The Plymouth pilot. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1851-1852, 1851-07-16
For the Pilot.
TOBACCO.

Mr.. EDIToR:--
Observer has given us an article ap-
proving the practice of the daily use OF
tobacco-which is the only essay which
have ever read in defence of the habit
of using the weed. l have read much,
written by able and skillful men, dis
carding the use of tobacco as luxury,
as it greatly injures those who use it
some OILY slightly, others seriously, ac-
cording to their constitution and quan
tity of the weed consumed in its differ
ent preparations. Observer admits that
Sin most cases, doses do no good" and
that many persons seriously iniure them
selves, and have to abandon the Practice
altogether, or shorten their days." while
others of a stronger constitution and with
more moderate use of it have used it
for more than fifty years, &c. We may
accustom ourselves in using arsenic ev-
cry day by taking small portions so as
not to produce any immediate injury;
yet no one will deny but that the prac-
tlce Of using arsenic or any other poison
Gus drug or herb is a dangerous practice
and should be abandoned One has said
"that he could enjoy greater amount
of good feeling in less time in smoking
than he could in any other employment.
Another will tell you that there is more
"good feeling" in bottle of brandy than
in any thing else. The Turk finds good
feeling in his opium, &c. Some find it
in eating sweetmeats-some in debau-
chery-some at the card table--some in
one and some in another way, &c.
"The' wise are happy nature to explore,
And the fool is happy that he knows no
more"
And if it be maintained, that it is
right and jusrifable to indulge in what
ever our depraved OF corrupted appetites
and propensities may call for or crave,
then away with all restrictions and give
loose to all our passions and appetites,
and see what will follow. to indulge
in ore habit is allowable, why not
another. Some take offence at what is
said against the use of tobacco, not think
ing that perhaps their tobacco breath, or
smoke is offensive to those who do not
use it.
If Observer believed that the use of to-
bacco created a thirst for strong drink be
would use his influence against it. He
has but to look aroend and see how ma
ny drinking men he can find who do not
use tobacco, and he will soon see the
right side of the argument. Observer ap-
pears ID be somewhat doubtful of those
physicians who have written against the
daily use Of tobacco, as it brings on nu-
merous diseases. &c. Now, if we doubt
the declara tions and opinions of such
medical men as r. T. Trail, Jennings,
Alcott, Lacock, c. Clay, Rush, Clarke,
Warren, Ewell, Gum, Wood and Chap
man and host of others equally as sci
entific men, / would like to know upon
whose authority we are to rely for the
truth in medical matters?
Observer appears 10 bear heavy against
the unreasonableness of my doctrine,
when he refers TO the physicians in Ply
mouth. Notwithstanding they are learn
ed and skilful, yet some of them indulge
in the daily use of tobacco, and will tell
you that it is baneful practice, but that
habit becomes a second nature, and it is
almost impossible to abandon it, or that
the system is now so deranged by its use,
that to quit now using il, would bring
on some disease, &c. We are told that
the pipe is the emblem of peace. Will
some one tell what emblem plug Of to-
bacco is? Some neat house wife, finding
her floors and furniture stained with it
can tell you.
PILGRIM.
Plymouth, June, 1851.