Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-12-23
~ We find The following abstract"

c. We find the following abstract" in
The Congregational Journal. 1t was present.
ed to US IN May last, bu, by accident it was
not given to the compositor until too late for
that week. Although It's non-appearance
was explained with the assurance that it would
appear in our next, the copy was Withdrawn
and i, appears in Concord paper, July %.
Well, it is just as valuable now as i, was last
May. Dr.. T. has no. seen The abstract to
this day.--N. H. Sentinel.
ABSTRACT OF
DOCT. TWITCHELL'S LECTURE
On the habitual use of Tobacco.
At the meeting of the Western Distrc, NH
Medical Society, at the Temperance House
IN Keene. May 5th, DR. TwucheIl having
been appointed TO address the meeting select.
ed for his subject the habitual use OF tobac-
CO, aud its effects on the constitution.
In discussing this subject, the Doctor frs,
described the effects it has on the nervous
system, particularly the nerves of involuntary
motion--those whose function il is To carry
on the action of the lungs, heart and sronl-
ach. These nerves are placed beyond tin.
power of,lle will, acting without our concious-
ness, in sleep as well as when awake. And
it is on these. he said the hahirual use of to.
bacco produces its most pernicions effects, by
paralyzing their actions.
1t frs, man,tests itself in the respiration
which is mprriec,y Periormed--ihc blood i.
not fully purified, and sense Of anxiety OF
inclpient sufocation is felt. Toreicve which
a voluntary effor, is made to expand the cine,
to take in more air ; and every now and tler
deep inspiration or sigh is the result, giver
momentary relief.
But during sleep, especially when first GO
ing to sleep, the will not being so easily ex.
cited to action, the sense of sufTocation il
longer endured. till. at length becoming mr.
gen: and painful, degree of CONSEQUENCES
is awakened, the individual begins to feel hi
condition, and rouses, perhaps suddenly star
up in end in the bed in alarm, hIs heart pal
pita,ing violently; and having obtained relief
soon goes to sleep, to pass through the same
+ scenes again.
But as the habit continues, the whole ner
vous system becomes af1tcted-ihe muscle
become .remulous, the sensbililes diminish
f respiration and the action ofthe heart become
more imperfect, and suflocation more urgent
+ hut consciousness now fails to be reused T.
, put forth a voluntary effort for relief; AM
, the poor abused and languishing nerves
whose Office il is To stand sentinel al the foun
tain Of life, obtaining no hel p from the mus
! Giles ofvOlitiOn, at last are compelled quie,l
5 to yield up the struggle; aud the person
3 found dead in his bed, the cause not known
Yet il is foolish sacrifice of life to the vile
: bu, enchanting babil Of using tobacco.
There are doubtless few who are foun
dead from disease of the heart. But III
Doctor said he had for many years been ex
n tending his inquiries on this subject that h
T had found almost every individual who ha
!. died during sleep, had long been in the hab
d of the free use of lobacco and it was his fu
T. conviction that that was almost the only caus
Of such deaths.
The habi,ual use oftobacco, he said, was
most fruitful source Of disease. And ih
n would appear evident when we consider il
: effects upon the nervous system. II lower
the power Of those nerves on which IT
n depcnds-,he blood does not fully underg
: that change in the lungs winch respiration
y designed To effect, and goes to the heart I'M
0 pure and purple--,he heart has not ITS orig
inal power to send il forward in its crcul,
e ton through the body--and an impure slug
S gish circulation is the consequence, whic
0 predisposes 10 almost every disease the hu
G. man system is subject to.
u Among the diseases caused by tobacco
|, the Doctor enumerated palsy, inveierate mel
{ sous headache, palpita,ion Of the heart, dis
: Ease Of the liver, indigestion, liberation {
the stomach, piles, and many others; an
81 finally, he said be hardly knew as there wa