Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-11-21

Grand Annual Division of the Sons of Tenn
pearncc We avail ourselves of this oppor-
tunity of giving him and the readers of the
Age, 1--WE do not mean to exclude the ladies'
n lecture on temperance, generally. We do
not allude Of course to the use of ardent spir-
its, but to another practice, though not so
bad, quite injurious to the human family
For this purpose we copy from the Oxford
Leisure Hour, the following article on the
use Of
TOBACCO.
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. 7. Shaifner, NJ. d., of
Salem. n. G. Ii is a prize essay, 'for which
$50 was awarded by the N. c. Medical Soci-
ETY." The article is an able one, and con-
tains much valuable information in regard to
the history, use and pernicious effects of the
'much abused weed" The subject is con-
sidered 10y many, a hackncyed one, and the
efforts which have been made at different Pc
RODS to prohibit the use of tobacco, seems to
have had the contrary effect. 1t is indeed
passing strange that n habit so disgusting
and ruinouS should prevail to such an alarm
ny NANNAl W. NAhl dlllItiH tNlOl OCbdoCu
in morals and degraded 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 States are usu-
ally regarded as possessing more INTEL gence
as a nation, than those Of any other land, and
yet the census reports show that they are the
greatest consumers Of tobacco. When it is
known that its habitual use exerts such a del
e]terious influence upon the physical, mental
and HOrdi system, tits indeed surprising that
men Of intelligence will allow themselves to
become the slaves of such a practice.
Eminent physicians, who have devoted
much attention to the subject, concur in the
opinion, that the excessive use Of tobacco in
any form is productive of incalculable inia
ry. II has been estimated that not less than
twenty-five thousand persons die annually in
the United States on account of their indul-
- gcnce in this habit, and German periodical
tells us that half of the young men who die
from twenty to twenty-five years of age, are
destroyed by the use of tobacco! hisshould
occasion no surprise when it is remembered
that %nicotin, or oil of tobacco, is one of the
most poisonous ofwhich we have any account.
The surprise is that persons of sane minds
will persist in undermining their constitu'
tons by the habitual use OF a weed, which
the whole medical fraternity acknowledges tC
contain the most destructive poison. Five
drops ofthe oil o ftobacco sill kill Il large dog
We were told recently Of an incidentthat oc
cured in Granville several years ago, which
Is N point. One of our farmers, whose pig
were afflicted with vermin, imagined that
d~ecoction Of tobacco would destroy them
Accordingly he had his pigs caught, and sous
ed three or four in the vessel containing tn
docoction, but he observed that they appear
ed exhausted from TIE effects of the immei
sion. On "a closer examination, he foun
them all to- be dead.
DR. >~.aircr, in his c~Ncel,ent article show
that the u@e o. tobacco is "A disgusting an
witty 81 That it poisons and enervat,
@SN..H system, that 1t ALTERS the nerve
T''s1 te development and growth of IL
Phl Sie"' covers; produces countless NAL
uieS' sun y dyspepsia, emaciation, ulcerol
anu ean0Si9us NVmations, neuralgia pains c
the entire body, a%roplexy. epilepsy. bin
ness, vertigo, paralyss, insanity. &c. &c.
Examples are given showinc that tolac
has produced all these diseases.
It's effect up1n He mind IS eguaIlD Der,
cious. 1t exerts a powerful influence mn,
u, functions Of the brain, diminishing
lorcs and activity, and rendering the cons
me vnGEAtely unable TO accomplish great m,
= nonents." We saw a statement
= that oS Of the papers several wee
- students who competed