Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-28
Theories About Tobacco.

From the London Lancet
In spite Of the opposition encountered by our
protest against cigarette smoking, which, it
will be remembered, first raised the question
about this form of the use of tobacco. it is now
generally admitted that we were right and our
opponents wrong in the matter. The rapid con-
sumption of the finely shredded leaves very
close to the mouth has been proved to render the
practice OF smoking cigarettes peculiarly obiec-
tionable. Moreover, it has been shown that
although the use of d tube and the provision of
plug OF cotton will lessen the evil, they do not
wholly deprive the cigarette of its obiectiona-
Ole quantities. We are not, as is well known. adj
yocates of the disuses Of tobacco. II moderately
and wisely employed it is Il valuable sedative to
the nerv es, and has an especially soothing infiu-
ehce IN the majority OF instances. There are,
however, certain properties ofthe tobacco smoke
which ought to be more generally understood. It
Is professionally in some way special sedat tive
to the hearts action. We are not in the ie;, +
surprised TO find il stated that a considerable
proportion OF the boys medically examined Tor
of weakness of. the heart" and that this
should be attributed to the habit Of smoking
cigarettes. As we pointed out when first direct
ing attention to the subject, the sphygmograph
shows peculiar influence to be excrted by the
smoking OF tobacco, particularly in the form OF
cigarettes, on the pulse, partly due to the de-
preston OF the hearts action and partly to the
loss OF vasomotor tone in the arteries. Those
practitioners who do not habitually use the
sphygmograph in their daily work, but content
themselves with simply feeling the pulse with
the finger, may not be aware OF this fact. 1t is
fact, nevertheless. To the sedative action of
the tobacco on the heart may possibly be due
that agreeable sense Of quietude and of "cool-
ing which Is commonly experienced when
smoking in the heat of summer.
The points for when are now especially
anxious to call consideration are these: u The
influence OF tobacco is apparently cumulative
warning sense of excess in the use of tobacco
generally comes too late. The pipe, cigar, or
cigarette may be laid aside. but the depressing
Or nanseating effect increases for some time
Nevertheless there Is no valid reason to suppose
tobacco or nicotine does not ACTUALLY
late. (2) Excitatinn of the nerve centers as by
oxidation, seems to intensity the effects of to-
going out into the air and breathing quickly the
characteristic sensations are nearly always for
moks s q tGSs {, or
stronger in It's influence than the same
smoked without q tube.
These three results of observation and expert
ment seem to suggest the conclusion that the
action Of tobacco Is topical as regards the
nerves, the af1erent radices being first acted
upon. and when these are brought under its
influence the centers being affected from the
periphery. In short, We incline to think to-
bascE Is n not aSsSfosd or II It be- Its action is
peripheral sedative, like cocaine, and produces
It's general effects, as cocoa stops the sense of
the central efiects being secondary, and to-
to purses thi. subject further. We incline
have as yet unsupported value therapeuticallv,
II we can only arrive at a correct notion OF the
duced and then determine how to use it, Great
good would result from the recognition OF to-
bacco as a drug, If only because then its abuses
chloroform and other anesthetics were discov-
cred, the use OF tobacco as potent sedative to
ts, I'm sae IN sn ana to faei
pedient. 1t was speedily Abandoned when bet
ter Supplying agents were provided. It would,
ton Of the agent more closely instead OF throw.
Ing 1t wholly aside.