Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-07-02

ing to the i'll effects of tobacco on the human
system.
1t is said, that almost one half of he young
men who die annually in Germany, bring on
their fatal maladies by the use of tobacco,
and the psychologists Of that country-per-
haps the most learned Of their profession in
the ~world-declare that, "the habitual use of
this article literally consumes the teeth, blood,
eyes and bmins." In our own land, Dr..
Rush, the distinguished Professor Of Medi-
cine and CIinicine Practice in the University
Of Penn, and one of the most eminent men
of his age, says: 'this stimulating weed pre-
vents the early and complete digestion OF
food, and thus brings on iHcurab.e diseases
of the stomach and whole body;" he adds,
sit destroys the teeth, imparts a dusky, disa-
greeable color to the complexion, brings on
head ache, vertigo and epilepsy, and in some
cases palsy and apOpleXy." The truth OF
these observations can be ~attested in a great
er or less degree by any common observer.-
The emaciated forms, pallid countenances,
dim, sunken eyes and trembling nerves of
many young men, in the very spring day Of
life, who are the slaves Of this vice, bear
witness to its blasting and ruinous effects.
Tobacco is well known as an active poi
son. So poisonous is its nature that DR..
Mussey says "the tea of twenty or thirty
grains, introduced into the body Tor relieving
spasms, has repeatedly destroyed lile," And
yet there are hundreds of persons who have
50 accustomed their systems TO its effects
that they can use without such results, half
an ounce per day or 2i0 grs. Yet this fact
does not prove that it is not poison, for in the
same mann er can the system become grad
ually used to the most deadly poisons, OPT
UNI, prussic acid, &c. There are a JctU per-
sons who use tobacco as a medicine, but as a
general thing, the most inveterate lovers of
this weed own, that they know it injuries
their physical health. That it is sometimes
used properly as a medicine, we dc not pre-
sumo TO deny; we would that it occupied a
place only among the articles of the Materia
Nledica. We care not how nauseous a place,
even if it should cause the patient as many
tears and wry faces, as did the Juice Of poun-
ded NORWOOD, or a dose of Epson salts in
the days of our childhood. 'The fact that
tobacco is useful as a medicine says an
eminent physician, FURNISHES an additional
argument against its ha6ituaJ use. How fee
Bile would be the effect of opium and bark on
the system, if they constituted a part of our
daily food;-while | admit its efficacy as a
medicine, | cannot help adding, that some of
the diseases, or symptoms Of disease which it
relieves, are evidently induced by the habitof
uslnp u' nave HCdIu pCntCHheu WIN Ndu
used tobacco for years together, but who had
finally resolved 10 torsake the error, viz the
smoke and saliva, of their way, declare that
they believed it had impaired their health,
and if persisted in, would have destroyed
their constitutions.
Such testimony is Important; for it is only
as we stand upon free ground, emancipated
from some evil habit, unparalleled in its fa-
vor, uninfluenced by self qualification, that
we can fully and iTpartially decide on its
tendencies and final effects. The second in
quiry is, does tobacco conduce 10 the perma-
nent happiness of those who use it habitual-
ly? We are confident that not even its de-
voted lovers would presume to call that true
happiness which is only the qualification of
a vitlated taste,o only a subseryiency 10 an in
significant weed; which no other creature
besides a filthy worm, a pitiable goat of the
African deserts, and man, erect and rational
man, will touch. Call slavery to an unnat-
ural appetite happiness! Is man to content
himself with the happiness of a goat or a
worml Are there no higher pleasures than
the paltry qualification of an acquired taste in
reserve for his exalted nature? We are
aware that such is the power of custom, that
when we acquire a particular habit, it is diff
fcult-or rather, that it requires some reso-
lution-to abandon it. But at the same time
we are fully persuaded that when it is once
and forever broken of, the consciousness OF
being freed from a degrading servitude,
yields infinitely more refined and exalted hap
f piness, than all the groveling qualification
such a habit ever did, or ever could afford
us. Ihat, surely, does not deserve a better
name than grOrehng qualification, which gives
pleasure only to mans animal propensities,
while it gradually, but inevitably weakens
his higher nature. We believe we are war
ranted by the observation and experience OF
the wisest physicians in the world, in say
ing, that, if a nan is thoroughly acquainted
with his physiological structure, he cannot
induce himself to believe that so powerful
and poisonous a stiumlant as tobacco, can be
habitually used without disarranging the de,
licate organs of his physical frame; and sure,
, ly the knowledge that he is thus recklessly
r taking a short path TO the grave, cannot yielC
j him happiness. And if he is once convinced
that it wrongs and weakens his bodily func
e tons, he is compelled to draw the conclusion
that it can produce no good effect on his in
e tellectual faculties, for such is the harmon
ious and intimate connection between mini
and body, that disease of the one induces dis
ease Of the other; and the conviction that h
lr is wasting his rational as well as his bodil,
constitution cannot afford him happiness.
If he is sensible tina, he is wilfully-
n though ever so gradually-prostrating thos
IS powers which were given him to be used an,
e strengthened, but not abused and ,CeaEened
and by thus wronging his body, heis impair
is ing the vigor OF the mind, which was river
him to be expanded and improved, il is i'm
at possible that such knowledge can Weld hi,
n moral nature happiness. If then, the indul
n gence OF this unnatural appetite for tobacco
g does not, and cannot conduce to the hue han.
IT piness of mans physical, rational or mora
nature, surely it may be called a low and
e, groyeling qualification. And now, we ask
If the animal appetites are the parts of oul
= nature which need cultivation, and if thai
which is low and groveling is worthy o.
mans high attributes and destiny? 1t i:
sometimes urged with an almost sober face