Chapter X: Part ONE: What Is Tobacco?

“_Tobacco is the worst curse of modern civilization._”--_John Ruskin._

While the pages of this book are devoted largely to the drink evil, we must not forget the monster evil of Tobacco, nor of the small, innocent appearing Cigarette. For although small singly, in the aggregate it is appalling. From year to year the consumption of Cigarettes has so rapidly increased, that in 1911 there were 11,250,000,000 consumed in the United States alone. Of the track of ruin left by this “little monster,” the following pages will testify.

So close a second does the evils of Tobacco run to that of drink, that it is claimed by many that Tobacco is a greater curse than Rum. But one fact is sure: Tobacco in all its forms, more than all other influences, creates a thirst for alcoholic drinks, and is the greatest friend of the saloon.

The data from which this department has been compiled, was supplied by a lecturer on the Cigarette evil of more than four years’ experience. His facilities for obtaining accurate information, and important statements from reliable sources, have been unsurpassed.

We commend the facts presented in this department to the careful consideration of every one into whose hands this book may fall.

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What is Tobacco? It is a poison so deadly that it cannot be brought under the Pure Food and Drug Act. It is not rated as a drug, but as a poison too dangerous to use in ordinary medical practice. It can be brought under the Drug Act only by special action of Congress. Please note what medical men say of it:--

“Tobacco is the _most subtle_ poison known to the chemist, except the
deadly prussic acid.”--_M. Orfila, President of the Medical Academy,
Paris._

“It is believed by all judicious practitioners _too dangerous_
to be employed as a medicine. The benefits as a remedy do not
counter-balance the risk of using it. Yet so insidious are its
effects that few have regarded it as swelling the bills of mortality.
It is, nevertheless, true that _multitudes_ are carried to the
_grave_ every year by _tobacco alone_.”--_Dr. Grimshaw._

“Surgeons have sometimes resorted to a weak infusion of tobacco
injected into the bowels in cases in which it was necessary to induce
immediate prostration of energy, as in cases of strangulated hernia
and in bad dislocations of the joints; but even in these cases, the
_risk_ is so _great_ that no prudent surgeon will use it except as a
_last resort_.”--_Dr. Harris._

“The profession have no idea of the _ignorance_ of the public
regarding the nature of tobacco. Even intelligent, well-educated men
_stare in astonishment_ when you tell them it is one of the most
powerful poisons. _Now is this right?_ Has the medical profession
_done its duty_? Ought we not _as a body_ to have told the _public_
that of _all_ our poisons, it is the _most insidious_, _uncertain_,
and, in full doses, the _most deadly_?”--_Dr. Solly, Insurance
Medical Examiner._

“One-fourth of a drop of nicotin will _kill a frog_ in ten seconds;
one-sixth of a drop will _kill a cat_ in fourteen seconds.”

“The poison is slow; but in the second and third decade its virus
becomes manifest. The words of the wise man, “Because sentence
against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart
of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil,” is strikingly
applicable to those who indulge in this pernicious habit. There have
died in New York, within a few years, three excellent clergymen, all
of whom might now have been alive, had they not used tobacco. The
duty of abstaining from the _slow killing_ of one’s self by this
poison is as clear as the duty of not _cutting one’s throat_.”--_Dr.
Willard Parker._

“Tobacco is not an innocent substance. It contains nicotin, an
alkaloid which is a poison, _destroying life_ very quickly, even when
taken in small doses. It acts as speedily as hydrocyanic [prussic]
acid. Thirty grains of tobacco, or one or two drops of nicotin, would
most likely be a fatal dose. Death by tobacco may occur in less than
half an hour; by the alkaloid [nicotin] in a _few minutes_.”--_Norman
Kerr, M. D._

“So very _dangerous_ and potent are its _narcotic_ properties, that
tobacco is only seldom used for any purpose in medicine; and when it
is resorted to, the greatest _caution_ is necessary.”--_Dr. Elisha
Harris._

“_The profession have no idea of the ignorance of the public
regarding the nature of Tobacco. Even intelligent, well-educated
men stare in astonishment when you tell them it is one of the most
powerful poisons. Now is this right? Has the medical profession done
its duty? Ought we not as a body to have told the public that of all
our poisons, it is the most insidious, uncertain, and, in full doses,
the most deadly?_”--_Dr. Solly, Insurance Medical Examiner._

TOBACCO AND THE CIGARETTE