Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-03
QUERIES & ANSWERS.
IS THE USE OF TOBACCO INJURIOUS
1OTHE HUMAN SvSTEMi
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To he Eiitor of The Disnntch,

To oe Editor Of The Dispatch
lst. Does any Church. North or elsewhere,
refuse admission to those who use TO-
bacco?
II so, in what States and Churches!
I'd. DO you think the opposition 70 its
use has brought down prices any,
Sd. DO medical men generally Denevo
the use of tobacco TO be beneh ciai OF H.
juriousf
The Methodist Episcopal Church, North.
positively refuses to admit to the itineran.
ministry any man who being In the hapi.
will not promise to discontinue the use Oh
tobacco forthwith. There is no such RUE
in regard to the laity. The Church South
has no such rule and never will have,
it may be safely predicted. some. ihoeeu
many. OF the most prominent ministers III
this section OF the Church smoke freely.
From the unanimity of the northern Church
it may be that the attempt Will be some
day made to extend the present RUE 10
the laity.
A the use of tobacco is greatly on the
increase there is no reason to conclude
that the "low price" Is any evidence
of active opposition, but it may be due 10
competition and other causes. The trade
increases the use of tobacco by making
the cigarette. which can be bought tor q
cent or less each. There has been for some
time decline in the chewing OF tobacco,
but decided increase in smoking NO
business in this city Is so active as the
tobacco business. The trade IS being
widely extended.
There is but one opinion among medical
men as to the fact that tobacco is most
deadly poison. 1t has often killed the I'M
initiated very quickly. But as many thou-
sand doctors use tobacco 1t would be hard
to get from them an unprejudiced opinion
on the subject There is one remarkable
fact. however, against tobacco, and that
il that no man was ever found who would
advise healthy young man to use 1t. Inc
human system is so wonderfully made that
il can tolerate after awhile this and many
other deadly poisons, but the fact OF this
federation is no evidence at all that the
drug is innocent. There are thousands OF
men, especially feshy men, who declare
positively that tobacco does them no
harm. 1t does, however. in multltudes
impair the powers of digestion, and many
are compelled to discontinue It's use. III
also plays havoc with nervous people, ana
there is no question that some cases OF
heart failure" now SO common, are due
TO 1t. A notable case occurred IN this city
lately. Tobacco is an incubus upon the d.
gestion, impairing the appetite, and TINS
can be proven without the least difficulty.
Almost every one who ceases to use 1t
finds his appetite increase rapidly.
With these facts well established the
conclusion seems very fair that III the
main it must shorten life. 1t is next to
alcohol In this respect. The very moderate
use of the latter is less damaging, we
think, than the moderate use OF the
former. The one Is q stimulant rapidly
eliminated by the skin and kidneys; the
other is q sedatiye and much more pro-
longed in its action. 1t is probable that
thousands Of tobacco-users are not con-
scious of its very gradual facilitating
effects upon their nervous system. They
become accustomed to lower form OF
vitality and forget the gradual loss OF
the elasticity and energy of former years.
Tobacco, it seems has come TO stay. Man
will have some artificial stimulant and Sc
datve, or calmer, and tobacco seems more
popular than any of its predecessors. 1t
IS fact we discovered upon investigation
some years ago that most persons, almost
all, learn the use Of tobacco under fifteen
years of age and that its use is largely the
result of the desire in the boy to be like
the man. No doctor. we think, would adj
wise a young man to use tobacco. 1t has
sometimes been recommended for tooth
ache, and its sedatiye effects would favor
this opinion.