Morning journal and courier., 1888-09-11

the mental powers, collapsed. There are a few people whom no amount of care and skill exercised in the taking of tobacco, nor any moderation in the dose used, can save from unmistakable poisoning whenever they indulge in it." Dr. Phillips states that ''fa- tai results have not infreguently followed the administration of the deooction of tobacco in enema" A lunatic who swallowed an ounce or an ounce and half of crude to- bacco "became suddenly insensible and mo- tionless, with all the muscles relaxed, very feeble respiration and pulse, strong contrac- tior of the pupils, and Oater on) violent te- tan1c convulsions and profuse purging, with blood and mucus." He died seven or eight hours after taking the tobacco; and the post mortem examination revealed "eongestion of the brain, the nedulla oblongata and the pons varolii."
 The physiological effects of nicotine-the alkaloid prepared from tobacco-are nearly those of tobacco solution, but in 8 more powerful form. An example of its most de- cided action is offered by the case of the vic- tim of Count Bocarne, who was poisoned with nicotine, and was believed to have died in less than five minutes; and by case of suicide recorded by Taylor, in which the al- kaloid proved fatal in from three to five min utes.
 The habitual use of tobacco in the years before and immediately succeeding the de- velopment of puberty has most prejudieial influence. There can be no question that more than anything, except drinking, it hlnders the growth and development of the higher nervous centers, and that both intel- lect and moral character are capable of being most seriously damaged by the depressing agency continuously exerted during the de- Velopmental period. From 8 comparison of different reports it appears that in the most swiftly fatal cases the action of the poison has been almost entirely expended upon the nervous system and heart.
 ROULETTE AT SARATOGA. How the wheel of Chance Has Sup
 planted Poker.
 From the New York Graphic.l
 The game is easily comprehended. The wheel, poised in center of the table, is given whirl one way. The ball ia rolled the other upon the outer and upper groove of the wheel. In 6 few moments the revolving wheel overoomes the rolling momentum of the ball in the opposite direction and the ball drops down into one of thirty eight little compartments. Thirty-six of these are num- bered from one upwards. Two are designat- ed and co. Seventeen of the little compart- ments are painted black and sventeen are rcd. On each side of the wheel is painted on a large scale the plan of the game.
 The "percentage," as chances in favor of the house are called, is in the Thought and
 
 compartmant marked "0," or the one marked "00," the board is swept clean for the house. The player has the choice of a variety of bets. He may put hls stake one one of the thirty six numbers, and if the ball drops in the com pertinent of that number he receives thirty two times the amount of his bet.
 He may lay his bet on the line so that 1t will cover two numbers, and if either wins he receives sixteen times his bet.
 He may cover the intersection of two lines and thus reach TOUT numbers, any one of which winning will return him eight times his bet.
 He may bet on black or red and double his money if he wins.
 He may bet the ball will fall upon an odd an even number with the same result.
 He may bet the winning number will fall in any one one of the three columns of num- Der and win two to one.
 He may bet on the winning number falling between and IS, or between 19 and 36, and double his money.
 Betting on odd or even, or black or red, and on the first eighteen or second eighteen numbers, the player would have the same chance as the house to win but for the Thought and dauble nough." This is the ad- vantage which pays for the maintainance of the magnificent club house, and which ena- bles the proprietor to be one of the most lib- era1 givers to all public enterprises, and at the same time to pocket big profit.
 There is something sinular about this in- creasing popularity at rouette at Saratoga. Is it because of 8 foreign origini Much aping If things aboard is to be seen here in other ways besides gambling. Perhaps this is 8 partial explanation But whether it is or no, the fact remains that the wheel of chance has snpplanted the naticnrl game of poker American Spa, and that ten times as much money is made or lost on the turn of the wheel as changes hands at any other game in