The weekly union record., 1865-08-12
For and Against Tobacco.

A pamphlet, under this title. has been issuet
by DR.. Richardson, and The London New
gives rs the following glance at its contents |
Every moderate and reasonable lover of to
bacco will thank DR.. Richardson for bis pam
phlet 1t is no TRADE against indulgence
the fragrant weed. il is no advocacy of its use
bat calm aud philosophical investigation
the effects, good and bsd, produced by tobacc{
upon The Individual and upon society. II I'd
hacco really were the po:son which its euemie |
would have US believe, if its hahiiual use wery
known TO induce the fearful diseases whic :
have from time TO time been laid to its charge
the most grave responsibility would attach Z
successive legislators who have stimulated cor
sumption by reducing the imposls; and at th
present time, WHEN the quantity consumed
largely increasing, careful and patient exper
menialisis like DR.. Richardson. do good SET
vice by showing up TO our questionable frien@
10 his true coors For. slthoush the autho |
can bring no more serious charge against to
bacco as permanent enemy 10 beslth. tha
that peculiar form OF sore throat is probabl}
induced by its persistent use we had Amos
said abuse-he does not commend the practict
universally. To parents be says Don't le
+
be SAYS. III YOU have not smoked don't begin
The Doctor commences by an analysis
the composition OF tobacco. which he shows I
be-carbon- ammonia, and the active puiso
called nicotine. Tie proceeds TO discuss tn
relative effects of these upon the body, as mad
known to him by experience upon himself. an&
The villa carpora" of lower animals. lie dis
putes the narcotic effect of tobacco. as com
pared with opium that Is, lit does no remov
sensation. nor excite pleasurable emotion" i
is poison undoubtedly. bnt il has this redeem
ing element, that the body becomes tolerant
OF its presence, and "ihat in the body accus
toned 10 the passions Of tobacco smoke, the
are removed. unless they be INDUCED in india
criminately or unless the body be diseased
nearly as rapidly as they are absorbed" Tn
effects are lransitory the influences exercise
are functional. not organic. To quote D&
Richardson's words: In the confirmed SIND
ker there is undoubtedly constant functiond
disturbance his organs J. e., are doing wor
which is not essential 10 their duties, but the
do it with moderate case; they receive nothin
which is deposited in their structure, and ID
alone. they soon regain their natural conditiod
Ia the recognition of these simple truths, tl
whole gist of The tobacco controversy is id
closed it is on the presence of the functond
disturbance that the vehement anti tobacconij
bases his arguments ii is on the absence
organic mischief that the advocate of Tobacco
rests his defense"
DR. Richardson proceeds TO show the naiuI
of the several functional disturbances cause
by tobacco. Every organ seems to be iE tur
affectsd-tbe stomach, heart. brain, the muco1
membrane. the nerves and the surface OF th
lungs when that is already irritable. But
says: "The statements 10 the effect that toba
co smoke causes specific diseases, such as ID
sanity, epilepsy apoplexy, organic disease
the heart, cancer, consumption and chron
bronchitis have been made without any sufiI
cient evidence or reference TO facts all sue
statements are devoid of truth etc. But. il
added "in The main, smoking is luxu1
which any nation of natural habits would
better without. The luxury is not directl
fatal to life, but its use conveys 10 the min
who looks upon it calmly the unmistakabl
idea of physical degradation"
DR.. Richardson affirms that II marriage we1
confined to smokers of both sexes. PHYSICAL
inferior race of men and women would be bre
up; but he naively adds, "nany of our father
do not smoke, and scarcely any of our mothera
and thus, TO the credit of our women chief
the integrity of the race is fairly preserved
And yet, in conclusion, so fairly are the argd
meHts pro and con balanced. that the autho
finds it difficult to say anything against tobad
co per Sc which may not be said against a
luxuries. "lndeed,' be says, "were | equal
fair for tobacco as against it, should be force
to give it place es one of the least hurtful
luxuries :" and, again, "of nearly every luxur
it is the least injurious. 1t is inDocuous o
compared with alcohol it does infinitely les
harm than opium it is 10 no sense worse tha
tea or sugar; and by the side of high living 4
contrasts most favorabiy. A thorough smoke
may or may not be hard drinker, but iher
is one thing he never is-a glutton indeed
there is no cure for gluttony aud all its train q
certain and fatal evils Ike tobacco"