The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-12-08
SMOKING.
Chicago Telegram.

writer, that no one can understand, in- telligently, the peculiar ideas, motives, | and tendencies of the nineteenth century ! unless he be smoker or a victim to the i use of tobacco in some form. This as- sertion seems plausible enough when we consider the vast amount Of tobacco con- sumed throughout the whole world and the power of of it's action upon those who use It. l; can exalt the mind from Its normal condition, through every possible state, to almost intoxication; from the passive, absent-minded state up to the widest or most sublime fancies can solace the wearied mind and alleviate the bitterness of troubling contemplations. The plant which owes its introduction into civilization to the untutored Ameri- can savages has found its way over the whole face of the earth and back to bar barisms, worse than those from which 1t came, all within space of about three hundred years. Sir Walter Raleigh first brought il into England in the reign of Elizabeth. To-day the simple revenue in England on tobacco imports is greater than the aggregate customs which Eliza beth received from the entire taxation. It is said that the growth and con sumption of tobacco in the world, annually, is over three millions of tons.
 In connection with coffee. tea, and sim liar narcotics, tobacco may be said 10 have lent its aid in bringing about the important physiological and mental diff ferences which distinguish our modern directions and lines of thought from those pursued before the common use of the plant had been adopted. Perhaps on the brains of our ancestral genera tions the influence of smoke may have been working some invisible and organic change which has resulted Tn our nine teenth century physical and mental status. Perhaps Mir. Henry George or some other of eur great sociologists, after rattling their brains for lifetime endeavoring to discover the primary law of civilization, may hit upon smoke as the chief germ of mental and consequent social advance ment
 It would be hard to account for the immense prestige which the use of to- bacco has attained. or hew 1t assumed its present position among social customs. The habit is acquired under difficulties, and only after breaking down the bar riers and obstacles presented in the shape of sick stomaohs and headaches. is i, possible at all. And after the formation of the habit. the devotee finds 1t difficult or impossible 10 say precisely wherein the charm of smoking lies. IL somehow or other effect. change in the mental and physical tone of the human system, which, through the usual routine of fevery day lite, Is tiNed in certain state by sue eessive periods of eating. sleeping and waking. Without, like hquor, doing vio- lenee to the system m its normal eondi- di,ion, |, leads the mind from activity into reverie, widens the ruts of thought and increases sentiment. We can re- member verse. very common in our younger days. running as follows
 To ,hsc, iour,hs oi elFele add d eircie om-
 pietc.
 Let two sem-Cirylrs d pcrpcnaie u,ar meet. i Next t9d a triangle tat stands on t~o feet Then t~o sem circles and ,Ife,r complete
 Which presented the word tobacco in Roman capitals.
 smoking, as hrSt employei. was per formed through a pipe. and it's use in that form continues ,o the present day. The pipe has lost much of l,s genrility. and IS now consigned 10 the darkest re- cesses of the house. The cigar is the ia voritc with the moving smoker. A French man considers mans costume incom- plete without cigar.
 But within the past ten or twelve years the cigarette has been steadily gaining in importance and public favor. l, is, per haps the neatesi and oleanest form of using the weed. IL was brought to us from France and Spain. where i, Is in- dulged in by everybody-me women, priests and ministers. and even very young children. Its superiority over the cigar or pipe IS thaL;ae smoke can be i inhaled into the >Mngs wi,hou; stitiing the head and choking as the stronger smoke of the others would. The pipe, however. Is the least injurious.
 The poisonous principle in tobacco is known as nicotine or aItoioid ni6ohia. Its action is on the nervous system and. Tn cases of an overdose. death will result in ten or fifteen minutes.
 In the smoke of tobacco the active principles of the plant are thrown of in addition to the effects, or rather products. of combustion. all of which act on the system in direct proportion 10 the amount inhaled. IL has been found that the finest tobacco. although containing the peculiar principles of the plant in greater strength, is far less injurious than the cheaper and poorer grades. as the latter. to make up for their deficiencies in the more important elements of the plant. throw of more carbonic gas and ammo nia, which act nn the system generally in producing nervousness, and locally in lip cancer" and other sores of various kinds. As form of smoking cigarettes are considered the most injurious on ac- count of the inhalation of the smoke into the lungs, and because of the chemical manipulation of the tobacco necessary 10 make l, palatable. By being inhaled into the lungs the smoke is thrown in direct contact with the muous Innings of the throat and lungs, which leads 10 wha; is called smokers cough" and ultimate ly 10 chronic bronchitis While many medical men differ as to whether cigar cite smoking will lead to consumption.