The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-05-01
MlistelIaneoas Sslertions.
A WORD FOR TOBACCO.
IFrom q Pspsr In the Northern Monthly for Msy
entitled "The Proper Uss of Stimulsnts
and Narootics."l
BY GEO. NJ. BEARD, NJ.


bacco confirms the deductions of scien-
tifc experiment. 1t is a-fact, which
every one can observe for himself, that
tobacco is kind of substitute for food.
Those who chew or smoke very freely
find that they need less nutriment than
when they entirely abstain; and there
are many who prefer to lose meal
than their regular pipe or cigar. Con
frmed snuff takers are usually quite
moderate eaters. II is the experience
of nearly all tobacco-users that it sus-
tains the body and the mind. 1t ap-
pears to act both as stimulant and as
a narcotic. Itthus combines, in very
mild degree, the virtues of alcohol and
opium. 1t varies, however, in its eff
ects with different individuals and in
different states of the system, fully as
markedly as opium or alcohol, tea or
coffee, For some it acts as soother,
quietiDg the mind after trial and IA
tigue, and calming the fretted, aching
nerves. Others it stimulates to under
take hard tasks that require unusual
courage, or strength of muscle and of
will. Some take cigar before retir-
ing to insure speedy and refreshing
sleep; others to keep them awake in
long nightly vigils, To many an early
morning smoke is an almost indispen-
sable preparation for the duties of the
day; others take up their pipe or quid
only at evening, as a means of rest
when their tasks are all over. To
many, unfortunately, tobacco is as ne
cessary as their daily bread, SO that
without it they can neither labor with
their brains nor hands; others resort to
it only in special crises that severely
strain the powers of thought, seton,
or feeling.
By the majority all these quieting
ar d stimulating effects of tobacco can
be realized, without experiencing there
from any unpleasant reaction or any
permanent injury to the constitution.
There are comparatively few consti-
tutions upon whom moderate amount
of smoking, chewing, or snuff-taking
operates otherwise than beneficially.
l say moderate with strong emphasis,
for any persistent excess in the use of
tobacco, as of other forms of accessory
food,-alcohol, opium, tea, and coffee,
is sure to be followed by the mani
festations of nervous arrangements,
though iu many instances it is not un-
til after years of indulgence that the
punishment is fully realized. The re-
mark of Anne Of Austria, "God does
not pay at the end of overy week, but
he pays at last" applies with terrible
force to the violations of natures laws
| in the use of stimulants and narcotics
Those of nervous, delicate organiza-
tons, are less liable to abuse tobacco
than the hardy and unimpressible,
since the slightest excess is apt to be
followed by speedy punishment that
Lconpels them to be cautious for the
| future.
Tobacco can he used more freely by
the phIegmatic than by the nervous.
We should also graduate our indulgence
| in the use of it by the climate in which
we live, and by the state Of the atmos-
phere. Smokers often say that they
can consume more cigars in damp, fog
gy weather, than in that which is bright
and clear.
Tobacco, like alcohol and coffee, car
be used more literally in warm latitude;
where the perspiration is active, than
in the temperate polar regions. The
further North we 60, the greater The
necessity of caution in the use of al
stimulants and narcotics. The classes
most likely to use tobacco to excess are
students, literary and professional men
who are usually so situated that they
can smoke while they work, and tC
whom, on account of their continuous
mental activity, the soothing and stim
ulating effects of tobacco are especially
glateful One of the best safeguard
against the excessive use of tobacco il
in an occupation which does not allow
us to smoke or chew during working
hours. Comparatively few are injured
i by their regular pipe or cigar aftel
meals, or when the days task is over
/ have said that as rule the ner
vous and delicate are more susceptible
to the influence of tobacco than tht
hardy and the phlegmatic; but ther'
are exceptions on both sides.
Then, again, there are temperament'
who from some peculiarity of their or
ganization cannot endure tobacco il
any form. Although | am continually
seeing the worst effects from the inor
dinate use of tobacco; although an
consulted for cases of paralysis, Of neu
ralgia, of dyspepsia, of amaurosis, anc
of general nervous arrangement, tina
are brought on or aggravated by in
temperate chewing or smoking; anc
although am persistently urging upol
such patients the necessity of modera
ton or of total abstinence, yet an
firm in the conviction, founded on care
full study and observation, that the grea
majority even of our susceptible Amer
leans can use this narcotic in hsbitua