Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-09-17
THE CONSEQUENCES OF SMOKING.

The widespread habit Of smoking has not
yet had due IL edical attention paid to it and
its consequences. 1t is only by two or three
years observations that DR.. Laycock had be-
come fully aware of the great changes induced
in the system by the abuse of tobacco. and OF
the varied and obscure forms Of disease to
which especially excessive smoking gave ORR
gin. He proceeded to state some of them as
they were met with in the pharyngical mucous
membrane, the stomach, the lungs, the heart
the braini and the nervous system. The to-
bacco consumed by habitual smokers varied
from haitian ounce to twelve ounces per week.
the usual quantity from two to three ounces.
lnyeterate cigar smokers will consume from
four to live dozen per week. Ike first morbid
result is an iniiammatory condition of the mu-
eous membrane Of the lips and tongue then
the tonsils and pharynx suifer-the mucous
membrane becoming dry and congested. If
the thoraX be examined well, it will lie found
slightly swollen, with contested veins mean
dering over the surface, and here and there u
streak OF mucus. Action ascends upwards
into the posterior mares. The eve becomes
affected with heat slight reness, lachryma-
ton, and peculiar spasmodic action of the
orblGuaris muscle, experienced with intole-
rance of light on awaking in the morning.
The frontal sinuses do not escape, but there is
u ilthNyt uull dclt III tiltIf REGION. DeSCen0-
ing down the aimentary canal, we come to
the stomach, where the results in extreme
cases are symptoms of gastritris. Pain ten
derness, and constant sensation ofsickliness,
and desire to expectorate, belong to this af-
lection. The action of the heart and lungs Is
impaired by the influence of the narcotic on
the nervous system but morbid state of
the larynx, trachea, and lungs results from
the direct action of the smoke. The voice is
observed to be rendered hoarser and with a
deeper tone. Sometimes short ughresults
and q case of liberation in the carriages of
the larynx came under the Doctors notice.
The PARENT was such slave to the habit that
he hardly ever had the pipe out of his mouth
Similar sufferings have been caused by similar
practices in other instances. Another form is
a slight tickling, low down in the pharynx or
trachea, and the patient coughs, or rather
hawks up, grumous-looking blood. 1t is so
alarming, to be mistaken for pulmonary
h1moFtysis. The action of misunderstanding
on the heart is depressing; and some indivi-
duals who feel it in this organ more than
others, complain of an uneasy sensntion about
the left nipple-a distressing feeling, not
amounting to faintness, but allied to it. The
action OF the heart is observed to be feeble and
and irregular. An uneasy feeling is also ex
perienced in or beneath the pectoral muscles.
and oftener on the right side than on the left.
On the brain the use Of tobacco appears to di.
minish the rapidity of cerebral action and
check the flow of ideas through tile mind. Ii
differs from opium and llenbane, and rather
excites to wakefulness, like green tea, and
composes to sleep; induces dreaminess
which leaves no impression on the memory.
leaving great susceptibility, indicated BY a
trembling the hands and irritability of tenn
per- such are secondary results Of smoking |;
So so are biackness of teeth and gum boils,
There Is also sallow paleness Of the com
plexion, an irresolutencss of disposition, a
want of life and energy, and, in constant
smokers who do not drink, tendency to pull
monary phthisis.. Dr. Wright of Birmingham,
in communication to the author. fully cor.
roborates his opinions and both agree that
smoking produces gastric disorders, coughs,
anu lnilammatory affections Of the larynx and
pharynx diseases Of the heart, and lnwness
OF the spirits; and, in short, is very injurious
to the respiratory, circulating, alimentary.
ana nervous systems.-L literary Ga-eitc.