The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-05-26
physiological effects of the active

sorbed during the act of smoking,
we could obtain these active prin-
ciples in pill or tablet form and ad-
minister them much more cheaply,
accurately, and efficiently than by
the act of smoking.
Yet who would be satisfied with
4 tablet containing his usual dose
of nicotine instead of his satisfy
ing after-dinner cigar? What SOL
der awaiting the order to advance
would be soothed and calmed by
nicotine pill instead of his friendly
cigarette?
The pleasure effect begins even
before the cigar o, cigarette is
lighted. The smoker carefully Sc
.ects and inspects mis- cigar, and the
p. SEPARATION Of the tobacco for
smoking receives much attention.
III! these things reflect the state of
mind of the individual Then the
sound of the lighting match the
sight of the curling smoke and the
glowing tip, the aroma Of the burn
.ng leaf, the familiar taste, The
;ouch and feel of the cigar or cigar
. tie; all of these factors combine
o produce the pleasurable effect.
The appeal is not to one sense
but to all the senses and the psychic
effect resulting from this stimula-
tion of the senses is far more i'm
portant to the smoker than the
effect of the nicotine
absorbed.
The increased pulse rate and
blood pressure noted in
some cases following the use of to-
bacco and ascribed by investiga-
tors along this line to nicotine abb
sorbed, are not conductive to pleas
urable sensations or the part of the
concerned, and we are
safe in assuming that it is not for
this effect that he mdulges in to-
bacco.
The effects which appeal more to
the smoker are soothing, sedative
tending toward relaxation content
ment, and mental rest. He appears
less acutely aware of his own short
comings and more tolerant of the
shortcomings of his associates.
The practice of smoking was OBJ
served by the companions of Co.
lum5us on their first voyage, 1t was
first introduced into Spain by some
of the followers of Columbus on
his second voyage, who returned
about 1912. Introduced into the
British Isles about 1860, it was not
until 1856 that the plant and its
use were widely known and that
Raleigh distinguished himself by
growing tobacco on his estate and
smoking publicly.
From Spain and England the use
cf tobacco spread by degrees over
all the known world. In America
the culture of tobacco began in
Virginia with the earliest settle
ment of the colony.
James l. was particularly bitter
in his denunciation of the use of
tobacco.
1t is an historical fact that both
James l., Charles l., and Charles II,
as we'll as Cromwell had the strong
est dislike of the Indian weed and
lost no opportunity to suppress its
cultivation and use.
Pope Urban VIII, excommunica-
ted all who took snuff in church.
Christian w, of Denmark had all
smokers and snuffers publicly
whipped.
The Chinese and Japanese puni-
shed smokers by whippings and
maimings.
The Russian rulers cut off noses,
and the Turks stuck pipes through
the noses of smokers and exhibited
the victims in public. Amurath ",
of Turkey beheadcd every one
found guilty of smoking.
In spite of such powerful foes,
the custom increased to such an OK
tent that when William ascend the
throne, it was said to be almost uni