufficiently prove that the smoking.of
cigars is an expensive luxury which few can in-
dulge in, but we may adduce some details in illus-
tration. A pound weight usually, contains about
120 cigars of medium size, and they are retailed at
the average rate of 3d. each. If, then, the smoker
consume but six cigars a day, or 2,100 per annum,
he expends in his indulgence the sum of £27 7s.
6d., about the average wages of a rural day labourer.
If he be sot enough—and such sots there are—as to
consume double the number now named, then he
expends in tobacco smoking a sum that would main-
tain 10 individuals of our rural population. But
then, as to the number of cigar smokers, suppos-
ing no smuggling„ and there is not a great deal,
the quantity of cigar tobacco consumed would, at
the rate we have stated, yield 25,436,480 cigars ;
and if the average consumption of individuals be
taken at six cigars a day, their whole number
would be no more than 11,614, or about one

smoker out of every 2,683 of our present computed
population ; and, as to the contribution of the cigar
smokers to the tobacco revenue, it forms but a poor • .
55th part of the whole amount. For our own part,
our main objection to tobacco smoking consists in
the practice being somewhat unodorous and hard
to reconcile with the niceties, difficulties which are
considerably aggravated at present by beard and
moustache, good absorbents of soot and empyreu-
matic oil. Even Sir Benjamin Brodie's moderate
estimate of the ill effects of tobacco we fancy to
be somewhat overcharged. A drop of its essential
oil on the tongue of a cat will, he says, destroy life
in 10 minutes. No doubt ; but 100 drops distri-
buted over 365 days would hardly have any effect
at all on the cat, which has not the vital powers of
a child five years old. We dissent also from the
applicability of the instances adduced by Sir Ben-
jamin Brodie of the pernicious effects of excess in
tobacco smoking, and which he holds up to us as
warnings—namely, the decline of the Red In-
dians of America and of the Turks. The Red
Indians had been smoking for ages before we
knew of their very existence ; indeed, it was
from them we learnt the practice; and they
might have smoked on to the latest posterity
without diminution of their numbers, had not
fire-water, gunpowder, and the encroachment
of cultivation on their hunting-grounds prevented
it. Asto the Turks it is assuredly neither excess
of tobacco smoking or of any other vicious indul-
gence that has changed their relative position to
Europeans. They have not declined at all, for they
have at present as much courage and more know-
ledge and intelligence than they had under Soly-
man the Magnificent. It is not the Turks that
have fallen off, but we that have advanced at a pace
with which an Asiatic race, albeit planted for four
centuries in the choicest regions of the globe, can-
not keep up.—Examiner.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

DONCASTER RACES-WEDNESDAY.

The Municipal Stakes of 200 soya each, h fc, for two-yr-

olds , colts Bst 71b, fillies Bst 41b ; the second to save his
stake. Red House in. 5 furlongs 152 yards. 7 subs.
Mr. Henry's Klarikoff, Bst 71b (G. Fordham) 1
Sir J. Hawley's Vaga, Bst 41b (Challoner) 2
Lord Glasgow's Physalis colt, Bst 71b (Aldcroft) 3
Mr. W. S. Crawfurd's Wild Will, Bst 71b (Wells) 4
Betting-5 to 2 agst Klarikoff, sto 4 agst Vaga, 4to 1
agst the Physalis colt. Vaga, waited upon by Klarikoff,
made play to the half distance, where the latter collared
her, and the two ran a fine race Wine, Klarikoff winning
by half a length ; a bad third ; Wild Will close up.
The Corporation Plate of 100 sows in specie, added to a
Handicap Stakes of 10 BOYS each, 5 ft ; winners extra,
&c. ; the second to receive 15 sovs out of the stakes.
T.Y.C. (7 furlongs 214 yards). 51 subs.
Lord Stamford's Emily, 3 yrs, 7st (A. Edwards) 1
Mr. S. Jacob's Amsterdam, 5 yrs, 9st 41b .. (T. Aldcroft) 2
Lord Derby's Sagitta, 3 yrs, 7st 91b (G. Fordham) 3
The following also ran :—Napoleon, Glenbuck, Ripon,
Horace, Viatka, Gardener, Captain Fortibus, Chir' per,
Ariadne, The Monk, and The Prophet.
Betting-2 to 1 agst Emily, 9to 2 agst Amsterdam, 6to

1 agst C apt. Fortibus, 8 to 1 agst Sagitta, 10 to 1 ags'

Horace, 100 to 8 agst Ripen. After two or three false
starts the lot got off, Capt. Fortibus making play, followed
by The Prophet, Emily lying third. On rounding the Red
House turn Emily went to the front, followed by Chirper,
Capt. Fortibus, and Amsterdam. At the distance Gardener
fell, throwing Bradley, who was unhurt, Emily going on
with the running, and winning easily by two lengths; a
head between the second and third, Chirper was fourth,
Horace next.
The St. Leger Stakes of 25 sous each, for three-yr. olds ;
colts Bst 71b, fillies Bst 21b ; the second to receive 100 soya
out of the stakes. St Leger Course (about one mile 6
furlongs and 132 yards). 168 subs.
Lord Ailesbury's St. Albans, Bst 71b (L. Snowden) 1
Mr. Jaques's High Treason, 71b (Bullock) 2
Mr. A. N ichols's The Wizard, Bst 71b (Aldcroft) 3
Lord Zetland's Zabreur, Bst 71b (J. Osborne) 4
The following also ran :—Sweetsauce, Stampedo,Winton,
Umpire, Wallace, Cramond, Thormanby, Buccaneer, King
of Diamonds, The Rap, and Cambondo.
Betfing-5 to 2 agst Thormanby, 100 to 30 agst Sabreur,
5 to 1 agst The Wizard, 8 to 1 agst St. Albans, 10 to 1 agst
Umpire, 100 to 7 agst Sweetsauce, 25 to 1 agst Winton,
1,000 to 30 each agst High Treason and Wallace, 50 to 1
agst Buccaneer, 100 to 1 each agst Cramond, The Rap,
King of Diamonds, and Stampedo.
THE RACE.

With admirable punctuality the horses were got under
order, the preliminary canters as usual exciting muoh atten-
tion, and a loud buzz was sent up by the spectators as the
different favourites passed the Grand Stand. Mr. Marshall*
of Northampton, the specially appointed starter, led the
competitors past the enclosure in the following order :
Buccaneer, Stampedo, Cambondo, High Treason, Umpire,
Sweetsauce, Cramond, King of Diamonds, Sabreur, Thor-
manby, St. Albans, Wallace, The Rap, Winton, and Th•
Wizard. They were got in tolerably close order, when The
Wizard broke away, and ran a short distance before being
stopped. A second attempt to get them off was attended
by no better result, for High Treason, King of Diamonds,
and The Wizard threw the rank into disorder, and Stam-
pedo, standing some lengths in the rear, would not ap-
proach his horses, when a man, stick in hand, led him
into the ruck. In another attempt to get them away
Umpire could not be prevailed upon to get on terms of
equality. After these delays Lord Coventry, one of the
stewards, went down to the starter, and ordered the
horses to be brought to the end of the course, and,
after one more attempt, the flag was finally, lowered.
Sabreur got off with a lead of at least a couple of
lengths, with King of Diamonds second, Umpire third,
and Buccaneer fourth, St. Albans fifth, heading the re•
mainder of the field, the two last being Stampedo and Cra-
mond. As they traversed the straight, before reaching the
Bawtry turn, Sweetsauce rushed through his horses and
took up his place next Sabreur, Umpire going on third, and
St. Albans fourth, High Treason and Thormanby's colours
showing next; close with them were Winton and the
Wizard. Sabreur held his lead to the 2-yr-old post, with
Buccaneer and Thormanby running side by side third and
fourth ; St. Albans having been eased by Snowden, and pull-
ing into the fifth place. On coming past the Red-house the
first lot took close order, Sabreur, Sweetsauce, Thormanby,
St. Albans, Umpire, and High Treason being in the van,
and next, in close pursuit, were The Wizard, The Rap, and
Wallace, Stampede and Cramond stil toiling on in the rear.
As they rounded the bend into the straight Umpire went up
to Sabreur, and loud shouts were raised of " The American
wins," and the pair raced side by side to the distance, with

Thormenby, The Wizard, St. Albans, and High Treason
close together in pursuit. At the half distance Sabreur and
Umpire were beaten, and St. Albans, High Treason, and
The Wizard passed the pair, St. Albans having the best of it
from this point, and coming in an easy winner by a length
and a half; a neck between the second and third; two lengths
between third and fourth ; Thormanby was fifth, Umpire
sixth, Sweetsauce seventh, King of Diamonds eighth ; The
Rap, Wallace, Winton, and Cramond were next ; Cambonde
and Stampedo bringing up the rear, the latter not having
passed the poet.
A Sweepstakes of 10 sovs each, h ft, with 50 added, for
2-yr-olds 7st, and three Bst 10lb ; fillies and geldings al-
lowed 31b; the second to save his stake. Red House
14 subs.
Captain Christie's Lady Clifden, 2 yrs, Get 111 b
(H. Grimshaw) 1
Mr. Merry's Folkestone, 2 yrs, 7st (Sadler) 2
Baron Rothschild's Queen of the Vale, 2 yrs, 6st 111 b

(J. Daley) 3
Mr. Saxon's Brown Duchess, 2 yrs, 6st 111 b (Midgeley) 4
The following also ran :—f by Barbatus, Cronstadt, and
Lady Louisa.
Betting-5 to 4 agst Brown Duchess, 3to 1 agst Lady
Clifden, 5 to 1 agst Folkestone, 10 to 1 each agst Queen of
the Vale and Cronstadt. Lady Louisa made play, closely
waited upon by Folkestone, Brown Duchess, and Lady
Clifden. At the bend Lady Clialen went to the front,
Folkestone second, and the latter being beaten within the
distance, the filly ran home an easy winner by a length; a
bad third. Brown Duchess was fourth, Lady Louisa fifth,
and Cronstadt next.

Handicap Sweepstakes, of 10 sovs each, h ft, with 50 added ;
for 2-yr-olds ; winners extra ; the second to save his

stake. Red House in. 44 subs.
Lord Derby's Ranee filly, 7st 21b
Mr. Smith's Lioness colt, 7st (L. Snowden) 2
Mr. T. Cliff's Nutbush, 6st 131 b (Grimshaw) 3
The following also ran :—Nabob's Daughter, Rupert,
Maid of Honour, Charing-cross, Weatherwitch, See-Saw,
Nunnery, Tresillian, Miss Fanny, Medora, Rawcliffe,
Corfu, Edendale, Hope filly.
Betting-2 to 1 agst the Ranee filly, sto 2 agst Nutbush,
12 to 1 each agst Medora and Miss Fanny, 100 to 7 each
agst Edendale and See-Saw. There were again several
false starts, the third of which, we regret to say, resulted in
a disaster to Bray, the rider of Nunnery, the mare jumping
round and throwing him on his head; he was picked up
stunned and severely shaken. The Ranee filly made the
running, attended by Nutbush and the Lioness colt, the
first-named winning by a length ; 'half a length between
the second and third, See-Saw fifth, Rawcliffe and Rupert
the last two.

The Stand Plate Handicap of 5 sovs each, with 50 added ;
the second to save his stake. Red House in. 25 subs.
Mr. S. Jacobs's Von Stroom, 3 yrs, 6st 71b (Drewe) 1
Mr. Ten Broeck's Pomona, 3 yrs, 7st 21b.. (A. Edwards) 2
Mr.. Dixon's Neophyte, 4 yrs, Bst 101 b...... (A. French) 3
The following also ran :—Brandy Ball, Jack Spring,
Tiara, Curlew, Newstead, Ticket of Leave, Sutherland,
Miss Digby, Griffin, Aristodemus, Bella Donna, Incense
g, Fenella, and Miss Sarah.
Betting-5 to 2 agst Neophyte, 4to 1 agst Fenolla, 7to 1
agst Brandy Ball, Bto 1 agst Pomona, 10 to 1 each agst
Bella Donna and Ticket of Leave, 12 to 1 agst Aristodemus.
The three placed were in front throughout ; a very excit
ing race ensued between Von Stroom and Pomona, ending
in favour of the former by a head, a neck between the
second and third, Tiara a good fourth. Bella Donna and
Griffin beaten off were the last two ; the latter did not pass
the post.

tier Majesty's Plate of 100 guineas( ; 3-pr-olds, Tat; Our)

Bst 51b ; five, Bst 121 b ; six and aged, Oat 21b. Cup Course
(about two miles five furlongs).
Mr. Lowe's Wild Rose, 4 yrs, Bst 51b .... (L. Snowden) 1
The following also ran :—Wamba, Vanquisher, Moor
cock, Feodorowna, and Pastime.

Betting-2 to 1 agst Pastime, 6to 2 each agst Wild
Rose and Vanquisher. Won by ten lengths.

SCRATCHINGS.
The following horses have paid forfeit :

Scarb• rough Stakes—Jason, Roesia, Paleface, Sparrow
Hawk, and Andover colt.
Portland Plate—Prelude, Montebello, Cynrieus, New
Brighton, Tiara, Fravola, Enfield, Flitch, Retreat, Doe-
foot, Jeddah, Jim, Ellerton, Ladybird, Whitewall, Black
Diamond, Ruby, Lady Macdonald, and Richmond.
Sweepstakes of 10 sous—Bird of Prey, Brownie:Viscount
Brignall, The Nymph, Trapcage, Janus, Imaus, and
Hawk's-eye. _

Eglinton Stakes—Oldminster,Wynstay, Black Diamond,
Pebble, Butterfly, Amain, Seclusion, Lancelin, Lady Ripon,
Viscount Brignall, Isis, and Ellerton.
Cleveland Handicap—Wildman, Sagitta, Eremite, and
Uralian.
Zetland Stakes—Vraillour and Roasia.