The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-01-08
THE STANDARD.
Thursday, January s, 1880.
Tobacco.

BY 7. B. sPALDING, M. D., OF TROY, ILL.
In a recent essay before this society,
considered the action of alcohol
within the human system, and on this
occasion [ am pleased to respond to
your courteous invitation with obser-
vations on the action of tobacco.
These agents might be proftably pre-
sented as almost Identical in action,
and shown to be largely accessory to
each others sins, but the temperance
is waived for the physiological phase
OF the argument.
Of tobacco's origin, it's introduce
ton, its composition, its cost, the ex-
tent of its consumption, and the pro-
cesses of its preparation, [ purposely
pass, to deal more directly with it in
its physiological relations to the func-
tions and forces Of human life.
Eminent authority in every country
and in every department of science,
concur in chasing tobacco among the
narcotic poisons, than which none are
more deadly; indeed, like Aaron's rod,
it has secure within itself the most
magical and worst Of all its rivals.
Nicotia, sulphureted hydrogen, hydro
cyanic acid! What den Of deadIiest
poisons, all having their habitat in
this colossal curse, termed tobacco!
A poison is declared to be anything
whose natural action is capable of pro-
ducing a morbid, noxious, and dan ger
Gus effect upon the organization of
anything endowed with life" Thus
we perceive the definition is the per-
feet picture of tobacco's action. Ac-
quainted with this agent for over two
hundred years, medical science, speak
ing with the tongue of every science,
declares tobacco wholly innutritious,
and further still, declares it nauseous;
not only that, but noxious; and fur
ther yet, a repository of deadliest poi
sons. From this dictum there is no
appeal; in it's truth medical men are
forced, by their culture, to concur
But even then they dandle with Deli
lab till shorn of strength, and science
must still be summoned and held aloft
for the healing Of the nation. If to-
bacco is poison, it ought to act as
such, and it may be safely affirmed it
lids nO OGllol dCGlOlI -lO OUIlcI uS0 Ill
medicine, than to depress vitality.
Thus it nauseates, it paralyzes the
nerve centers, producing relaxation of
the muscular system, and produces
such dreadful prostration that medical
literature is full of warming, and
abounds with reported cases of fatal
poisoning by this agent. When med
ical science was in her cradle, and
chloroform in the embrace of chaos,
ere anasthetics had come, as the olive
leaf dove, to the ark of Esculapius,
surgeons soothed their suffering pa
tients with powerful potations of to-
bacco, and thus they utterly prostrated
the vital powers, relaxed the muscular
system, and then proceeded to reduce
laxations! How direful must have
been patients difficulty, if half SO
dreadful and distressing as the remedy.
1t may be affirmed and demonstrat-
ed of tobacco, what is strikingly ex-
ceptional, namely, that it alone of all
the vegetable kingdom possesses two
active principles-the one an alkaloid,
and the other oil, and both the dead
liest of poisons.
1t has been urged in support of
fashionable poisons, that because null
titudes use them, therefore they can't |
be especially dangerous; but profess
sional science and experience teach |
that there isn't an agent in the entire |