Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-06
WiRen for the Spirit Of the Age.
A FEW THOUGHTS ON TOBACCO.
BY JOHN W. FOSTER, NJ. D., D. D.

BY JOHN w. FOSTER, N. u, De ". ..
[coNcLUDED.
CHEWING Anterior to the fifteenth
century, man, lived, moved, and had his
being without any knowledge of HIS To-
bacco; but subsequent to that time we find
the whole race vieing with each other for
the exalted ascendan cy-who can be the
greatest Tobacco Worm. Whether or not
we may be indebted to this agent for our
wonderful discoveries and improvements IN
the Arts and Sciences, leave for others to
determine; but of this much am satisfied.
that to it may be attributed, in no small
measure, the brevity of human existence,
and the pain and suffering Of that short
probation.
The custom of chewing, doubtless, pre-
walls to larger extent than any other mode
of using the weed. The leaves of Tobacco
are chiefly employed in this process. They
are simply taken into the mouth and stepped
in the salivary fluid, which is afterwards
elected in the shape Of ambecr. Here,
none of the Tobacco, or its substance, is
swallowed, and therefore its effects are only
exerted upon the mucous membrane of the
mouth in the manner previously shown
In addition to this, it causes no small drain
upon the system at large, from the incalcu-
liable quantity of saliva emitted and thrown
away.
The saliva was wisely ordained by Ma
TURE to assist the first stage of digestion,
and to protect the mouth from the contact
of foreign agents. Doubtless, had she con-
templated the use of Tobacco, she would
have supplied man with an additional and
extra set of glands for the especial purpose
SMoKING--This practice is not quite so
prevalent and extensive as that of chewing,
mainly from the fact, that it is not always
so convenient to ignite, and smoke pipe
or cigar as it is to take chew AID LIBI-
TUM.
In smoking, the fume or essence of To-
bacco is drawn into the mouth, and being
quite volatile it penetrates the nasal, from
tai, and maxilary cavities, and finds Its
way to every part Of the fauces. 1t relax
es all these membranes and makes its i'm
preston as before described. The mani
festation upon the nervous system is much
more immediate than from chewing, doubt
less, because the impression is made upor
larger surface. The expenditure of salivs
is not SO large, and taking all things in con
sideration the custom of smoking is les:
Objectionable than any other mode in which
this pernicious agent is constantly y employed
SNUFFING.-Snuff, is mostly made from
the stems of Tobacco, in these the oi
(active principle) mostly abounds, henc
this is the strongest of all the preparation
of tobacco. It is made into an impalpabl
powder. When sucked up the nose th
small PARTICLES fall upon the membrane {
that cavity, they relax the membrane, an
excite MUCOUS SECRETION, which is th
only one peculiar to the parts, after remain
e ing for short time, it is mostly blown out
but there is probability that some of tt
s PARTICLES find their way into the Lungs ar
II stomach where they exert secendal
J. effect more deleterious than the first by ia
{ The impression made in the nose is upon
'e small surface, but precisely as heretofo
& described
= The practice of taking snuff via the no
= is so far upon the decline that it is nc
Oi almost in the last stage of decrepitude.-
le e But yet, the mandatory Of the article,
"a at this very day, carried on to mu
III greater extent than heretofore. How
e. this to be accounted for? Simply owl
u to the fact, that it is required to carry
re that most ingenious and wonderful of
ue modern inventions-the art Of
DIPPING.-This modern mongrel Tee
NIoALITY, doubtless surpasses any thing
as that line ever dreampt of by HYPocRATl
as It's signi6cation, is simply to convey to I
@ Oh mouth, (oral-cavity) by means Of a su
es' acooden mop, the impalpable powder Of ]
IN III bacco-stems, whence it is applied by dilig'
'nS friction to the teeth, gums, &c. How t
90, abominable, nonsensical and filthy Gust
ou originated am at luss to perceive. I
luS the LADIES of North Carolina have b,
vas charged with its introduction, | am fu
ON aware; but should be very reluctant
:, om admit the truth of the accusation. 1t
'ne however, proverbial, that whenever
-. " practice is known or followed, its paterl
DIS is uniformly ascribed to North Carolina
or9 TIE custom is altogether confined to
. ieu female part of the community; for [ am
uS' aware that men ever use tobacco in
a guise. The plea, put forth to justify its US
"a mainly upon the ground of a TOOTH PoWI
gu' Now Ladies, allow me to say, that all tc
"ao powders, possessing any virtue, must ac
'" M one Of two ways-MEcHANIcAL or CHE
ecu CAL. The moistened particles of snuff
,ne0' exert no mechanical action upon the te
y not even SO much as the brush with whi
,n1 M is employed, and they possess no chem
4 'eu' or solvent properties to dissolve and rem
I 70 70 foreign accumulatious. So you perc'
u ~ VI that snuff, does not embody one single 9
ioi ity of a DENTIFRIcE Then why feie
are aWter use it as such? Excuse me Ladies, tn
=. ECU cret must come QUIT is only me
'eu way you have contracted of enjoying
IN luxury of tobacco. And much better W
lsn1 s!n it be for you las shall presently sho
WI "l.i you would lay aside this practice, and
eau eau up the more manly one Of smoking
,ou' chewing.
f. f. think it may be safely said, that the
gInte n;e it Of snuff,dipping is by far more inju
nlS and derogatory to health, than all the
sr' three modes Of using tobacco combined
nave nave chewing and smoking, none Of the actu
eNrs- bacco finds its way into the Lungs or
uai.y ach, but in DIPPING. however attcntiv
~ w. individual may be to cleanliness, small