Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1883-01-17

Tobacco belongs to tho ssiohtshdde
family, of which atropia, or beiladonna
and hyoscyamus, or henbane, both
deadly poisons, are other genera. mic
otiana tabacum' is the botanic name Of
the common tobacco. Gray describes
it as rank acrid narcotic" No other
genus of the nightshade family has so
active poison as the fsicotiand. In
the manufacture OF tobacco the dealers
are merciful in their frauds. The in
gradients with which they adulterate
it. though much cheaper, are less harm
ful to the consumers than the genuine
article. Thus while they are swindled
out Of their money by the wholesale,
they are benefited in health. There are
few more deadly poisons known to
chemistry than nicotine-.th essential
oil Of tobacco. The Encyclopedia
Americana says OF its Its nauseous
and poisonous weed, whose only prop
ert!es are deleterous." DR.. Bigelows
American Botany says: "There is no
plant which has less to recommend il. l."
kocmfer ranks il with the Strong veg
etable poisons." Chambers Enc.clo-
pedia saws: ~The nicotine, or oil ~
tobacco. is known by experiment to be
highly poisonous" DR. Brodie, by ex-
''er'ment. found that two drops of this
oil on the tongue OF cat produced
death. In some experiments, to deter
iai:e the relative strength of the alco-
hol and the tobacco poisons. before the
students Of Milton college, the writer
Of this article produced two dogs Of
aLoat equal physical strength. On the
tongue Of one was put two drops of the
undiluted alcohol, and on the tongue of
the other the same amount of the oil
OF tobacco. In the former dog life was
extinct in about five minutes, while in
the latter it vas extinct in three min
utes--conclusive proof that both sub
stances are deadly poisons, and that to-
bacco is the most virulent. In another
experiment, one drop of nicotine, on q
the tongue Of cat, produced instan.
taneous convulsions, and death in tlro
minutes. Tue most extended and care
ful scientific research has proved be-
yond all doubt that tobacco is one of
the most active Of all poisons, the most
intoxicating Of all intoxicants. The
physiological effects of tobacco are de-
scribed bv DIR. Sizsrs, OF Glasgow, as
follows: The constitutional effects Of
tobacco are numerous aud varied, con-
sisting of g;ddiness, sickness, vomiting,
dyspepsia, vitiated tastes, loose bowels
diseased liver, congestion of the brain,
apoplexv, palsy, mania, loss OF mem
orT, amaurosis, deafness, nervousness,
emasculation." The eminent French
chemist, Boussiron, in a learned treat
isc on tobacco, says the effects of tobac-
co and deadly nightshade are nearly
Identical in character and violence, viz,
riddiness, disturbed vision, nausea
vomiting, and frequently diarrhea.
Chambers Encyclopedias gives the fol.
i4}sagRg nm g..,ss, ~ I tie effects Of tobacco:
weakness Of the limbs, trembling, pros.
tration, GOODNESS of surface, clammy
perSpiration, commissions. paralysis and
death" In some cases there is dilation
of the pupils, as by the stropis poison
di;hness Of sight, weak pulse, distur-
bance of the heart, causing difficult
breathing. The use of tobacco, espe-
cisilv in the form OF smoking which
is slow poison-is one of the most
prolific causes of cancerous sores in and
about the mouth and nose. The most
skillful medical practitioners have pro-
nouuced it impossible to cure these, or
any of the long list of diseases of the
digestive organs and nerves, that come
of the tobacco poison, except upon con-
dition of total abstinence from it. Will |
not our young men study these facts !
and discard. once and for |
ever, this SO unmanly and deleterious a
habit--intoxication I'D Z. M., in Sab |
bath Recorder.