The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1833-07-13
BADEFFECTS OF TOBACCO.

lected by member Of the Society recent
ly established in this town for discofl3ee-
ing its use. All that we ask 10; y fis.
may be read Through before judgnit 8 III
rendered.
AS to Morphia and Nicotin, which
the quintessence Of opium and toba6roI
there will be no dispute. GA grain and
half cl morphia," says DIR. Ure, "takcn
at three different times, produced such
violent symptoms upon three young. men
OF seventeen years of age, that Serturnei
was alarmed lest the consequences should
Lave proved fatal" " A drop or two of
the chemical oil Of tobacco" says med.
lcal writer, being put upon the tongu..
OF a cat produces violent convulsions anG
death Itself in the space Of a minute.
Whether tobacco is chewed or smoked
or taken as snuff, the virulent poisons IA
bove mentioned, which give them thci:
power, are greatly weakened by mixture
with other substances. Still, the paw oil
the Lon cannot be entirely hid. A few
grains OF common opium, indeed, will de-
stroy a person unaccustomed to it; and 4
large quantity Of tobacco has produced
| the same effect. In those not accustoin-.
cd to it, tobacco cXcites nausea, vomiting, 4,
dizziness, indigestion, mental dejecliop,
and in short, the whole train Of nervous
complaints. No wonder that james the
first, on seeing such effects from this
Nico,an drug should have sent forth
his Counterblast to Tobacco and edicts
still more powerful, to prevent its intro
duction into England: that the Pope ex-
communicated those who used it in the
churches: and that the civil power was ar
rayed against it in Russia, Turkey, and
persia. But tobacco hes triumphed ; and
the only hope of its extirpation from cur
land, lies in ronsing against it a mightier
power than any Eastern despot wlelGs
and that is, public opinion.
Most Of the other powerful vegetable
posons, such as henhane, hemlock, thorn
apple, pruhsic accid, deadly nightshade,
loXg!oye, and poison sumach, have anlei-
feet on the animal system scareIy TO be
distinguished from that. Of morphia and
nicotin, or opium and tobacco. The OPP
Grafton of alcohol is oiso very ssa.: Ss.--
These poisons produce n'f,sea ,yfrhgo,
vopitlng ,cxhilafation ofspirlts1Of r+-nne,
and subsequent stupor, and even htal
insensibility and so does alcohol. They
impair the organs Of digestion, and may
bring on fatuity, palsy, delrium, or apo
plexy; and so may alcohol. These eff
iects, indeed, usually follow only in n
slight degree from spirit, as it is common
| ly drunk; because :he alcohol is so much
diluted. Even spirit of the first proof,
contains rs we have seen, only N sight
dgree from sprit,a las it is commonly drunk;
because the alchohol is so much diluted
Seven drains offrst proof spirit, introduce
ed into the stomach of a rabbit, produced
death in an hour and quarter and
drams proved fatal to robust dog in 9
hours and a half. The best medical wri-
ters OF the present day, class tobacco a.
mong the poisons, as well as alcohol.
did the least benefit result to the syS-
tom from The habitual use of tobacco,
there would then be some reason why,
with all its loathsomness of taste and
! smell, il should have become so general y
| lavorte. But we know on the contrary,
! that all WHO hab.'uate themselves to its
use, sooner or later experience its noX
: ious power. Tobacco is in fact an abso-
lutte poison. A very moderate quantity
introduced into the systcm--.eycn apply
ing the moistened leaves over the stom-
ach-has been known very suddenly to-
cXtingush lilc.' Ir whatever form il
may be employed, Il portion of the active
principles ofthc tobacco, mixed with the
saliva, invariably finds It's way 90 the s,om
ach, and disturbs or impairs the functions
of that organ. Hence, most, il not all,
OF those who are accustomed TO the use Of
tobacco, mixed with the saliva, invarITt b.
finds It's way TO the stomach. and distuTns
or impairs the functions Of that organ. -
Hence, most if nat ALL of those who are
accustomed to the use Of tobacco, labor
under dyspcptic symptoms. They expc-
ricncc, at intervals, = want Of appetite
nordinatc thlrst-vertigo-pa and dis
tensions of the acknowledgements
sleep, and are more or less cmcciated.'
The common opinion, that tobacco, in
some of i's forms, is sCryiceab!c Tor head
aches, weak eyes, the preservation Of the
teeth, purifying the breath, cold and wa
terry siomachs, sc. is mere dcluson.- -,
At first had recourse to, by some, for
the rciefo headache, or disordcrcd eyes
snuff, when long continued says med
cal writer, brings on those very evils it
was intended to remove And here !
am happy in having permission TO gi'c
the opinion of one oi the ablest physicians
in Massachusetts, as to the use of tobac-
60 in another form 'Thc chewing of
tobacco says he, is not necessary or
useful in any case that know of: and J
have abundant evidence to satisfy me that