Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1888-12-22
EFFECTS OF TOBACCO.
Cow the Weed Affects the Heart ana
Stomaoh-DanRers OF Nicotine.

49,
How the Weed Affects the Heart ano
stomaoh-Dangers OF Nicotine
Tobacco contains an acrid, dark
brown oil, an alkalOid, nicotine enc
another substance called %picotian'
inc, in which exist its odorous and
volatile principles. This description
Of the active principles Of tobacco Is OF
Importance to smokers; for, when
tobacco is burned, a new set OF sub
stances is produced, some OF which
are less harmful than the nicotine and
| are more agreeable in effect, and much
| Of the acrid ola substance quite as
irritating and poisonous as nicotine
is carried off. These tire-produced
substances are called from their origin
the ''pyridine series" BY great heat
the more aromatic and less harmful
members OF the series I produced,
but the more poisonous compounds
are generated by the slow combustion
Of damp tobacco. This oil which is
liberated by combustion is bad both
in flavor and in effect, andi is better,
even for the immediate pleasure of the
smoker, that it should be excluded
altogether from his mouth and air.
passages.
Smoking in a stub of a pipe is
particularly injurious, for the reason
that in it the oil is stored in a on
densed form, and the smoke is there
fore highly charged with the oil.
Sucking or chewing the stub of a cigar
that II is smoking is a serious
mistake, because the nicotine in the
unburned tobacco dissolyes freely in
the saliva and is absorbed. Chewing"
is on this account the most injurious
form of the tobacco habit, and the use
of a ci%gar-holder is an improvement
on the custom of holding the cigar
between the teeth, Cigarettes are
responsible for a great amount of
mischief, not because the smoke from
the paper has any particularly evil
effect, but because smokers and they
are often boys or very young men
are apt to use them continuously or at
frequent intervals, believing that their
power for evil is insignificant. Thus
the nerves are under the constant in
tiuence of the drug, and much injury
TO the system results. Moreover, the
cigarette-smoker uses a very consider
able amount OF tobacco during the
course of a day, ''Dippingn and
''snutting' are semi-barbarities which
need not be discussed. Not much eff
feet is obtained from the use of the
drug in these varieties of the habit.
Nicotine is one of the most powerful
of the nerve p%oisons" known. It's
virulence is compared to that Of prus-
sic acid. If birds be made to inhalo
its vapor in amounts too small to be
measured they are almost instantly
killed. 1t seems TO destroy life, not
by attacking a few, but all of the
functions essential to it, beginning at
the center-the heart. A significant
indication of this is that there is no
substance known which can counteract
its effects; the system either suceumbs
or survives. Its depressing action on
the heart is by far the most noticeable
and noteworthy symptom of nicotine
poisoning. The frequent existence OF
what IS known as smokers heart in
men whose health is in no other re-
spect disturbed is due to this fact.
Those who can use tobacco without
immediate injury will have all the
pleasant effects reversed, and will
from the symptoms of poisoning
+ they exceed the limits of tolerance.
These symptoms are: % The hearts
becomes more rapid when to-
bacco is used; GU palpitation, pain,
or unusual sensations in the heart: C3)
there is no appetite in the morning.
the tongue is coated, delicate navors
are not appreciated, and acid dyspep-
occurs after eating; (4) soreness
Of the mouth and throat, or nasal
catarrh, appears, and becomes very
Troublesome; 90 the eyesight becomes
poor, but improves when the habit is
abandoned; (6) a desire, often a crav-
.ng, for liquor or some other stimu-
ant. is experienced.
In ali experimental observation of
.hlrty-eight boys of all classes of
society and of average health who had
been using tobacco for periods rang
-ng from two months to two years
-wenty-seven showed severe injury to
he constitution and insufficient
growth, thlrty-two showed the exist
of irregularity of the hearts
disordered stomachs, cough
md craving for alcohol; thirteen had
ntermittency of the pulse, and one
lad consumption. After they HAD
the use of tobacco, within
Tx months time one-half were free
all their former symptoms and
he remainder had recovered by the
md OF the syear,-G W. Lyman, in
v. y. Medical journal.
artIl- IA