Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-06-13

profitable, 4 have little motive IN expo.
sing myself TO that certain ridicule that
follows the annunciation that consump-
ton may be cured, but the assurance OF
practical experience, and the desire OF
making public a means Of saving a life,
IN one Of It's most frequent and unwel.
come exits.
EDWARD G. COOPER, NJ. D.
ToBAcco.-The consumers Of this mas
ty stuff have recently been rather elased
by the discovery that some one of their
number had written an article, which was
published in some medical periodical, con-
tending that bronchitis never affected pub
lie speakers h~abituated to chewing it,
The Editor of the Medical Journal, in re-
ference to this subject, has the following
remarks:
"The facts that have been presented to
me, in a practice of more than thirty
years, led me to very different conclusions.
The first clergyman that consulted me,
many years ago, for this difficulty, had
arrived at the age Of fifty, when this dis.
ease %bronchiiisl commenced. He had
used tobacco from his youth upwards
no used it afterwards, and | believe
continues to use il till this time. He now
enjoys comfortable health, but is unable
to speak for any length of time. He left
the desk long ago, in consequence ofloss
Of voice.
Another clergyman, with talents of
the frs. order, was obliged, at the age of
thirty, to leave a people greatly devoted
TO him, in consequence Of this affection OF
the voice. He was an invelernte chower
oil tobacco, and one, | believe, who also
smoked tho cigar.
j" am not confident what were the ha-
bits, ia this particular, ofshe numerous
patients who have applied 10 me for nd.
vice, or whose cases have come to my
knowledge; but the impression $ strong
upon ny mind, that quite a large proper.
ton used tobacco in some form. The eff
feet OF snuff upon the voice is proverbial,
80 much so that many are able 10 detect
the habit by the voice alone.
"The influence of tobacco upon health
| is certainly deleterious. There is no mis-.
take in this matter. 1t deranges the ner-
yous system, and dimrnishes the tone Of
the stomach in innumerable instances
A narcotic Of such power as tobacco,
which cannot be used in the minutest
quantity by tho uninitiated without the
most disagreeablc and often dangerous
effects, the habit of using which cannot
be established without difficulty and great
caution, and when established, cannot be
abandoned without severe suffering, great
prostration, loss Of appetite, gastric sink
ing and distress, which show how nearly
allied are its effects 10 those Of alcohol,
should never be prescribed without great
caution. Indeed, | have supposed that
it was tho most ready and common step
ping stone to that use of spirituous liquors
which leads to intempcrancc. Those
who chew or smoke tobacco are rarely
satisfied with water, or other inslpid and
tasteless drinks, elso why should the bar
room and the grog-shop be the resort OF
the smoker? ] would not insinuate that
all who use tobacco are lovers of strong
drink, nor prescribe alcohol or tobacco as
remedies in some forms Of disease but !
would be very cautious how I recommen-
ded either us preventives OF disease
How many thousands have found on
uniimely grave by the use of brandy.
wine, and other narcotics, used to guard
against sickness, or as a remedy iorehron.
ic diseases.
"FuIly believing that the tendency Of
the use Of tobacco is to promote, rather
than prevent, the disease in question, J
would not forbear TO state my views on
this one point, and may, Ut a time OF
more leisure, give you more at large the
results Of my observation on this active
and dangerous narcotic"
REcoLLECrIoSs. Time mellows ldeas
as il mellows wine. Things in themselves
Indifferent acquire n certain tenderness in
recollection and the scenes of our youth,
though remarkable neither for elegance
o feeling, rise up TO our memory digni-
fed at the same time and endeared. As
countryman in distontland acknowledge
--- - - Ls..t - xs,ht.h