| It is generally agreed that the use of | | | | intention, on the part of nature, is not much |
| tobacco in Europe, as a means of inebriation, | | | | helped by the habitat of the production used; |
| originated in the introduction of the leaves | | | | otherwise we might expect to find the |
| of the plant into Spain from America. There | | | | northern races less addicted to the use of |
| is every reason to suppose that the plant | | | | this tropical weed than those of the warmer |
| previously existed in Asia, if not from the | | | | regions. |
| earliest times, though we have no very | | | | |
| reliable authority for its having been used, | | | | We know that probably the contrary is the |
| at least to any great extent, for any of the | | | | truth; but all our efforts to draw any |
| purposes to which we have devoted it. Various | | | | conclusion for or against the adaptation of a |
| old authors report, that the ancients of the | | | | race to a production of a climate, are |
| extreme East were acquainted with the burning | | | | rendered futile by the teachings, not more of |
| of vegetable substances as a means of | | | | our religion, than of naturalists, who insist |
| inhaling narcotic fumes, and, indeed, when we | | | | for a central point of origin for all races, |
| consider their love of incenses, both as a | | | | and a constitution suited to all climates. |
| luxury and an element of their religious | | | | The safest position to hold is that a bad |
| cult, we need not be surprised at this; but | | | | habit may be formed in any latitude, and |
| we have no evidence that the smoking of | | | | supported by any number of arguments, where |
| tobacco was known in the Old World before the | | | | the wish still holds its mysterious power |
| introduction of the plant from the New. | | | | over the conclusions of what we call reason. |
| | | | |
| It was in 1492 that Columbus first beheld, at | | | | As regards the composition of tobacco, we |
| Cuba, the custom of smoking cigars; but it | | | | have endless experiments in that nearly new |
| was not until some years afterwards that a | | | | science, Organic Chemistry, which seems to |
| Spanish monk recognized the plant in a | | | | try the patience of industry itself. There |
| province of St. Domingo, called Tabaca. This | | | | are some nine or ten different substances, |
| is much more likely foundation for the name | | | | which go to the formation of a tobacco leaf, |
| of the herb than that adopted by some, who | | | | and these seem to change in their proportions |
| assert that it originated in tabac, a tube | | | | according to the condition of the plant. |
| used by the natives for smoking. That there | | | | Setting aside starch, various acids, and |
| was no particular aptitude in the European | | | | salts, we come to what may be termed the |
| taste for the use of this herb, seems evident | | | | essential element or principle called |
| from the very slow progress, which ensued | | | | Nicotina. These proportions of carbon, |
| even of the knowledge of its qualities. | | | | hydrogen, and azotes, really tell to the |
| | | | analyst nothing from which he could predicate |
| So late as 1560, when Jean Nicot, the French | | | | any thing certain as to the character of the |
| ambassador at the court of Portugal reported | | | | compound. |
| of it to his sovereign, scarcely any thing | | | | |
| was known of the foreign vegetable, and in | | | | In this respect, all the formula of organic |
| place of the men who accompanied Columbus | | | | substances is nearly under the same mystery, |
| having taken to any imitation of the | | | | a small difference in the proportions |
| Cuban-natives when they returned to Europe, | | | | producing the greatest difference in the |
| it would rather seem that the adoption of the | | | | combined results. But we can be under no |
| pipe is attributable to an Englishman, | | | | mistake as to the character of the element |
| Raphelengi, who, having accustomed himself to | | | | which is called Nicotina-a colorless liquid |
| it in Virginia, introduced the practice into | | | | alkaloid, with an acrid, burning taste. It is |
| England. | | | | one of the most intense of all poisons, |
| | | | approaching in ita activity the strongest |
| Sir Walter Raleigh does not seem to have used | | | | preparation of prussic acid. |
| the pipe until after the return of Sir | | | | |
| Francis Drake in 1586, so that nearly a | | | | The other important element procured from the |
| hundred years expired before even the roots | | | | analysis of tobacco, is an oil called |
| of the habit were fixed in the English | | | | nicotianin, supposed to be "the juice of |
| people. Nor, probably, would the practice | | | | cursed hebanon" referred to in Hamlet. As |
| after this have spread as rapidly as it did, | | | | this oily substance is also a very intense |
| if it had not been for the persecution to | | | | poison, differing essentially from the |
| which it was almost immediately exposed. If | | | | alkaloid, and indeed it is supposed to be |
| it is true, as has been said, that a few | | | | capable of acting on different vital organs. |
| opposing volumes will fix the roots of a | | | | We have thus in tobacco two poisons-rather a |
| heresy, we need scarcely wonder at the | | | | remarkable fact in organic chemistry, where |
| triumph of tobacco, against the use of which | | | | we find, generally, only one very active |
| more than a hundred fulminating volumes | | | | principle at the base of any particular |
| issued from the press within a few years. | | | | production in the vegetable kingdom. It is |
| | | | indeed asserted by Landerer, that there is |
| These observations suggest a reference to the | | | | none of this deadly oil in the fresh leaves |
| question, how far tobacco was intended for | | | | of tobacco; and Mr. Pereira remarks, that the |
| the use of man? The practice of the Cuban | | | | substance must be developed in the drying of |
| savages is seized by one party as a proof of | | | | the leaves under the influence of air and |
| a final cause, insomuch as savages are | | | | water. The discovery; if true; may free the |
| supposed to follow the first dictates of | | | | weed from the charge of possessing a double |
| nature; and then comes the other party, who | | | | poison; but the consequence is all the same |
| point to the tardy adoption of nature's gift | | | | to the foreign consumer; who never sees the |
| by a civilized people as a clear proof that | | | | leaf in its green state. |
| the weed was not intended for the uses to | | | | |
| which it is applied. It is utterly vain to | | | | It has been said that the smoke of tobacco, |
| discuss questions of this kind. We have no | | | | as analyzed by Zeise and others, contains |
| elements for a proper judgment. Perhaps, for | | | | nothing of the deadly alkaloid; and tobacco |
| aught we know, the American savages were some | | | | smokers have pleaded for less detrimental |
| thousands of years in coming to the habit-at | | | | effects from the pipe or cigar than from the |
| least we have no reason to suppose that it | | | | quid, but I fear their conclusion is not very |
| could be a very primitive adoption. | | | | tenable; for the detrimental oil, as we in |
| | | | fact see from the pipe itself, is largely |
| Whether, indeed, man's custom, in most cases, | | | | increased by the continued roasting and |
| is a proof of itself of nature's intention, | | | | burning. We know; too, that the old pipe is a |
| must always be a puzzle; but as we know that | | | | favorite with the epicures; the more oil by |
| many very bad things are greatly more natural | | | | which it is blackened the better becomes the |
| to human beings than we would wish them to | | | | instrument; till it attains perfection as a |
| be, we have just as good a right to say for | | | | mass of clay soaked with poison; and dried, |
| those to whom good tendencies are delightful | | | | and soaked and dried a hundred times; so that |
| from the beginning, that nature intended they | | | | the entire matter is imbued with the |
| should do their best to eradicate what is | | | | absorption. |
| hurtful, and reclaim their fellow creatures | | | | |
| from the indulgences of vice. The true | | | | On man, the physiological effects have been |
| practical question must, in short, always be | | | | very minutely observed. I cannot do better |
| what is beneficial and what is hurtful, | | | | than give the words of Mr.Pereira: "In small |
| according to the results of our experience. | | | | doses, tobacco causes a sensation of heat in |
| | | | the throat and sometimes a feeling of warmth |
| The botany of our subject presents us with | | | | at the stomach. These effects are, however, |
| seven or eight different species of the | | | | less obvious when the remedy is taken in a |
| plant, all affecting, more or less, the warm | | | | liquid form, and largely diluted. By |
| latitudes. Virginia seems, of all regions, | | | | repetition, it usually operates as a |
| the best suited to its culture, and yields in | | | | diuretic, and less frequently as a laxative. |
| great quantity the common or Virginian | | | | |
| tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). A more hardy | | | | Accompanying these effects are often nausea, |
| kind (N. rustica,) may be cultivated in such | | | | and a peculiar feeling, usually described as |
| latitudes as that of Scotland. This is the | | | | giddiness, scarcely according with the |
| species, which has been found in Europe, | | | | ordinary acceptation of this form. As |
| Asia, and Africa; and were it not for the | | | | dropsical swellings sometimes disappear under |
| restriction imposed by statute, we would | | | | the operation of these doses, it has been |
| produce it on rich soils in greater | | | | inferred that the remedy promotes the |
| quantities than would be convenient for our | | | | operation of the absorbents. It occasionally |
| treasury, or beneficial to our people. It | | | | acts as an anodyne, or more rarely promotes |
| need not be said that the question of | | | | sleep. |