New Hampshire Statesman And State Journal

FOR THE N. H. STATESMAN,

THE EVILS OF THE USE OF TOBACCO ON THE HUMAN CONSTITUTION.

I was induced to report the substance of Dr. Mussey's Lecture on this subject as was mentioned in your paper last week. Having lost my notes I shall be obliged to report memoriter. It must not be expected therefore, that any thing like the lecture in full will be reported. It is now my only object, considering my circumstances to state what I learned on the subject with now and then a thought of my own, rather than to give a complete abstract of Dr. M's Lecture. I shall, however, refer to him as stating such and such things, having many of his facts and his plan I think in my mind.

The Dr. after stating the obvious truth that man was the only creature of God who sought and indulged in the consumption of things whose tendency is to kill, comes not to clover or pig-weeds but to, I imagine a worse tasted weed, though I never tasted,—Tobacco.

He gave a brief history of the plant, stating that the use of it probably originated in America. It is mentioned as being early in use. In Canada 1635, in Florida 1650, in England 1660. There was much legislation about it in those times. Popes and Priests arrayed themselves against it. Kings of England and Provincial Governors strove to prevent it. We suppose they considered it their right thus to do, and why not?—If it be right to legislate in order to prevent a spreading pestilence, why not right to legislate for the purpose of preventing that which is the cause of malady. But however much concern there was respecting this formerly and however much labor to prevent it, it is now of universal use.

The Dr. would then labor to prevent its use by throwing light before us respecting its evils, and proceeded to state respecting its effects. He told of the effects of it upon animals. One drop of the Oil of Tobacco was applied to the tongue of a Cat. It hardly survived its effects and upon the application of the second drop, in 7 minutes from the application of the first it was dead.—Horses have been killed by Tobacco-tea. But upon the human system its effects are no less marked. Three children fell into awful convulsions from the application of the flower of Tobacco mixed with butter upon their heads by their good mother. In a town near by, Dr. L. was called to a child afflicted with a ring-worm. The good mother had heard that tobacco was good for it.—The Dr. warned against the application of it, and left the child with proper directions concerning its treatment.—But just as he had arrived at a neighbor's half a mile distant, a child came running saying the patient was dying. What has been done, says the Dr. to the mother.—Why she had so much faith in what the woman had said about tobacco's being so good, that she must run her finger into the bowl of an old pipe, and rub a little of the black matter she found in the bottom upon the ring worm. It was an hour and a half before the child gave symptoms of recovery. These facts the Dr. mentioned, not merely to shew the evil effects of Tobacco, but to shew how quick and powerful was its action.

Some of the symptoms mentioned resulting from the use of this, were general weakness, dizziness, husky voice, swelling of the feet, low-spirits and derangement, there has been a number of instances of the latter.

The effects of Tobacco are not immediately visible as it is used, but such is the vital principle in man that this as well as many other influences are taken into the body without their immediate appearance. Thus in marshy countries the body becomes slowly infected, and at length disease breaks forth.

Tobacco is particularly injurious to men of sedentary habits in as much as they are deprived of many things which counteract disease; for example, air and exercise.

Men have survived its evil effects it is true, and lived to a great age. So have Drunkards, but alcohol 's no less a poison. Whenever tobacco has been abolished it has been attended with benefit, and wherever it has been used least, there has been more general health. On the other hand, in those countries where it has been used most there has been more sickness, as appeared from instances adduced

The Dr. testified to the benefits attending the banishments of this article in individual cases of his own knowledge. A physician was referred to, who was long considered as going in the consumption. He ceased using tobacco except snuff, and began to recover, but not entirely, he banished it in every shape and now his health is good. A pupil moreover of the Dr's was suffering from its' use, he was persuaded to throw it away for a limited time, and his complaints left him. He resumed it and they came on, he again banished it and he is now free from his former threatening complaints. Many known instances of reformation were referred to; all of which were attended with benefit and none with injury.

The expense of Tobacco was mentioned as an argument against its use. If it did no injury but was harmless, yet the expense of this article would be sufficient to raise the voice of the philanthropist against it. Allowing the expense to be six cents per day, it would be a large sum in 30 years, adding interest to principle.

But the indecency attending the use of Tobacco should especially be considered. In all company, there will be some to whom the use of this in any way must be offensive. To be sure, sometimes, when a great lusty fellow asks the delicate lady in the Stage-company "is smoking offensive to you, madam?" but with an air implying—" it is of course not and I don't care if it is" —she will say "O, no Sir," and become as sick as death on the fumes. Let that Lady, when in such circumstances, ask herself, if she would endure this in her own parlour, and answer as decidedly as she would against puffing into her face, when at her piano. There is a right to do thus, our own laws acknowledge it. A single family can move a nuisance from their dwelling; so any one, on the same grounds of justice, can remonstrate against offences committed in this very polite way, though the arm of the law may not extend itself so far as to an individual's smoking a cigar. But I apprehend the use of Tobacco may be supposed to be offensive to not only a few in all company but to all. There are many to be sure who will say " smoke on." This consent I apprehend is given often because there is an expectation that this offence must come, and a habit of meeting with it. Thus the Apothecary will say it is not offensive to him to prepare certain sorts of medicines from articles which are truly offensive, for he has shaped his expectations to it, and is in the habit of it, but if these ingredients should be set upon his dinner-table, it is doubtful to me whether a word of remonstrance or something else would come out of his throat first. Thus men have got into the habit of meeting with and expecting all the indecency and offensiveness attending the use of Tobacco, so that they will consent to have others go on committing their offences just as they choose, and will say as the Apothecary does of his pill-shop, that the tavern sitting-room and the stage-coach and the railroad-car and the steamboat cabin, where tobacco is permitted to be spit and puffed are inoffensive places, when, if his little child should set fire to the end of a cigar, and playfully let it smoke in his fingers whilst his father was eating, a loud voice would be raised against it, and it would be prohibited by an eternal law, and no greater insult could be offered him than for a young upstart to commence smoking in his parlour.

Now if this be thus offensive, an individual has no right to use it. As said the Dr. a man has just as much right to carry Asafetida about him and send forth its fumes into company, as well as Tobacco.—And what should we say of a person's right to use this article in the various ways and places in which it might be used to annoyance of every one else. So what do we say of a man's right to use Tobacco.—Both annoy and they alike offend.

The Dr. concluded by shewing sarcastically how ridiculous was man's attachment to his Tobacco box Put the case of the person who consumed two hands whilst writing his sermon " on self-denial" and one in delivering it, also of the young missionary, who after taking his round of farewells-native place, shady wood-land, sunny-glen, father and mother, brothers and sisters, and thou sweet fair one, all farewell, came, out of breath, back again for his tobacco-box-the case of these were exhibited with such nice touches that it would be in vain to attempt to give an idea of the original.
Mr. Fowler of Fall River, has published an interesting and able essay on this subject. It would be desirable to have Dr. M's. It had effect when it was delivered, I have not a doubt, for I saw one of the Medical brethren, young, well dressed, and would be smart, standing against the pillar of the porch, facing us as we came out, with his huge mouth stretched wide open, appearing as though it had been daubed over inside with Spanish-brown, though an occasional white spot amongst his grinders gave it the appearance of being set with peas, and in the centre where the tongue usually lays, there appeared to be a heap of something, dark colored, large in quantity, which looked as though it might have come from the shovel of a street-cleaner, through mistake, or rather through no mistake. To give a name to this strange cavity was impossible, till looking round it, it appeared to belong to the face of a man. We should have cried out for the Dr. to set an unjointed jaw, had we not discovered the ability to bring it together at times when he appeared to be slightly tickled.

Among those who contributed most to the interest on the Anniversary occasions, was the venerable Dr. Proudfit, of N. Y. He spoke on the occasion of the N. H. Temperance Society and Colonization Society anniversaries, to the admiration of all who remained to hear him. We were obliged to leave, both times on account of the late hour, and could therefore give no account of his remarks. It was for this reason that his name was not mentioned last week.