The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-05-09

| ol lHS 4>C" SdoliC Souuly SonNSu-
tion of W. c. Il. U., held at New
port, on April IS, 1900:
"Of course the w. c. T. U. wo-
men have heard paper after paper
read in our different conventions
and sometimes get tired out; but
friends, haze patience with me
while | read my shortpaper. This
is new work to me and it is only
by searching and studying this
subject from books and information
from Our National Superintendent
that | am able to give you this
paper. l thought when they ap-
pointed me superintendent of this
department it had as little work in
it as any department they could
give me; but when began reading
and studying what narcotics in
cluded, | thought my department
the most important and leading
quite as many to the grave as al
cohol and | wondered where would
stop if l commenced on paper or
talk on the subject. Certain drugs
which benumb the body, relieve
pain and produce sleep, are cal led
narcotics. Such drugs are power
full and dangerous when taken i'm
properly. The narcotics used most
frequently to oprodue sleep are opium
and morphine. Tobacco is a mar.
cotlc but is not used to prod uce
sleep. Alcohol is narcotic when
used in large quantities; this is
seen in a very pronounced manner
in the heavy sleep which occurs in
dead drunkenness. Tobacco is one
of the narcotics which l wish to
speak OF. 1t is a leaf of a plant
grown in the United States and va
rious countries. It is not discov-
cry OF recent date. 1t was used bv
the American Indians when Colum.
bus landed. 1t was introduced in
to France in 1860 and into England
by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1886. 1t
consists of about 7 per cent. of nico-
tine, deadly poison, the most
deadly poison in the world except
prussic acid. A small quantity
taken from an old pipe will produce
death. One drop will kill a cat.
The nicotine extracted from the to.
bacco raised in one year would kill
all life on the globe. One pound of
tobacco contains nearly 2 ounces of
this poison or enough to kill 300
men. One billion of dollars is spent |
every year by the world for tobacco.
That is more than is spent alto
gether in the United States for
bread, christian missions, public
educ alton, boots and shoes and all
cotton goods. This amount in sill
YER dollars. if laid touching one an
other, would make a line %. 604
miles long and would reach from
New York to San Francisco nine
times or nearly once around
the world. The effects of tobacco
upon the body are changed by
habit There is great difference
between the effects produced at
first and those which follow after
the body has become accustomed to
it. When first used and to those
unaccustomed to it, tobacco pro-
duces dizziness, headache, sick
ness atthe stomach, vomiting, weak
ness and trembling. After a time
the system usually becomes accus-
toned to itsuse 1t acts with some
persons as 4 mild narcotic having
quieting effect upon the mind. But
this soothing effect is not produced
in every user of tobacco. Quite a
large number are made uncomfort-
able in any form even In the small.
est quantity and never succeed in
becoming accustomed to it. It is
quite certain that great many in.
dividuals are injured by it and
cause decided injnry. Quite a num-
ber OF men suffer from the effects of
tobacco and consequently from TO-
bacco poisoning. There is some
difference OF opinion as to whether
The moderate use OF tobacco in
grown persons who appear to be
influenced bv it, is injurious. But
,ven those who contend that many
adults are not injured by the mod
.rate use Of tobacco, are unani-
nous in stamping it as one Of the
most poisonous and injurious prac-
ices when indulged in by the young
md growing persons. 1t checks
heir growth, weaHens the body
md lmpairs both muscular, and
mental activity. Of this there can
'e no doubt. | said to a prominent
not long ago, who had
igar IN his mouth, 4 thought YOU
would be a good person to give me
ome items or instructions in writ
ng 4 paper on narcotics; but you
would favor tobacco from all ap-
'earances. He said, mo indeed,
do not. think it injurious to the
'oung in many ways. 1t weakens
he brain, units them for MANY
prominent positions and l wish all
o be done to prevent them from
sing it in any form. but it is a j
abit with me and l cant see that
has injured me-" Some of the ,,
tates have wisely passed laws for. ,
idding the sale oftobacco to young l
eople. Fortv-two states have
igarettc laws forbidding the sale {
0 minors. Dakota has law for {
dding the manufacture of cigar. 9
ties. Our own state has passed
his law, which is called the anti
cigarette Law as follows: 1t is un-
awful to sell, give to, purchase or I
rocure for, or furnish to any mi !
or under seventeen years Of age, t
igarettes or cigarette paper Pen Il
lty, a fine of not more than 800 or 9
Imprisonment for not more than
lonths or both. l wish all local
uperintendents of narcotics would