Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-09-13
The Effects Of Tobacco.

The Effects Of Tobacco.
Or. Dixon has very decided opinions
with reference to tobacco, and indeed all
stimulants.
What :hen," he asks, {" is tobacco ?
Why, simply narcotic-that is tsee the
dictionary a stupifer-a deadener Of
nervous and muscular energyr If any
man disputes this, and asserts that he finds
himself more capable Of intellectual or
muscular effort when he has quid in his
mouth, we congratulate him on his i'm
proved astuteness. We may betray our
own want Of the precious Intellectual
squickener, but we will venture the oues.
ton. How much did it sharpen your log
ic-chopper when you took the first quid
and how majestically did you stand on
your legs when you first felt its full ef.
feet?
II Our remarks apply in much more
torcible manner to smoking than to chew
ing. Some people are SO silly as to sup
pose, because they do not spit while smok-
ing, that no harm can ensue; but they
should remember that the oil Of tobacco.
which contains the deadly NICOTINE
equally deadly and almost as rapid in
ats action as strychnine,) is volatilized,
and circulates with the smoke through the
delicate lining membrane of the mouth
at each Whit Of the cigar, and is absorbed
by the extensive continuation of this mem
brane that lines the nostrils, and acts up-
on the whole body. The smoke of tobac
co IS -indeed much more rapid in its stupe-
Tying effect, as every professed smoker
knows. 1t is usually called sooth hing BY
its votaries; but this is, of course, only
the first stage Of stupefaction i, acts pre-
ciseiy as opium or other narcotics do.
# we have used moderate share of
intellect and very extensive observation
alright, we can find no cause of sufficient
power except tobacco capable of produc-
ing the wrecks of manhood that often
come under our professional notice. The
dull leaden eye, the trembling hand and
insecure and unmanly step, the vas>cilat-
'ng purpose and incapacity to reason cor
rectly ON the most simple subjects, are too
often seen connected with the deadly weed,
as the victim unfolds in trembling accents
his tale of blighted prospects and chilled
affections.
So far are We from doubling its power
over the moral and physical welfare Of the
race, that we have not doubt that it has
Infinitely more to do with the physical i'm
perfection and early death Of the children
OF its votaries, than IFS great associate,
drunkenness itself. The deficiency or
virile power in many instances of long,
continued smokers is very marked Every
surgeon Of experience must have observed
it. The local surgical and medical treat
ment most effective il these cases proves
conclusively that it is to the facilitating
and exhausting influence of tobacco that
tnese sad consequences are due.
One would think that q man's-more
especially young man's-natural instincts
would awaken him to the discovery that
some horrid vampire was tanning him
from mental sleep to physical death he
has before him every day the bright eye,
the elastic step, and the 1.-THE limbs of his
companions; he sees, but seems not to
understand, the quickly averted eye, the
expressive and scornful face of insulted
woman, as she refuses to take his offered
but defiled seat in the omnibus or rsil.car;
ne permits her TO open the window and
expose her breath to the chill air, to get
little air untainted with the loathesome
aroma Of his foul breath.
A person who is saturated with tobacco
or tobacco poisoned, acquires solden or
dirfy-yellow hue two whifEs of his breath
viii scent large room; you may nose
him before he takes his seat. Of this he
= entirely unconscious be will give you
the full force Of his LUNGS. and for the