The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-11-06
TOBACCO.

TOBACCO.
We have recently read an article in the North
Carolina Medical Journal Con the Use of Tobac-
co, and its injurious effects upon the Human Sys-
tenn" by j. Z. Shaffner, NJ. d., of Salem, n. c..
1t is prize essay, ''for which $50 awarded by
the n. c. Medical Society" The article is an
able one and contains much valuable Information
IN regard to the history and pernicious effects
of the "mucb abused weed" The subject is con-
sidered by many hackneyed one, and the efforts
which have been made at different periods to pro-
hibit the use of tobacco seem to have had the
contrary effect. 1t is indeed passing strange
that habit so disgusting and ruinous should pre-
vail to such an alarming extent, not only among
nations debased in morals and degraded in intel
iect 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 usually
regarded possessing more intelligence as a ma
ton, than those of any other land, and yet the
reports show that they the greatest con-
sumers of tobacco When it is known that its ha-
bitual 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 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 incaculable injury. 1t has been
estimated that not less than twenty five thousand
persons die annually in the United States on ac-
count of their indulgence in this habit and a Ger
man 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. This should
occasion surprise when il is remembered that
nicOtin, oil of tobacco, is of the most pOis
OnOus of which we have any account. The sur
prise is that persons Of minds will persist in
undermining their constitutions by the hahitual
use of weed. which the whole medical fraternity
acknowledges to contain the most des tructive poi
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 is in point One of our farmers whose pigs
afflicted with vermin, imagined that de-
coction Of tobacco would destroy them. Accord
ingly he had his pigs caught, and soused three or
four in the vessel containing the decoction. but he
observed that they appeared exhausted from the
effects Of the immersion On closer examina-
ton, he found them all to be dead.
Dir. Shaffner, in his excellent article shows that
the use of tobacco is disgusting and filthy habit;
that it poiSons and enervateS the whole system
that it skaters the nerves prevents the develop
ment and growth of the physical powers; produces
countless maladies, such dyspepsia, emaciation
ulcerous and cancerous formations, neuralgia pains
on the entire body, apoplexy, epilepsy, blindness,
vertigo, paralysis insanity, &c, &c Examples
are given showing that tobacco has produced all
of these diseases
It's effect upon the mind is cqunHy perm icious
1t exerts powerful influence upon the functions
of the brain, diminishing its force and activity
and renderin@ the consumer entirely unable to ac-
comrlish great mental achievements" We saw a
statement going the rounds of the papers several
weeks ago that Of the students who competed for
the honors at Oxford University, those who did
not smoke, were invariably the most successful.
And DIR. Shatfner gives similar statement. in re-
gard to the French students Tie saws that in
Paris, where the habit of smoking is so generally
prevalent, it has been observed that the collegiate
standing-of those addicted to its use is much in
feriOr 10 that of the students not so addicted He
says that recent Investigations made in this eoun-
try have resulted in similar conclusions The
habtual use of tobacco enfeebles the mind, dwarfs
the intellectual lowers blunts the perceptive fac
ultieS, clouds the reason, and deranges the func
tionS of the brain. '-.- ....
ToJuccO also ererts 1,erHicioas influence upon
tie morals Of ats UictimS. The excessive indu-
gence in any evil habit is immoral. Whenever
We lose our selfcontrol, We become in some degree
the slaves of passion. And when we surrender
ourselves to any Que passion Of our nature we are
more Liable TO become the slaves of other passions
and thus moral restraints are weakened 1t
has been shown that the use of tobacco creates a
thirst for ardent Spirits Dr. Halves, of Con-
necticut, says: The two vices are twin brothers,
sons of the same mother, vtiated, perverted ap-
petite, and he relates the case of man sswho de-
clared after thorough trial that it was useless to
attempt to cure the desire for rum while a man
continued the use Of tobacco" If a man che,cs
and smokes it may oe considered fair presanlofire
evidence that he also drinks.
But this is not all. The habit of chewing.
smoking, or dipping, is disgusting, indecent and
expensive, The individual. whose lips are con-
tinually reeking with 'ambicr', aud whose shirt
bosom is stained with the same Dectorine fluid
might be pardoucd for his indecency; but when he
deposits Fuddes of tobacco juice upon floors of
churches and of other public buildings, he be-
comes nuisance, and commits grievous offense
against common propriety as well as common de-
esncy. DR. Shaffner says that forty millions of
iollars are annually spent in America for this mar
;otie-a SUN, be remarks, which exceeds that ex-
pended fer oil the purposes of education.-OEf9rd
Leisure Hour. . -.-as.. ---r Il
--s- ,--. arys g. s.a-.-s=.