Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-05-08
rnn EFFEcrs on ronAoco.


DIR. Dixon has very decided opinions with
reference to tobacco, and indeed all stimu-
lants.
What, then, he asks, is tobacco I?
Why, simply narcotic-that is (see the
dictionary "a stupefer-a deIneanor of ner-
YOus an muscular energyp If any man dis
putes this, and asserts that he finds himself
more capable Of intellectual or muscular cf-
fort when he has quid in his mouth, we
congratulate HIM on his improved astute-
ness. We may betray our own want Of the
precious intellectual quickener, but we viii
venture the question: How much did it
sharpen your lOgic-choDper when you took
the first quid? And how maiestically did
you stand on your legs when you first felt
its effects?
Our remarks apply in a much more for
clble manner to smoking than to chewing.
Some people are 50 silly as to suppose, be
cause they do not spit while smoking, that
no harm can ensue; but they should remem-
Der that the oil Of tobacco, which contains
the deadly NICOTINE iequally deadly and
almost as rapid IN its action as strychnine, J
IS volatillzed, and circulates with the smoke
through the delicate lining membrane of the
mouth az each Whit Of the cigar, and is ab-
sorbed by the extensive continuation of this
membrane that lines the nostrils, and acts
upon the whole body. The smoke Of to-
bacco is indeed much more rapid in Its stu
pefylng effect, as every professed smoker
knows. Ii is usually called soothing BY
its votaries; but this is, Of course, only the
first stage of stupefaction; it acts precisely
as opium or other narcotics do.
If we have used a moderate share of IN
tellect and very extensive observation
Alright, we can find no cause of sufficient
power except tobacco capable of producing
the wrecks of manhood that often comes un-
der our professional notice. The dull lead
en- eye, the trembling hand, and insecure
and unmanly step, the vacillating purpose
and lncapaclty to reason correctly on the
most simple subjects, are too often seen con
nected with the aroma of 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 a doubt that it has
infinitely more to do with the physical i'm
perfection and early death of the children
of its votaries, than its great associate,
drunkenness itself. The deficiency of virile
power in many instances of long-continued
smokers is very marked. Every surgeon of
experience must have observed it. The To-
cal surgical and medical treatment most eff
tectiye in these cases, proves conclusiyely
that it is to the debilitating and exhausting
influence Of tobacco that these sad consc-
quences are due.
"0ne would think that man s-more
especially young man s-natuTal instincts
would awaken him to the discovery that
some holTid vampire was tanning him from
mental sleep to physical death; he has be-
fore him every day the bright eve. the elias
tic step, and the 1.-THE limbs of his compan-
ions; he sees, but seems not to understand,
the quickly ayerted eye, the expressive and
scolntul face of iusulted woman, as she re-
fuses to take his offered but defled seat in
the omnibus or railway car; he permits her
to open the window and expose her health
to the chill air, to get little air untainted
with the loathsome aroma Of his foul breath
A person who Is saturated with tobacco
or tobacco poisoned acquires sodden or
dirty yellow hue; two whitfs Of his breath
will scent a large room; you may nose him
before he takes his seat. Of this he is en-
tirely unconscious; he win give YOU the full
force Of his lungs, and for the most part
such people have a great desire to approach
and annoy You. We have been followed
round large ofice-tab by them. backing
continually to escape the nuisance till we
had made a revolution or two before our
motive was perceived.
''If there be a vice more prostrating to
the body and mind, and more crucifying to
all the sympathies of man S spiritual nature,
We have yet to be convinced of it.