TOBACCO.

As this substance is so generally used and so often referred to in connection with alcohol as to its effects upon the human system, it appears proper to allude to its physiological effects upon the brain in this immediate connection.

Views of an opposite character as to its use have long prevailed. Much has been written in relation to its baneful effects upon the human system, the active poisons it is known to contain, and its demoralizing tendencies in general. It has been accused of being the cause of numerous diseases of a grave nature, such as cancer, chronic bronchitis, insanity, diseases of the throat and the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose, etc., etc.

It bears the blame of causing filthy, and ofttimes disgusting, habits, and of being not only a useless but a pernicious and expensive luxury.

On the other hand, much has been and continues to be said as to its comforting and soothing effects, and the sense of enjoyment and luxury resulting from it, when used in the form of smoke and with moderation. And if an opinion as to its excellencies and value to the human race could be formed from the amount yearly consumed, or the vast sums of capital invested in its culture, manufacture, and sales in the United States alone, it would take rank as an article possessed of the highest value to mankind.

This, however, cannot be considered as a fair criterion by which to judge of its virtues or its vices; neither can we look for an impartial judgment as to its influence upon individuals or society, from those who may form opinions founded on impressions or prejudices only. It becomes necessary, therefore, to study its physiological effects as accurately and impartially as possible, and accept such results as this course may lead to.

For my present purpose it does not become necessary to go into details as to the effects of all the elements of tobacco, or of the effects of any of these elements, except as observed in their action upon the nervous system. I shall not, therefore, enter upon any minute analysis of the substance, preferring to leave this for those who write with a view of covering a more extended field of research.

When tobacco, in substance, or in the form of smoke, comes in contact with the mucous membrane of the mouth, throat, and nose, there results a more or less distinct biting sensation on the tongue and in the throat, unless these parts have already become accustomed to its effects. This increases in the case of the beginner, until in a few minutes a feeling of warmth and faintness comes on, often attended with nausea, vomiting, and headache. If the dose has been sufficient, the person becomes faint and unable to stand, the skin becomes cool, a perspiration appears on the forehead, the heart acts feebly, the respiration is short and hurried, and life itself is in danger.[19]

One of the elements of tobacco, nicotine (which is itself composed of several bases), passes into the blood, and is conveyed in it to the brain. As this is one of the most active poisons of which we have any knowledge, and, as such, acts directly on the brain, rapidly inducing the conditions mentioned, and overpowering the functions of the nervous system, it will readily be comprehended how profound its influence must be upon the nervous filaments and brain-cells. This influence is one of paralysis—a deadening of the functional activity of certain portions of the brain, and, if continued long enough, is radiated through the nerves to the heart and other organs.

If, however, a small quantity only has been absorbed into the circulation, the effect upon the brain is less permanent than would be expected from its profound influence. It soon becomes eliminated from the system through the agency of the lungs, the skin, and the kidneys,[20] and the nervous system resumes its normal activity.

Subsequent experiences after the first few are widely different. The brain becomes tolerant of the poison, so far as relates to its more manifest and paralyzing effect, and in the process of time the smoker realizes very little, if any, other than a sense of soothing, and, therefore, grateful influence upon the system. The brain even comes, in the process of time and experience, to crave its influence. A condition, abnormal as to experiences and cravings, has resulted, which will demand the frequent and continued repetition of those pleasing sensations which result from its use. When this influence passes off, there comes again into operation a more acute activity of nerve function, and a consequent sensation bordering upon or akin to pain as the brain begins to act under the freedom and force of a vitality not blunted or partially paralyzed by the presence of the poison. To relieve this there must be a repetition of its use, and this process continues until there becomes developed a true diathesis of the nervous system, as in the case of alcohol and opium, though one not, in general, so difficult to overcome.

Moreover, the influence of tobacco upon the brain is essentially different from that of alcohol. From the effect of the latter there results a vast increase of functional activity of the heart, and, in the primary stage of its influence, of that portion of the brain which is concerned in mentality, while no such increase of functional activity of any portion of the nervous system results from the physiological effects of tobacco. On the contrary, these are of a paralyzing nature while they continue. The field of consciousness is less broad, the imagination and reason less keen and active.

But, on the other hand, the immediate effects of tobacco are much less permanent than those of alcohol; its elements are more speedily eliminated through the action of the lungs, to which they pass in the blood, and also by the skin and kidneys, toward which organs the essential oil contained in tobacco has a much stronger tendency than alcohol has.

It must be borne in mind, however, that the effect of tobacco upon the brain-cells is essentially and directly that of a narcotic, and in this respect differs from that of alcohol, which acts only indirectly as such, through its paralyzing influences upon the vaso-motor system; and therefore its immediate effects, while they continue, are more injurious, than would be those of alcohol, though, in reality, they are much less so, as they so soon pass off.

It is the narcotic influence upon the brain which renders tobacco so injurious when used by young children and youth. The frequent repetition of this narcotic upon the nervous system in early life, serves to partially check its growth and development, and consequently must impede very greatly its normal activity and power of application and mental attainment. Both the intellectual and moral powers of the mind become less keen and sensitive, so that a less high standard in these departments of mentality is reached by those children who use tobacco than would otherwise be possible for them; and I am not surprised, therefore, to learn that, in consequence of observations as to the influence of tobacco upon the youth in the schools of both Germany and France, legal enactments, as against its use by these scholars, have been made. Such enactments ought to exist in the schools of all civilized countries, and I have no doubt the time will come when they will.

It appears to me to be especially important that such legal enactments as against its use by children should obtain in this country, where the facilities for obtaining it are greater than in most others. The example of its use is almost constantly before little children when on the street. It is generally and lavishly used by a large proportion of men; the tax on it is lower, and the price cheaper, than elsewhere; and there exists a custom of throwing away half-used cigars on the streets and sidewalks, so that children can easily obtain the article without cost. It is rarely the case when in town that I do not see boys from six to twelve years of age, smoking together these half-used cigars.

The children of the poor are frequently or nightly on the street long after dark, and are, consequently, very little under the restraint of parental government; they are constantly under the influence of the example of older persons in reference to this habit of smoking, and, therefore, are in danger of contracting it very early in life. In the absence of other restraint they specially need that of the guardians of law, and the highest interests of society require that they have it.

The Boston Journal has recently published the results of investigations concerning the number of boys in the public schools of that city who use tobacco. The master of the Latin School informs the reporter that one half of the boys from fourteen to eighteen years of age had used the weed, though probably few had fully contracted the habit. Many of them smoke on the sly, though some have the permission of their parents to use it. In the English High School, it is thought that few of the boys smoke, and none are allowed to chew. The master’s view, however, is that a teacher’s precepts are of little use in preventing the habit unless they are reinforced by his example. The principal of the Dudley School, Boston Highlands, is of the opinion that something like forty per cent. of his boys use it more or less. The master of the Emerson School, East Boston, having studied the subject, concludes that out of four hundred boys there are forty habitual smokers, and that one third of the whole number occasionally smoke. He thinks that it is rarely the case that boys begin smoking before they are eight years of age. In the Grammar School at Charlestown it is estimated that forty of the three hundred boys use tobacco habitually, and that many more have occasionally smoked. Master Harrington, of the Eliot School does not think that a larger proportion than one third of all his boys have yet contracted the habit.

Not a few young men have consulted me professionally, whose nervous systems have been greatly impaired from the habit of smoking, and who say they formed the habit when not more than eight or ten years of age, and they would gladly give it up, and undo its influence if such a thing were possible. In such cases society should protect itself, at least until the individual has become old enough to realize, in some measure, the results of his action.

Of the effects of the use of tobacco upon other portions of the system than the brain it is not within my province, or necessary to my purpose, to refer at this time, though they may be, and doubtless are of a grave character in some cases. To sum up its effects upon the mental and moral character of the young, when it is daily or frequently used, I cannot do better than use the words of a pamphlet published by Monsieur FiÉvÉe in relation to its general effects upon society:

“We do not insist principally on the material disasters resulting from tobacco, knowing very well that any reasoning on this subject will not produce conviction. A danger of far greater interest to those concerned in the preservation of the individual, is the enfeeblement of the human mind, the loss of the powers of intelligence and of moral energy; in a word, of the vigor of the intellect, one of the elements of which is memory. We are much deceived if the statistics of actual mental vigor would not prove the lower level of the intellect throughout Europe since the introduction of tobacco. The Spaniards have first experienced the penalty of its abuse, the example of which they have so industriously propagated, and the elements of which originated in their conquests and their ancient energy. The rich Havana enjoys the monopoly of the poison which procures so much gold in return for so many victims; but the Spaniards have paid for it also by the loss of their political importance, of their rich appanage of art and literature, of their chivalry, which made them one of the first peoples of the world. Admitting that other causes operated, tobacco has been one of the most influential. Spain is now a vast tobacco-shop, and its only consolation is, that other nations are fast approaching its level.

“Tobacco, as the great flatterer of sensuality, is one of the most energetic promoters of individualism—that is, of a weakening of social ties. Its appearance coincides fatally with reform and the spirit of inquiry. Man inaugurates the introduction of logic in matters inaccessible, at the same time that, as Montaigne says, he gives way to a habit destructive of the faculty of ratiocination—a contradiction which shows us that necessity of defect by which he is tortured.”[21]

Two inferences may be drawn from the results of our discussion.

1. It does not appear from the considerations presented above, that tobacco is an agent directly responsible in any large degree for the production of insanity, nor does this appear to be the case as indicated by the statistics of asylums for the insane, nor by observation or experience. It rather appears that it is responsible as an agent which, in some measure, from its effects as a poison on the brain, must tend to check the growth and development of the intellectual and moral power in the individual, especially when indulged in during the period of youth and early manhood; and thus it becomes allied with other agencies which, in many cases, would not otherwise become operative in the production of insanity.

2. It also becomes a factor of importance in indirectly producing disease of the nervous system, through hereditary influence. As we have so frequently had occasion to observe hitherto, any abnormal condition which has existed sufficiently long to become a true diathesis, not only may, but is very likely to be transmitted in some form or other to those who come after. This has been shown in relation to the influence of over-stimulation from application to study, and from the effects of alcohol; and though the effects of both these are essentially different from that of tobacco, yet we can but consider the latter as very injurious in its influence. Indeed, I am inclined to regard the physiological effects of tobacco when used to excess as likely to appear in offspring in the form of a lower grade of intellectual and moral character, though to a less extent than are those of alcohol.

SEX IN RELATION TO INSANITY.