Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-05-08
MISC E Ii A N EOUS.

M ISCE LLANE OUS.
From the Boston Medical & Surgical Journal.
Effects of Tobacco Ola the Voice of Public |
Speakers.
To the Editor of the Boston
Medical and Surgical Journal:
Sir:-I find | am not alone ia being |
surprised at the opinion expressed by DR..
Mauran, and apparently endorsed by
yourself, of the necessity of tobacco for
public speakers, to prevent the occur
renee of the disease that has recently af- |
ected clergymen so extensively. l APP
prehend, my dear sir, that these opinions
have been given upon few data, and with
out the reflection which is desirable for
those whose views on this subject may
have an extensive influence upon the hab-
its of mankind.
If it is indeed true that one quaiifca-
ton for preaching the gospel should be
the practice of most disgusting and vi
eious habit-the use of narcotic which
is second on y to alcohol in its deIeterious
effects upon health and morals-then, in
deed, new era of knowledge has COM
sented to me in practice of more than
thirty years lead me to very different con-
illusions. The first clergyman that con-
suited me, many years ago, for this diff
Guilty, had arrived at the age of fifty
when the disease commenced He had
used tobacco from his youth upwards; he
used it then. and afterwards, and | believe
continues to use it till this time He
now enjoys comfortable health, but is un-
able to speak for any length of time. He
left the desk long ago, in consequence of
| loss of voice.
Another clergyman, with talents Of the
first order, was obliged, at the age of thir-
ty, to leave a people greatly devoted to
him, in consequence of this affection of
the voice. He was an inveterate chewer
of tobacco, and I believe smoked the ci-
gar also.
am not confident what were the hab-
its, in this particular, of the numerous pa
tients who have applied to me for advice,
or whose cases have come to my knowl-
edge; but the impression Is strong upon
my mind that quite large proportion US
ed tobacco in some form. The effect of
snuff upon the voice is proverbal, so
much so that many are able to detect the
habit by the voice alone
The influence of tobacco upon health
i$cegtainly deleterious. There is no mis-
take in this matter. 1t deranges the ner-
: vous system and diminishes the tone OF
the stomach, in innumerable instances
A narcotic of such power as tobacco,
, which cannot be used in the minutest
quantity by the uninitiated without the
: most diSagreeable and often dangerous ef
> fects, the habit of using which cannot be
established without difficulty and great
caution, and when established, cannot be
D abandoned without severe suffering, great
4 prostration, loss of appetite, gastric sink
/ ing and distress, which shows how near
e ly allied are its effects to those of alcohol
a should never be prescribed without grea
/ caution. Indeed, have supposed that i
# was the most ready and common stepping
e stone to that use OF spirituous iquo
r which leads to intenperance. Those wht
chew or smoke tobacco are rarely satisfi
t, ed with water, or other insipid and taste
n less drinks, else why should the BARRON
st and the grog-shop be the resort Of th
Il smoker? [ would not insinuate that al
1t who use tobacco are lovers of slron!
o drink, nor prescribe alcohol or tobacco a
= remedies in some forms of disease; but
n would be very cautious how recommend
h ed either as preventves Of disease. HOY
Ii many thousands have found an untimel
grave by the use of brandy, wine, and OH
IS er narcotics, used to guard against SIGH
of ness or as remedies for chronic diseases
I'd Fully believing that the tendency {
the use Of tobacco is to promote, rattle
h. than prevent, the disease in question,
le could not forbear to state my views @
It. this one point, and may, at time OF NOR
ad leisure, give you more at large the result
rs of my observation on this active and dar
al gerous narcotic.
a One word with respect to the diseas
is. | have been led to suppose that the mo-
tn ern practice of preaching in Uestries, ar
ro- thickly-crowded, close and warm room
and afterwards inhaling cold air viii
it heated, had much to do in producing IL
lis new disease. Vestries are of modern Q
ut lgln, as places of religious worship s-tI
er rooms are small and low, and, when Fl
ed with people, the air becomes excee