The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-01-28
Danger from Tobacco

a writer in the London Spectator has
taken some pains to point out what he
believes to be "the true danger of tobac-
co.. After adverting to the general use
of this weed, which might, he alleges, be
considered harmless luxury but for one
exceptional fact, he asks: Has not to-
bacco property belonging to very few
substances, which makes it's use exception
ally dangerous-the property, when admin
istered in an overdose, of effectng some
permanent change. probably in the spinal
cord, which renders the victim forever after
liable to injury from the minutest dose?"
Three cases arc quoted from DR.. Dru-
ben's work on Tobacco as pointing to the
real danger arising from it's use. The first
case was that of a lawyer, thirty years of
age, of athletic frame, who for five years
had shown symptoms of a spinal affection,
which had resisted all remedies. On the
recommendation Of DR.. Druben this person
gave up the use of tobacco, in which he
had INDUCED to excess. The result was
that all the symptoms disappeared, as if by
enchantment, and at the end of one month
the cure was complete The restoration
to health lasted for some time, and until
one day, dining with the doctor, he INDUCED
himself, contrary to the earnest remon-
STRANGE of the former, in a cigar. No
sooner had he finished the second one than
he felt that all his old sensations had
returned. Warned by this decisive init
nation, the gentleman henceforth entirely
gave up his cigar took tones for month,
and has ever since enjoyed excellent health.
The second case was that of a person
who felt his energies declining, lost his
appetite, and only fonnd comfort in smok-
ing very strong cigars. He complained of
acute pain in the region of his stomach
every afternoon, which only ceased at night,
trembling Of the limbs, palpitation, and
sometimes sickness. On his relinquishing
the use of tobacco for one month all the
symptoms disappeared; but preferring the
pleasure from tobacco to health. he resumed
its use, and had in return renewal of all
his pains.
In the third case the patient, aged forty
five years, extremely sober and very regu-
lar in all his habits, was troubled by the
premonitory symptoms of melancholy ma
mia. He was perfectly aware of his hallu-
cnations, but could not escape them
After two OF three weeks medical treat
ment, during which he felt no desire to use
tobacco, these symptoms passed away, but
they returned rs soon as he resumed his
cigar. Admonished by this experience he
renowned tobacco entirely, and from that
day has had no recurrence of the symptoms.
Other cases of a similar character are
brought under the notice of physicians
The most determined devotee of tobacco
who takes an overdose, or uses much
larger quantity than usual, will suffer more
or less severely, and not only at the time,
but at intervals afterwards, if the effects
of the common dose be not carried off as
rapidly as usual.
A more enlarged view of the deleterious
effects of tobacco on the human system
would lead to a great extension of the list
of what the London writer chooses to call
exceptional cases. 1t would be found that
the stomach, the heart, and the lungs and
and to become sadly deranged in their
allotted offices by the prolonged and not
always by the excessive use of tobacco
In minor degree the cases of interference
with good and pleasant feelings from the
the constant use Of tobacco are legion, and
should make us modify not little the
word harmless luxury as applied to the
general use of this weed. 1t is indeed a
luxury, but it is luxury for which the
indulger has to pay very high taxes in
addition to those levied by the internal
revenue laws.
The writer in the Spectator is disposed to
lay down as an axiom that men of highly
strung, sensitive, nervous organizations,
and men who habitually eat little, are bet
ter without tobacco. He adds the whole
some advice to all sufferers from tobacco
that ''there is no remedy whatever except
total abstinence. If the mischief has once
been done, one cigar or one pinch of snuff
is as bad as hrndred.''
Some persons can give up the practice at
once, as we have known in the case of a
printer, who, on being assured by his ply
stefan that he would be better without his
quid took it out of his mouth, and ex-
claiming "There it goes"' threw it in the
fire. Years passed on, and this man per-
sisted in his abstinence, much, as he alleged,
to his gain in increased strength and read-
ness to work. In other cases we have
known men of strong religious convictions,
and who, from the injury done to their
health, conscientiously believed it to be
their duty to desist from the use of tobacco
struggle long and hard before they tri-
umphed over the enslaving habit.