The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-25
The VIRTUES OF TOBACCO
AN OH MEDICAL PRACTITIONER
SAYS THEY NUMEROUS.
Ii Soothes, Gains and Comforts Man
kind, Not Only Physically, but
Mentally and Morally.

their hatred of tobacco would make OF
Nfcots weed a scapegoat for all the sins OF
mankind. Societies have been founded
against the abuse of tobacco, but that is
only a hypocritical euphemism to prevent
its use. However good their intent, such
societies have no beneficial influence upon
p.ankind from a hygienic point of view,
because they are conducted along the wrong
lines by intolerant and dyspeptic bigots.
They exaggerate the evil, and all exaggera-
ton renders the subject thus distorted in
significant. 1t is always so with temper
ance societies, instead of restricting them
selves to the p~raiseworthy programme of
checking the abuse of alcohol they carry
their crusade into other fields and go so
far as to demand the determination of vine
yards and the destruction of orchards. 1t
Is always wise to allow human nature some
freedom, for, as Pechollier says, Phil
anthe touches the heart more readily than
Alceste." To allow the moderate use of to-
bacco is TO gain authority to control its
abuse. Tea, coffee. and even water are not
without their danger if one exceeds the
limits of moderation, but who would speak
of suppressing these necessities of life?
But, somebody says, tobacco is a drug.
II has been used for a long time in medi-
cine, and If 1T is seen no longer on the
druggists shelves it is because the tobacco
merchant has usurped the business. But is
it not also true that alcohol, coffee, tea,
even sugar were, for a long time, sold as
drugs before they became a part of the
grocer's stock in trade; in fact, there is
a proverb, can apothecary without sugar."
who must have been a very poor apothe-
cary in his time. The very argument that
tobacco is a drug is an indisputable proof
that il is of value in sustaining health.
Independently speaking, 1t is more or less
calmative, like it's closely allied relatives,
belladonna and hyosciamus, all being men,
bers of the great and noble family of
solanacae, or, as Michelet has called them,
'the eomforters."
If tobacco was a dangerous poison its
effects would be especially noticeable in the
manufactures. where the continual emana-
tions would seriously affect the health of
the working people. AS a fact. medical in
vestigation showed that working in to-
bacco is almost %innocuous; women and chill
dren live as it were. in beds of tobacco,
and their average sickness is less than in
many other trades far less healthful.
Strange to say, among these workmen
VI "a iStblC oAO 1oANt
to speak truly. these are the most serious
and the most marked evil consequences of
tobacco in smokers. Irregularity and pal
pitation of the heart. tendency to acute car
diac disturbances and angina pectoris, it
must be confessed, quite frequently occur
in those who smoke strong cigars TO excess,
and these accidents cease to occur only with
the cessation of the use which has induced
-. - a.. aimee l.. not C,tf
fcient.
AS for morphine, alcohol and other poi
sons. so with tobacco. it is usually necessary
TO gradually wean the subject from the
habit to avoid serious disturbances in
health. Hygienic measures should be in
stituted. and light cigars, or pipes with a
long stem, be used. These precautions
counteract at least four-ffths of the in
furious results of tobacco. But in case of
heart disturbance it is necessary TO epforcs
immediate and radical disuse OF smoking.
In fact, as is true CT coffee, tea, alcohol,
etc, smoking tobacco is a slow poison. even
If it does not affect the nervous system in
so pronounced a degree as other poisons of
the intellect. 1t possesses, on the other
hand, the power of rendering this miser-
able life endurable to many. Stacking is
TIE first desire and the supreme pleasure
Of the convalescent; when a sick man asks
to smoke it is a favorable sign which has
due weight with the doctor in the ~EroSncsis.
II is perhaps the only so-called bad habit
which demands good health for its enjoy
ment.
BENEFITS IN TOBACCO.
The unbiased mind cannot deny that
there are certain benefits in the moderate
use OF tobacco. Almost every dentist
acknowledges that it has a beneficial
action upon the teeth, an action attributed
to the neutrahzing alcalinity of the smoke
and to the antiseptic qualities of nicotine
and pyridine, which destroy the vitality of
microbes which would otherwise thrive
and multiply in the mouth. Claude Bernard
further believes that the minute quantity
of prussic acid in tobacco Is vaporized and
contributes TO asepsis in the mouth.
Smoking certainly relieves the tooth
ache. and DR.. Hepburn affirms that decay
of the teeth in smokere is slow and un-
noticeable, due to a Slow. gradual NORTH
cation of the pulp of the teeth. Moreover,
the solid particles of the smoke are de-
posted upon the Expressions in the enamel
and thus preserve the teeth from decay.
In spite OF this. however. when the mu-
Gus membrane OF the mouth Is irritated
il is necessary to abstain from smoking,
otherwise the affection will be ~exagger-
ated. but it will often suffice if the irrita-
ton is decreased by the use Of less pun
gent tobacco and by cooling the smoke.
Smoking tobacco allays certain forms of
gastralgia and blunts the urgent desire for
food common in certain nervous cases, and
on the other hand its moderate use after
meals stimulates torpid digestion. This is
due, technically speaking, to an excitation
of the salivary glands which leads to a
similar excltation of the gastro-intestinal
glands. If one abuses tobacco this excita-
ton. just mentioned. is exaggerated and a
catarrh OF the stomach ensues character
lied by lack OF appetite. hatulence. cramps.
acidity, nausea and even vomiting. Still,
abuse Of tobacco has been recommended as
a medicinal treatment. Immermann, for
example, thinks il ought TO be
ed in the treatment OF obesity because il
lessons the cravings OF hunger and thirst
and would thus allow the use OF a limited
diet. but assuredly in this case the remedy
is worse than the disease.
Smoking tobacco has been recommended
in certain nervous conditions of the digest
i've tract and organs. Dujardin-Beaumetz
prescribed IL in a case Of hysteria. compli-
Gated by persistent vomiting. ordering the
patient 10 smoke a cigarette after each
meal. The vomiting ceased but always