Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-12-01
Tobacco and Insanity.

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The very general use of Tobacco among
young men at the present day, is alarming,
and shows The Ignorance and devotion of the
d%evotees of this dangerous practice to one Of
The most virulent poisons Of the vegeta BILE
world. The testimony Of medical men. Of
me most respectable character, could be quo
'eu 70 any extent TO sustain these views of
me deletetious influence Of this dangerous
narcotic.
Df. Rush says OF tobacco" II impairs an.
peiiie, produces dyspepsia, lr,mors, vertigo,
headache, and epilepsy. 1t Injuries The voice,
destroys the teeth, aud imParis 10 the COM
pleNion a disagreeable, dusky brown
Dr.. Boerhaave says that : since the use of
tobacco has been so general in Europe, the
number Of hypochrondriacal and consumptive
complaints has increased by its use.''
DR.. Cullen says, 81 have known a small
quantity snutfrd up the nose to produce gid
diness, stupor and vomiting. There are ma
ny instances Of its more violent effects, even
of its proving a mortal poison"
D.. Darwin says, 1t produces disease Of
the calvary glands and the pamcreas, and in
iurs the power OF digestion by occasioning
the person 10 spit of the saliva which he
onght to swallow"
d.. Tassot once saw the smoking Of il
prove fatal.
Dr.. Pitcher, details the particulars Of a
case Of a medical student whom he had been
requested to see. "This gentleman suffer
ed under all the symptoms of phthistic.-
There were muco-pnrulent expecion,ion,
night sweats, sc. The mucous membrane
Of the throat, epiglottis. and the neighboring
parts, was coated with a brown fur. The
patient had been an immoderate snuff-taker;
ho was told TO discontinue the snuff; and did
so, and recovered"
DR.. Chapman says e" B a member of Con.
gross from the West, in the meridian Of life,
and Of a very stout frame, | saw sometime
since consulted he told me that from having
been one of the most healthy aud fearless OF
men, he had become sick all over, and tim
i'd as a girl" He could not even present a
petition 10 Congress, much less say a word
concerning 1t, though he had long been a
practising lawyer, and served much in legis-
latiye bodies. BY any ordinary noise he
was started or thrown into RIGHTEOUSNESS,
and afraid TO be alone at night. His appe-
lite and digestion were gone, he had painful
sensations at the pit of his stomach, and I'M
r%elenting constipated bowels. During the
narrative Of his sufiorings, his aspect APP
preached the haggard wiIdness Of mental dis
temperature. On inquiry, | found that his
consumption of tobacco was almost ircredi-
BILE, by chewing, shutting and smoking
Being satisfied that all his misery arose from
this poisonous weed, its use was discontin-
ued, and in a few weeks lie entirely recover
ed"
Distressing as was this case, | nave seen
others, from the same cause, even more de-
plorable. Two young men were in success
sion brought TO me Tor advice, whom ! found
in a state of insanity, very much resembling
delirium remens. Each had chewed and
smoked tobacco to excess, though perfectly
temperate as regarded drink. The further
account given me was, that in early life.
adopting this bad practice, il grew with their
growth. Dyspepsia soon occurred, attended
by great arrangement of the nervous system
and ultimately the mania | have mentioned.
But have also seen The same condition very
speedily induced"
DR.. Franklin says he never used it, and
never met with a man who did use il that ad-
vised him TO follow his example.
The venerable John Quincy Adams. in a
recent letter on this subject, says that in ear
" life he used tobacco, but for more than
thirty years he had discontinued the practice.
81 have often wished" says he, " that every
individual of the human race, affected with
this artificial passion, would prevail uron
himself to try, but for three months, the eX-
pertinent which | have made, and an sure
it would turn every acre Of tobacco land into
a wheat field, aud add fire years 10 the aver
age of human life.''-DR. WOODWARD.