The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-09-11
About Smoking.


from the London Iancet.l
That which Injuries or enfeebles the
blood, must, as a matter of course,
affect the health and activity of the
brain. If, then we ascertain the ply
siological effect of tobacco upon the
life-huid, we shall be in fair way for
deciding the question, especially if We
find individual cases confirming the
views thus arrived at. There is nothing
stronger in medical evidence than the
agreement Of physiology and pathology.
DIR. Richardson has so clearly explained
the influence of smoking upon the
blood, that it will be best to quote his
graphic account. His scientific emin-
ence entities his evidence to respect,
and lovers of the weed must recOllect
that it is a smoker to whom they are
listening: "On the blood the pro-
longed inhalation of tobacco produces
changes which are very marked in
character. The fluid is thinner than is
natural, and, in extreme cases, paler.
In such instances the deficient color of
the blood is communicated to the body
altogether, rendering the external sur
face yellowish, white and puffy. The
blood, being thin, also exudes freely,
and cut surface bIeeds for long time,
and may continue to bleed inconveni-
emily, even in opposition to remedies.
But the most important change Is ex-
erted on those little bodies which float
in myriads in the blood, and are known
as the red globules. These globules
have naturally double concave sur
face, and at their edges a perfectly
smooth outline. They are very soluble
in alkalies, and are subject to change of
shape and character, when the quality
of the fluid in which they float is modi-
fed in respect to density. The absorp-
tion, therefore, of the fumes of tobacco
necessarily leads to rapid changes in
them they lose their round shape, they
become oval and irregular at their
edges, and instead of having a mutual
attraction for each other and running
together, good sign of their physical
health, they lie loosely scattered before
the eye, and indicate 10 the learned OBJ
server as clearly as though they spoke
to him and said the words, that the man
from whom they were taken is physical
ly depressed, and deplorably deficient
both in muscular and mental power"
Tobacco modifies the circulation in
the brain, as in other portions of the
body. Hence, it would be remarkable
indeed if it did not exercise some infu-
ence upon the mechanism of thought.
" A sincere, self-observing smoker can
not fail, +" says NJ. Meunier, "to recog-
nize that tobacco creates a new nature,
more disposed to dreaming than action"
Although great smoker himself, he
considered the habit was inimical to the
rational mind. His frequent diatribes
against this mort aux peuples excited
much raillery; but the habit of twent
years long was too strong for him. So
close was the connection between work
and smoke with NJ hTeunfer, that the
amount of intellectual labor he per-
formed was chronicled by the extent of
his consumption of tobacco. When, at
last, after many fruitless attempts, he
put his conduct in harmony with his
opinion, it required several weeks of
undivided attention to break the chains
of habit which bound him. The mode
in which nicotine acts upon the blood
vessels explains the apparent contradic-
tion that it should be able to excite into
momentary activity an organ which it
has enfeebled and stupefed. The ex-
citement and over-activity which it
causes in the contractile apparatus of
the blood vessels are quickly followed
by general fatigue, which is only
modified paralysis. Thinking, as we
have seen, is closely related with the
cerebral circulation. When, by con-
tinued usage, the muscular tissue of the
blood vessels has become gradually be-
numbed, the blood, in place of its
naturally rapid flow, circulates slowly
and sluggishly, and the functionary
energy of the brain is diminished But,
with a new exhibition of the stimulant,
the muscular contractibility is again
stimulated, the circulation becomes
quicker, the brain, abundantly and re-
gularly bathed by the life-blood, takes
up again its functions, the brain-power
increases, ideas flow with greater rapid
ity; but the activity thus produced
cannot last. With this stimulation dis
appear the brilliant results which it had
produced, and the organ falls into a re-
laxed condition, from which only in
creased doses can temporarily rescue If.
One of the results upon the brain is
loss of smemory. Many authors have
noticed this fact. The case of L Abbo
Moigno, the celebrated editor of Les
Mondes, is curious. He had often been
in the habit of taking snuff, which had
always led to prejudicial results. After
various temporary renunciations he had
returned to its use. In 1861, while en-
gagged in some mathematical labors, be
took twenty to twenty-five grammes
daily, and found himself continually
having resource to the snuf-box. The
effect was rapid extinction of the
faculty of memory. He had learned
several languages by their root words,
of which he knew from I 200 to ], 500
of each tongue, but he found that his
power of recalling the words was gra.
dually diminishing, and recourse to tlc
dictionary became each day more neces-
sary. Struck with this fact, he resolved
to abandon the tabatiere and cigar.
Writing, after six years experience as
non smoker, ne says; at has been foi
us the commencement Of q veritablc
resurrection of health, mind and memo
ry; our ideas have become more lucid,
our imagination more vivid, our work
easier, our pen quicker, and we have
seen gradually return that army OF
words which had run away. Our meme
~, in a word, has recovered all It's
riches. all its sensibility."
PrSR leaves are largely utilized In
Europe. They are converted into q