Chapter IV: 47

TOBACCO IN RELATION TO HEALTH AND CHARACTER

The Chancellor of the Exchequer on the consumption of
tobacco—His condemnation of the smoking habit by those who
have enough to eat—Board of Trade returns—Statistics on the
past and present rate of consumption per head of population in
England and other countries—The quantity of tobacco consumed
compared with the average consumption of wheat and the money
value of each—The use made of cast-away cigar-ends—The
opinions of Michael Drayton and Robert Burton—Case against
youths smoking—The Cuban leaf—The effects of smoking on
the character of the Turks—Mr. E. W. Lane on the Oriental
method of smoking—Clarendon’s views on tobacco’s influence in
diplomacy—The three kinds of tobacco used in commerce—Botanical
description—The chemist’s account of the composition of the
weed—Shakespeare’s ‘hebenon’—Sir B. W. Richardson’s experiments
with the smoke of tobacco—Tobacco innoxious compared with
alcohol—Prof. Johnston’s experiments and observations—Observed
effects on German thinkers—Pre-eminent among great smokers
stand Hobbes, Newton, Parr, Aldrich, Hall, Carlyle and
Tennyson—Experience the true guide.