Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-06-07
NARCOTICS.


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Certain drugs which benumb the
body, relieve pain and produce sleep,
are called narcotics. Such drugs arc
powerful and dangerous when taken
Improperly. The narcotics used most
frequently to produce sleep are opium
aud morphine. Tobacco is a narcotic,
but is not used to produce sleep.
Alcohol is narcotic when used IN
large quantities; this IS seen In very
pronounced manner in tho heavy sleep
which occurs in dead drunkenness.
Tobacco is one of the narcotics OF
which | wish to speak. II Is the leaf
OF plant grown in the United States
and various countries. II is not dis-
covery of recent date. 1t was used by |
the American Indians when Columbus
landed. 1t was introduced into France
in 1860 and into England by Sir Walter
Raleigh In 1856. 1t cuniains about
per cont Of nicotine, IA deadly poison,
the most deadly poison in the world
except prussic acid. A small quantity
taken from an old Eipe will produce
death. One drop viii kill cat The |
nicotine extracted from the tobacco |
raised in one year would Kill all lie |
on the globe. Que pound OF tobacco |
contains nearly two ounces OF this
poison, u enough to kill 300 men. One
billion OF dollars is spent every year by
tho world for tobacco. That is more
than IS spent altogether in the United
Statos for bread, for Christian mis-.
sions, public education. boots and
shoes, and all cotton goods. This
amount In silver dollars, II laid touch
ing one another. would make line
%, 69I miles long and would reach from
New York TO San Francisco nino times
or nearly once around the world. The
effects OF tobacco upon the body are
changed by habit. There is u ar'aa
difference between the effects produced
at tir'L and those which follow after
the body has become accustomed to It,
When first used aud to those I'M
accustomed to it. tobacco produces
| dizziness, headache, sickness at tho
stomach, vomiting. weakness and
| trembling. Alter time the system
| usually becomes accustomed to lis use,
1t acts with some persons as mild
narcotic, having quieting effect upon
| the body an mind But this soothing
effect IS not rrod iced in every user Of
tobacco. Quite large number are
made uncomfortable in any form, even
in the smallest quantity, and nevor
succeed in becoming accustomed to it.
| 1t is quite certain that a great many
individuals are injured by 1t and that
1t cauRes decided injury. Quite
number of men suffer from the effects
of tobacco and consequently from
tobacco poisoning. There is some
| difference of opinion al to whether the
moderate use Of tobacco in grown per
sons, who appear to he unInfluenced
by it, is injurious. But even those
who contend that many adults are not
injured by the moderate use Of tobacco
are unanimous in stamping 1t us one
OF the most poisonous and Injurious
practices when INDUCED in by the
young and growing persons. 1t checks
their growth, weakens the body ana
impairs both muscular and mental
activity. Of this there can be no
doubt. said to prominent physician
not long ago, WIN had cigar in his
mouth, ii thought you would be a
good person to give me some items or
instructions in writing paper on mar
cotics, but you would favor tobacco
from all appearances. He said. "No,
to the young in many ways. 1t weakens
their brain, units them for many
prominent positions, and / wish all
could be dono to prevent them from
using it IN any form, but it Ia habit
with nue., aud | can't see thai it has
injured mo-" Some Of the States have
wisely passed laws forbidding the sale
of tobacco to young people. Forty-two
States have cigarette lawe forbidding
the sale to minors. Dakota has q
law forbidding the manufacture OF
cigarettes. Our own State has passed
!; this law, (which is called the Anti
Cigarette law.
1t is unlawful to sell, give, to purchase
or procure for, or furnish to any minor
under II years of age, cigarettes
or cigarette paper. Penalty: A
! fine of not more than 800 or I'M
! prisonment OF not more than three
months, or both. wish all local super
, intendents of narcotics would note
this law and see that it IS enforced.
Cigarette smoking is probably the
most injurious form of using tobacco.
They are usually made OF the poorest
! stuff. Being common and cheap, they
: are brought within the reach Of boys,
, and in this way tobacco tempts and
! sidious way. While the smoker of q
! cigar or pipe simply draws the smoke
into the mouth and then expels IL, the
cigarette smoker usually inhales il,
that is, he draws it into his lungs.
This practice is not only irritating to
+ the lungs, but much more of the
poisonous nicotine is absorbed thar
' when the smoke is simply drawn into
! the mouth and pulled out. The papsl
! with which cigarettes are made IL
another objectionable feature, its smoke
, being harsh and irritating. George
| Baumholf. superintendent of Iindel
: railway, st. Louis, says, Under nc
7 circumstances will miro man who
smokes cigarettes. He Is as dangerous
at the front end of a motor as mar
that drinks, in fact he is more danger.
Gus. His nerves are hound to give
away at u critical moment. A motor
man needs his nerves all the time and
I a oiga, cite smoker csanot stand the
strain" George florence, superin
. tendent Of Illinois State Rsfornatory
says. II am sure cigarettes are de
, stroying and making criminals OF more
! boys than the saloons. Cigarettes are
, not the effect OF crime, but they arc
4 the cause OF it,
The injurious effects of tobacco max
. show themselves in the following WAYS
The irritating effect of tobacco smoke
often CAUSES soreness OF the throa-
; kDowL as smokers sore throat. The
. irritation may extend into the lung.
u and cause cough. The appetite ma,
|. suffer and attacks of indigestion occur
There may be dizziness and faintnes.
at times. Numbers of smokers ar,
comnallad To pire I'm ar nl,,n,, =.