The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-07-24
USE OF TOBACCO.
THERE IS ONE FEATURE cALcu,
LATED TO EXCITE ALARM.
What the Doctors Say in Favor OF the
Soothing Influence Of
Cigar"-Tobacco as
Medicine.
Medical and Surgical Reporter.l

are on the whole as healthy as women,
while nine out OF ten Of the male population
Of the world use tobacco, and women as q
rule abstain. In the learned professions.
about one-half Of the ministers are addicted
TO II In some form, likely three-fourths of
all physicians, and nine-tenths Of members
OF the legal fraternity.
In looking calmly at the tobacco question,
there Is one feature calculated to excite
alarm, and that is the habit Of chewing and
smoking so widely practiced among boys
This, TO young, growing boys Is unquali-
fiedly hurtful. They voluntarily endure
the first disagreeable effects of the to-
bacco TO acquire what they consider an
accomplishment, this habit Is finally
confirmed, and with an entire ignorance Of
its powers, added to o tendency to immod-
GRAFTON, the growth and Development Is
often seriously interfered with, and the
worst results follow. They smoke and chew
generally the worst tobacco, and to a de-
gree which would positively be harmful
with the majority Of adults. This matter
should be corrected by proper action Of our
legislators, with whom the responsibility
rests.
Smoking, when done at proper times, ia
cilitates digestion. The sense Of relief OBJ
tanned by q cigar, after a heavy meal, Is
well known to smokers. Dyspepsia some-
times follows the discontinuance Of tobacco,
and is removed when the habit Is resumed.
While the abuse Of tobacco wsakens the
system and leads to emaciation. used intelli-
gently it exerts a favorable influence upon
nutrition.
Hammond, by observation upon himself,
found q gain in weight with the use Of to-
bacco Fiske attributed an increase OF
twenty-four pounds in three months to to-
bacco. Tobacco, when the food is sufficient
to preserve the weight, increases it; when
insufficient, and the body is losing tobacco
restrains the loss" (Hammond). Boerhaave,
OF Holland, over 200 years ago referred to
tobacco as being antidotal to hunger. II
seems that the power to undergo severe ex.
ertion and fatigue, either mental or physi.
cal, Is aided by tobacco. soldiers Of all
nations use it 1t was q standing injunction
of Napoleon that his troops should have to-
bacco. and it was Of great advantage in the
retreat from Moscow. Fiske}. During our
late war the soldier would be patient under
very severe privations II he but had good
supply Of tobacco to smoke or chew, and
when on picket duty would risk his life to
strike match for his pipe.
Situations of loneliness are always rem
dered more tolerable by tobacco, and ID Is
the constant companion OF those who lead
lives OF solitude, such as that Of the herds.
men and ranchmen A feeling Of unrest or
discomfort, made up of ill defined longings,
Of imaginary disappointmcnts, and unpleas-
ant anticipations. commonly known az
ennui, is responsible for much unhappiness.
This unfortunate condition Of mind
is removed by the soothing influence
Of q cigar, and tho moroseness and
gloom are quickly dispelled. As much
Of every day il filed up with care, our de-
grees Of comfort in this life will depsnd
largely upon our ability to bear 1t uncem.
plainingly. That tobacco assists US to do
this, that IL enables us to look upon life
more complacently, must be the conclusion
Of everyone who has experienced its infiu-
euce. That it enables Us to toll with less
fatigue, Is equally true. The readiest
writers generally use tobacco, and cannot
accomplish the same amount OF work In the
same time without it, and those connected
with newspaper and other literary work,
who have often to write against time, find
1t Of inestimable value.
Tobacco formerly enjoyed deserved rep
utation as a medicinal agent, and was ex.
tensively used in scabies and other cuta-
neous disorders 1t has been largely sup
planted, however, IN monefn prdctlcc, W
other remedies. The use OF tobacco during
q mercurial course decreases the risk Of sali-
vation. and cases of ptyalism have been re-
ported cured by its employment Before
'yhe discovery Of chloroform, tobacco served
q useful purpose in the hands Of the surgeon
In cases of strangulated hernia for obtaining
complete relaxation. Tobacco constitutes
most valuable addition to the ordinary poul-
tice in local painful affections In two
eases OF carcinoma of the breast, by incor-
porating it in q local application, a marked
advantage was noticed by the writer In the
relief of pain. As an ingredient In asth-
matics, cigarettes with belladona, stra-
monium. etc, it is entitled to share In the
remedial effect
The limited medicinal range Of tobacco Is
unimportant In comparison with ft' social
and psychical influences Among its many
beneficent powers IL appears to sllay worry
and tighten toll. It is an aid to mental
work, and a help to reflection and COM
placency 1t promotes sociability, and in
the words Of one of its champions "makes q
man act more like Samaritan"