The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-11-14
TOBACCO.
Selected.

We have recently read an article in the
North Carolina Medical Journal "On the
Use Of Tobacco, and its injurious effects
upon the Human System" BY j. /. Shaffner,
NJ. D., of Salem, n. c. II is prize essay,
i" for which $50 was awarded by the N. c.
Medical Society" The article is an able
one, aud contains much valuable information
in regard to the history, use and perniciOus
effects Of the "much abused weed" The
subject is considered by many hackneyed
one, and the efforts which have been made
at different periods to prohibit the use of
tobacco seems to have had the contrary ef-
feet. Ii is indeed passing strange that a
habit so disgusting and ruinous should pre-
vail 10 such an alarming extent, not only
among nations debased in morals and degra
ded in intellect, but in countries which are
acknowledged TO be the most enlightened and
refined on the face Of the globe.
The people Of the United S.a'es are usu-
ally regarded as possessing more intelligence
as i nation, than those Of any other land. an !
vet the census reports show that they are the
greatest consumers OF tobacco. When il is
known that its habitual use exerts such
adeleterious influence upon physical, mental
and moral system, it is indeed surprising
that men Of intelligence will allow them
selves to become the slaves Of such a prac-
tice.
Eminent physicians, who have devoted
much attention to the subject. concur III the
opinion that the excessive use OF tubascO in
any form is productive Of incalculajle in-
jury. IL has been estimated that not less
than twenty five thousand persons die anna
ally in the United States on account Of their
indulgence in this habit, and g rmaa peri
odical tell. US that half Of the yOgns msn
who die from twenty TO twenty.f year. %
age are destroyed by the use o. tobacco
This should occasion no surprise when il j.
remembered that nicOtin, or oil Of tOjaccp,
is one Of the most poisonous Of which W.
have any account. The surprise j. thlt
persons Of sane minds will persist in under
mining their constitutions by the habiiu n
use Of q weed, which the whole medical fra
ternity acknowledges to contain the most
destructive poison. Five drops Of the oil Of
tobacco will kill large dog. We told
recently Of an incident that occurred in
Granville several years ago, which j. inppint.
One Of our farmers, whose pigs were aiilic.
tu WIN Nttultug tihdplltu lildt htNVNd'H
Of tobacco would destroy them. According
ly he had his pigs caught, and soused three
or four in the vessel containing the decoc-
tion, bur he observed that they appeared ex-
haustcd from the effects Of the immersion.
On closer examination. he found them all
TO be dead.
Dr. Shaifner, in his excellent article shows
that the use Of tobacco is disgusting and
filthy habit; that II poisons aud eneryates
the whole system, that il skaters the nerves,
prevents the development and growth Of the
physical powers; produces countless mala.
dies, such as dyspepsia. emaciation, uleerous
and caucerous formations. neuralgia pains on
the entire body, apoplexy, epilepsy, blind
ness, vertigo. paralysis, insanity, &C., &c.
Examples are given showing that tUbaccuhas
pro,lucrd an these diseases.
N eefci upon NE mind is equally psrni
cions. II excrts powerful influence upon
the functions Of the brain, " diminishing its
force aud activity, aud rendering the consul
mer entirely unable to accomplish great
mental achievements" We saw statement
going the rounds Of the papers several weeks