The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-25
and in this way tends TO establish
nal freedom.
DESTROYS PARASITES.

| Trousseau says that the parasitic power
| of tobacco is beyond dispute. Tobacco
| smoke is obnoxious 10 mosquitoes, mice
and other vermin. 'Bouchardet claims that
tobacco preserves the workmen from the
itch. Parent-Duchatele contends that IL
protects workmen in epidemics, stating
that tobacco workers in Lyons have been
kept free from typhoid fever. at Morlaix
from dysentery. at Tonnets from military
fevers. at Seville from cholera Jadls,
Willis and Diemerbroeck claim the same
protective influence in the plague. Pechol-
lier claims that in our own day tobacco
smoke is n most powerful destroyer OF
microbes. He says for a long time this
herb of all evil has been recognized as a
preservative against intestinal worms and
parasitic insects. More than this Pechol-
lier remarks that anatomists smoke pipes;
hunters regard tobacco as the best pre-
servative against intermittent fever, while
Vieomte Simeon proved that, in a certain
degree. it checks the development of
phthisis.
a military writer recommends the use OF
tobacco in the barracks and in camp as a
protection against morbifc carnations,
and in some cases it's use is ordered by the
authorities. Tobacco surely prevents
putrefaction and infections by miasm.
Robin has shown pieces of meat preserved
four months in perfect condition after
prolonged exposure to tobacco smoke.
Dutch physicians believe that to the use
of tobacco the prevention of malaria is
largely due. In fact, without being al
absolute antiseptic, the action of tobacco
smoke is one of the least injurious and the
least disagreeable methods of preventing
infection, the elements of the smoke pene-
trating the digestive and respiratory pas
sages. which are the principal doors for
the entrance of morbifc germs.
Bourgon believes that tobacco smoke
prevents infection by influenza, the smoke
in this case acting as a screen preventing
moist cold air from reaching the lungs
directly and also e~xerting a special soda
tive influence upon the nervous system.
which plays an important part in the de-
velopment and complication of the grip.
Be that as it may, observation shows that
in epidemics of the grip smokers form a
small percentage of those afflicted. In the
South, physicians claim that great smok-
ers enjoy a relative immunity TO yellow
! fever.
Tassinara, who has experimental upon
culture of microbes, concludes that tobacco
smoke seriously lowers the vitality of the
germs of disease, and Israel and virchow
have corroborated these statements.
Shift affirms that employees in bacteriolog-
zeal laboratories should not be allowed to
smoke, for if they do the culture Of bacilli
will be materially prevented. Hejeck, of
Vienna, believes that the reason that
diphtheria is three times more common in
women than in men is because women do
not smoke. Walkenberg has shown that
the cholera bacillus is quickly killed by to-
bacco smoke, and attributes this effect to
pyridine. Wenik. of Berlin, confirms these
statements, and proved them in the cholera
at Hamburg. Iankau, of Munich, has ex-
perimented with the tubercle bacillus and
finds that it loses part of it's vitality when
exposed to tobacco smoke, and for this
reason tobacco should not be denied to
consumptives Except when there is spit
ting of blood, especially in certain severe
climates, since the smoke is a sort of pro-
tecting mask against the deleterious in
f~iuences of fog and cold upon the respira-
tory passages.
y CONCILIATORY AGENT.
A philosopher has pretended that a crime
is never committed by a person with a
cigar in his mouth, and, more than that,
that a person while smoking is seldom cap
able of bad action. This is because tobacco
renders one gentle and resigned; it quiets
the tense nerves and induces a beneficial
sense Of well-being. Lady Campbell has
said that the art of smoking impresses even
the conversation with sentiments of good
will; it favors the Cancellation of enemies.
and the pipe of peace of the savages is
not allegorical, but a realism. Even more
than music tobacco hates discord; ii concil-
iates and pacihes. Nor does it appeal alone
to the sense of taste and odor; the sense
of sight shares the pleasure, as is proven
by the fact that blind men never smoke
and men blessed with eyesight seldom
smoke in the dark.
Before the use of chloroform the strange
ly sedative qualities of tobacco were en-
ployed TO lessen pain in operations and
divert the sufferers attention. General
Moreau is a historical example of this, for
he continued to smoke while both his legs
were amputated at the thigh.
Boerhave and Palmer, by smoking. have
quoted the most eXcruciating pains of neu-
ralgia, and when we see tobacco thus
soothe the spirit and divinely assuage suf-
fering we can truly say with Levy that
tobacco holds the first rank in the modera-
tors of society.
Some people assert that the sedative
action of tobacco sometimes seriously af-
fects the physical faculties, but the vigor-
Gus Oriental and Arab, confirmed smokers,
the Germans and the Swiss, and all smok-
ers prove by their physique that this is
not so.
Those who are engaged in intellectual
\ nuFSuitg seek tobacco m lesson hraip 70
tigue, inseperable from their work. and TO
stimulate the mind. Tobacco quiets the
fever of work which so often affects the
man of letters and the artist, and, as Tame
has said, it is useful in moments of intel
lectual idleness. 1t excites Imagination,
but, unfortunately. abuse follows closely
upon its temperate use. and its effects are
especially baneful upon the memory, some-
times leading to loss of memory, and even
10 a true though transitory aphasia; it
also favors reverie rather than action.
Smoking especially interferes with sys-
tematic regularity of daily work, and IA
vors in the highest degree a desire to put
off things until tomorrow. Beyond dispute
it alleviates the taedium vitae. but in caus-
ing one TO see life in roseate hues it les
sens the perception of necessary duties.
Tobacco, the opium of thought. sends to
sleep the most acute moral pain. Violent
anger fades III gentle smoke, which be-
oop,ca on apopt Of union an1 consolidation