The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-05

not inaptly be called snuff drunkards.
They moisten and roll a ball or big wad
of snuff, which they tuck away in the
cheek where they gently masticate ii. In
this way they consume a large amount of
the weed daily. The most inveterate to-
nacco chewer of the sterner sex finds that
use of the drug in the more well-known
forms. and yet women chew in this man
ner day in and day out.
EASILY OBTAINED.
Snuff users find little difficulty in supply
ing their needs. The drug is kept in all
manufacturing towns and cities, at the
apothecary, grocery and notion stores, as
well as at tobacconists. The salt Scotch,
fine, light brand, is about the only kind
in demand for dipping purposes, and the
amount sold in any given mill city or town
is pretty fair gauge of the prevalence
of the habit. Dealers with a large trade
keep 1t puta1p in small packages, one-half
and one-ounce packages, that retail for
and 10 cents, respectively. Where compe-
tition is lively cut rates prevail. and it can
be purchased as low as or cents per
ounce. and good quality, too. In recent
years it has been put up in small tins like
tobacco.
1t is an interesting experience to stand
in a store in a mill town when the old
brazen bell announces the noon hour or
the closing OF the days work. Soon the
snuif clippers begin to arrive. They come
slngly, by twoS and in little groups, some
with brazen effrontery and coarse laughter,
others with wan faces and tired limbs. 1t
needs no expert to pick out those who have
just begun the formation of the injurious
habit and those who have long Travelled
the road. There are girls of fifteen and
women of fifty. All have one common pur-
RGose-to buy snuff The clerk knows them.
Ihey march to the counter deposit their
or ~ cents. as the case may be. and receive
IN return their packages. Seldom is it nee
eSsary to speak a word either on the part
Of the buyer or the seller. The purchasers
storekeeper knows what they want. Girls
seldom ask for snuff; the beginner usually
goes with a friend and by the time she
goes alone she is we'll known.
Life has but little sunshine for that I'M
fortunate dealer who has been prevailed
upon to change the brand of snuff he has
been regularly dealing out to his custom
ers. Dippers develop a fine taste. and they
are quick to detect any change in their
daily rationS. If the dealer has been sup
plying them with Smiths goods, he will
very likely continue doing SO, and the
line of Joness goods, however good they
may be, will need winter overcoat and
fur gloves. But, allowing that a dealer
does change his goods Well after one
NIT that life is hardly worth living To be
JaWed" by scores of irate mill girls isn't
kick he is quite likely to lose the greater
part of his customers.
How much snuff is dipped in Massachu-
serts every year? That is a hard question
to answer with exactness, but an approx
mate result can be obtained, sufficiently
close Tor general purposes, In Fall River
Lowell dealers dispose of from twenty to
Twenty-Five tons yearly. Lawrence finds a
These figures are not a matter Of guess
work but are based on the statements of
the Leading men in the trade. And the list
inlSnC De extended to every mill city and
town In the State, and the same results
would be shown.
If one is of a statistical turn of mind II
might be interesting to figure out the num-
Der iof ounce packages sold in a year. six
teen to the pound, also the cost at 10 cents
per package. And this money is spent by
class who can i'll afford it,
EVIL EFFECTS OF DIPPING.
But the disagreeable features and the ex-
pensiveness of the habit are not it's most
serious aspect. How does it affect the
physical and mental being? Let a physi-
clan in one Of the larger cities of the State
answer. He numbers among his patients
scores OF these poor unfortunates He
says: 1.-THE pathological effects of the per-
nicious habit are most serious, especially
so to girls in their teens. The outward
signs are not particularly noticeable in
moderate dippers, but in confirmed users a
redness of the eyelids, a dullness of the
pupil of the eye, or, in other words, a
bleary appearance a muddy skin and an
Inflammation about the nose are, one or
more of them, always apparent. In gen.
eral the use of snuff gives low nervous
tone to the whole system, and leaves the
victim more liable to take disease and less
able to battle against it when once stricken
down. Snuff dipperS-that is, inveterate
users-are always suffering from catarrh.
Troubles of the heart, dyspepsia and other
stomachic disorders diseases of the throat
and nervous complaints can all be directly
traced to the use of snuff. To one predis-
posed to heart trouble, death may come
at any moment. The evil effects of this
vice cannot be set forth too strongly"
If these evil effects were fully explained
to the girls could they not be induced to
break off the habit?"
In investigating this subject some rather
curious features have been discovered
One is the impression-and that, too,
among those who are in a position to know
that the habit is much less common than
ten or more years ago. Were it not for
the fact that the sales of snuff in mill
cities and towns are as large now as ever,
one might accept this conclusion. But peo-
pie who buy snuff buy it to use. 1t is a
fact. however, that for some reason, and
there seems to be a reasonable eXplana-
ton the public sees less of it than it did
dozen years ago. There is a public sem
timent against the practice, the church OPP
poses 1t, the rules of the mills are more
strict. and many business men, especially
druggists disguised with the trade, have
made it known that they care nothing for
the custom. But in spite of all these in
huenceS the enormous sales of snuff in mill
towns. of particular brands of snuff sell
dom used for any other purpose than dip
ping or chewing" go to show that the
disgusting habit is as common now as
ever, only it is practiced more in secret.