The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-08-12

non narcotic articles belong does not so act, NJ
all events primarily. In the one class the intel.
lect- judgment, and morale are perverted in the
other the thinking power and moral sense are
on the whole, comparatively little and not at all
directly affected.
Is there q tobacco inebrietyf There Il nc
doubt that tobacco, through the nervous sys-
TEN. contracts the capillaries, making the face
pale and the skin cold. and there Is subsultus
and general muscular RIGHTEOUSNESS while the
heart labors TO force on the supply Of blood until
its own vascular system goes under the influence
Of the narcotic. Then the stomach involuntar-
lily contracts and sometimes active convulsions
ensue as In tetanus. Alcohol, on the other hand,
from It's relaxing power over the nervous sys-
tenn. sets free the heart. reduces the muscular
power, and counteracts the tobacco. The most
effective antidote for nicotine poisoning, how
ever, 10 coffee. 1t ia well known that enormous
quantities Of tobacco have been used with APP
parent impunity by seasoned smokers, and
so completely does tho system seem TO
tolerate IL in some cases that the
story Is told Of . SMOKER so in
veterate that his valet had orders every morn
ing to light q cigar and place II between his
masters teeth, in order that the devotee Of the
weed might wake with the proper taste in his
mouth. II Is certain, nevertheless. as we have
said. that tobacco in excess-the quantity which
can be called excess varying with the suscepti-
bility of the user-is q fertile cause of heart
troubles. dyspepsia. debility. loss Of vision, and
various other serious mischiefs. Yet It is widely
different in action from alcohol and the other
intoxicants which are considered In this book.
Nodeeds Of crime or violence are laid to its
charge. Neither does IL seem TO give rise to
mental Or moral perversion. as does alco-
hol, and as opium and other anesthetio mar
cotics do in a less degree. That tobacco
has a powerful influence on the nervous sys-
tenn is undisputed; DR.. Kerr cites the case OF an
abstainer from alcohol who trembled like a man
with delirium tremens every morning till he had
a pipe to steady him. Even in this case, how
ever, there was no moral or mental alteration.
The craving for tobacco has never been known
80 Irresistible as to make q smoker pawn his
wife's clothes or so utterly deprive his family Of
bread as to kill them by starvation in order to
satisfy his longing. or to commit a criminal Of
fence against the person, a thing often witnessed
in alcoholic, opiate. and other forms Of inebri-
ETY.. Thus, although no defender Of tobacco,
which, It cannot be denied. is q mere luxury. in
furious to the health Of many, even when used
in moderation. the author is driven to the con-
clusion that, in the philosophical and practical
sense, there is no true tobacco inebriety or
mania. THERE'S undoubtedly q tobacco habit. but
except in cases of insanity. the general mental
or moral powers are not deeply affected
There are some persons who indulge to .
considerable excess in coffee drinking. and
many more who go TO even greater excess
in the use OF tea. II has, accordingly, been
commended by some abstainers from these two
substances that they ara capable OF gen.
Grating a form OF inebriety corresponding TO
etherism. Unquestionably. incorporate tea and
coffee drinking will give rise to serious mis-
chief. The inordinate consumer OF strong tea
may become a dyspeptic wreck, q ~sleepless hypo-
chOndriAc, with y decrepit nervous system, tho
victim OF a deep, intense melancholy, with, In
some cases, a suicidal tendency. The immod-
crate indulger in coffee, black and strong, may
lose all appetite for healthy food, eat little. suffer
from tremors. acute neuralgia and other pains.
excessive thirst, aRonizing headache. and a
feeling of intolerable dryness andIheat. He may
become pinched and emaciated, have a feeble
circulation, and a constant fear Of falling. with
a blurred vision, as II looking through light
brownish media. These. however. are the
symptoms OF tea and coffee poisoning. They
bear witness, 50 To speak, TO theme and caffeine
intoxication, minus.the anesthesiaa and paralysis
OF alcoholic drunkenness. DIR. Kerr. in his prac-
tice. has never seen an uncomfortable craving
for tea or coffee TO which all natural affections
and duties were subordinated. He Is. therefore.
unable to recognize these phases Of excessive
drinking as manifestations OF n~Arcomania, the
disease which is characterized by an overpower-
ing impulse TO intoxication at all risks.
Nv.
How should the Legislature deal with non
criminal inebriates2 The author insists that
confirmed inebrlates ought not TO be consigned
10 a lunAtic asylum, even IL the law pronounced
them insane. The association would be perilous.
for the mad and for the drunkards. This is
recognized in the United Kingdom by the In
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