The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-09-18
The Use of Tobacco.

Inc use OF lODaccO Il not sutll Il
horrible thing if it be kept within
bounds. 1t might almost be.said to
be beneficial. There is no good rea-
son why its USE should not be mod
crate.
Let us see what the medical books
say about the effects of tobacco. The
first thing which strikes one is that
tobacco has little or no effect on the
brain. Smokers generally suppose
that it soothes the brain, and fana-
tics say it stupehes. However, it docs
neither. On the nervous system its
action is upon that part which is
under the control of the spinal cord
1t is soothing and it is Supplying
but not to the brain. Everything
that is soothing in moderation is
Supplying in excess; it is only a
matter of quantity.
The worst effect of tobacco, when
smoked, is that it depresses the
hearts action, and this may produce
an irrited condition of this organ,
known as tobacco heart Another
is that it retards development and
should therefore never be used by
youths
Those who chew the weed gel the
worst of the bargain, for this reason:
There is always going on in the
body system Of waste and repair.
The waste is carried away by the
natural channels and by perspira-
ton. Those who chew stimulate the
salivary glands to such activity that
some of the work of the kidneys is
actually performed by these glands,
a thought which, to say the least is
not pleasant.
On the other hand. tobacco is an
aid to digestion. 1t causes the coats
of the intestines to contract and i'm
proves their tone. Smokers daily
experience this when, after meal
if they should feel uncomfortable,
cigar soon brings about ii feeling of
comfort and satisfaction.
But here again comes in the mat
ter Of excess. Nicotine is a.nearly
colorless fluid, which is reduced to
crystals with difficulty. 1t has
strong odor Of tobacco, Il burning
taste, and is extremely poisonous
A half ounce of tobacco is said to
contain enough nicotine to prove
fatal. To be sure, smokers only get
Il small portion Of this into their
systems, but it is this poison which
affects those who smoke to excess or
those who are growing, are nervous
or have a tendency to heart disease
Such should never smoke at all.
There are so many instances of
men and women who have been
habitual tobacco users who have
lived to unusual ages that the pre-
else amount Of damage done by the
fragrant weed is difficult to deterime.
As medicine tobacco was used
Ill former years to considerable ex-
tent, but more recently it has fallen
into disuse because Of the large
number Of deaths resulting from its
internal administration. 1t is a use
full remedy for local application, as
1t relaxes spasm and alleviates pain.
but there are many remedies which
do better and are not as dangerous
1t is sometimes used as a remedy in
poisoning by strychnine, as its
action is directly opposed to that of
strychnine, and it is also used in
lockaw. For poisoning by tobacco
alchol is a good remedy, which is the
reason men can smoke so much while
drinking alcoholic beverages. AS
poison nicotine is so virulent that
death ensues almost instantly. A
cese is reported of Il man WHO COM
mitted suicide by taking an un-
known amount. lie fell immedi-
ately to the floor, sighed deeply, and
inside of three minutes was dead