Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-05-30
Written for the Spirit of the Age.
A FEW THOUGHTS ON TOBACCO.
BY JOHN W. FOSTER, NJ. D., D. D. S.

DA JOnN W. tOSIEh, M D., ID. ID. ).
Humbolt says, the tobacco plant has
been cultivated from time immemorial, by
the natives of Oronoko. But be that as it |
may, it was not known to Europeans until
the discovery Of America Ulloa has en-
deavored to show that the Asiatics were
previously acquainted with its use; and
that Europeans learned it from the Asiatics.
Columbus and his followers, for the first
time beheld the custom of smoking cigars
upon their arrival at Cuba Hernandez
de Toledo introduced the plant into Spain
and Portugal and from the latter place,
Joan Nicot in the year 1859 sent the seeds
or plant to France. Nicot was French
ambassador at the court of Lisbon, and
from his agency in the dissemination of
Tobacco, his name has been perpetuated in
the generic title Of the plant. The Span
iards were the first to adopt it's employ
ment-which they learned from the Amer
lean Indians. Sir Walter Raleigh was
the first to introduce the weed into Eng
land, and from that time to the present its
use has been invariably condemned, excep-
ting by its enslaved votaries Various
authors, and nearly the whole medical
world might be cited in support of this
opinion. King James 1st gave it his utter
condemnation when he wrote A Coun-
terblast against Tobacco Amurath, Sui
tan of Constantinople, made it penal to
smoke, on the plea that it diminished pop
ulation, and that this is one of the effects of
Tobacco, when used in any of the various
modes, is fully attested by medical men of
the present century. Queen Elizabeth pub
lished an edict prohibiting its use in Eng
land. Popes have anathematized-and
moralsts, religious teachers, and aristocratic
arbiters Of fashion have uniformly censured
the custom as vulgar; and like ardent
spirits, all have viewed it as another form
of dissipation.
ITs PRoPERTIEs.-Tob is local
stinouzdnt-sedative, emetic, diuretic, anti
aphrodisiac, and narcotic. AS narcotic,
there is hardly another described in the
whole Materia Medica, the effects of which
is more virulent, pernicious, detrimental
and overpowering to the nervous system Of
man, than this. Its immoderate use gives
rise to the following symptoms: Confu
sion of the head, vertigo, stupor, faintness
nausea, vomiting, and general debility O
the nervous and circulatory functions
which if increased eventuates in violen
and alarming prostration, from which tn
sufferer is only relieved by the hand 0
death. It's more moderate use may eve
produce severe retching-distressing an
persistent nausea, feebleness of pulse, colo
ness of skin, fainting, and convulsions.-
The active principle of Tobacco may be e1
tracted in the shape of an oil, called 20
Nicotia,' which is nearly colorless. heavi'
than water, with an acrid burning tas
even when largely diluted. One drop
this concentrated solution placed upon tt
, tongue of dog will produce immedla
r death. That part of the plant in whit
| this oil is most to be found is therefore t
( strongest.
r When we thus consider the various al
e peculiarly poisonous properties of Tobace
: and then reflect upon the number and e
, tent to which its use prevails, and that
effects are by far more often insidious
J. than openly exerted upon the constitutio
:. of individuals, we have some clue to
1t innumerable Ills and disorders, Dyspepsi
Of Palsies, Epilepseys and other classes
Of fashionable nervous maladies, which at
E. present day are SO prevalent among all ag
h sexes and conditions of men.
I It's MoDUs oPERANDI.--Tobacco exc
1 its effects upon the system both throu
Id the medium of the nervous and circulate
Id functions. The human mouth is lined
| the inner side by a mucous naenabrd
n, which is thickly covered by delicate pap
ot or what is termed ciliary bodies. WI
ed viewed by the aid of large microsco
lof the membrane will thus present the appt
of ance of a wheat field just before har1
Ter time: these little ciliary bodies seem
Wn have continuous motion, like the WI