Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

this narcotic, (we shall see hereafter that a very contrary opinion has prevailed); and that when used in the form of snuff the perfection of the organ of smell has always been injured. My own observation has led to a conclusion, that the constant and profuse employment of this herb has been injurious to the brain and nervous system. In twenty-five years actual practice, a great number of cases of Paralysis have come under my notice; in all, or in the far greater part of these, the men were smokers, and the women snuff-takers.*

(To be concluded in the next Number.)

*It is not to be doubted that the immoderate use of Tobacco has, in some idosyncracies, produced alarming effects on the most efficient organs of the animal machine. "I have observed," says Cullen, "several instances of great snuff-takers being affected in the same manner as persons are from long continued use of other marcotics, such as wine and opium; that is, by loss of memory, by fatuity, and the other symp toms of the weakened or senile state of the nervous system, induced before the usual period. I have found also," adds this ingenious physician, "that excessive snuff-taking produces all the symptoms of dyspepsia, particularly pains of the stomach, occurring every day." Almost two hundred years ago, Dr. Venner, in the quaint but forcible language of that time, objected to the use of Tobacco. "I will summarily rehearse," says the author of the VIA RECTA, "the hurts that Tobacco inferreth, if it be used contrary to the order and way I have set down. It drieth the brain, dimmeth the sight, vitiateth the smell, hurteth the stomach, destroyeth the concoction, disturbeth the humours and spirits, corruptet: the breath, induceth a trembling of the limbs, exsiccateth the winde pipe, lungs, and liver, annoyeth the milt, scorcheth the heart, and causeth the blood to be adusted. Moreover it eliquateth the pinguic substance of the kidnies, and absumeth the geniture. In a word, it overthroweth the spirits, perverteth the understanding, and confoundeth the senses with a sudden astonishment and stupiditie of the whole body. All which hurts I affirme, that the immoderate and intempestive use of Tobacco doth affect, both by reason of its temperament (hot and dry in the third degree); but especially through the propertie of its substance (deleteriall or venemous): Wherefore the use of it is only tolerable by way of physick, not for pleasure or an idle custome. To conclude, therefore, I wish them that desire to have mentem sanam in corpore sano, altogether to abandon insanum præposterumque Tabacci Via Recta ad Vitam Longam, 4to. Lond. 1638. p. 363. The destroying spirit of man taught the wandering savages of America to envenom their arrows with a poison prepared with this plant. The black pigment which collects in long-used tobacco-pipes, is a strong poison to some animals. Barrow (Travels in Africa) relates that he saw a snake poisoned with it. The effect was instantaneous as the electric shock. I remember to have seen the common English snake thus instantaneously destroyed. Barrow asserts, that the snake he saw thus

usum."

To the Editors of the Medical and Physical Journal.

GENTLEMEN,

I SINCERELY regret that the letter which you did me the

favour to publish in your last number has considerably offended Mr. Ramsden; it is considered by him as containing animadversions on his practice. In justice, therefore, to myself, and in the hopes of removing all such unpleasant impressions from that Gentleman's mind, I feel myself called upon to state thus publicly, that such never was in the most remote degree my intention.-If that letter admits of any interpretation different from Mr. Ramsden's own account of the operation, I am sorry that I should have adopted expressions capable of a construction which it was not my design they should carry. By inserting this you will oblige,

Gentlemen,

Your obedient Servant,

Hanover Square, Jan. 14th, 1811.

HENRY EARLE.

The

killed became immediately hard and rigid, as if dried in the sun. Hottentots consider this substance, which they call oil of tobacco, as the most deadly of poisonous substances; but it is never applied to the points of their arrows, because it is too volatile to retain its deleterious quality. One Manwaringe, a chemical doctor, or a trading chemist, in 1666, brought a severe charge against tobacco. He accused it of producing scurvy, and wrote a duodecimo pamphlet to prove his accu

sation.

DOCTOR

For the Medical and Physical Journal.

1

DOCTOR POLE'S Thermometrical, Barometrical, and Udiometrical STATEMENTS for the Seven preceding Years; from Daily Observations, made by the assistance of accurate Instruments employed for that purpose, in ST. JAMES'S SQUARE, BRISTOL, Jan. 15, 1811.

『:

Numerical order

of the months.

The average temperature of each month, from observations made at eight o'clock in the morning.

The average state of the Barometer for each month, from observations made at eight o'clock in the morning.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

36 33 35 8637 7535 7534 15 42 1134 57 36 33 40 2037 9433 4633 66 30 56 39 45 37 39 42 8748 8042 2343 1039 77 45 50 57-57 5054 1755 6656 9056 7850 12. 6257 5061 8059 4559 9058 85/60-53 61 5263 64 44 66 22 61 9061 74 60 33 63 3362 2263 5263 56 3258

2

Feb.

[blocks in formation]

Months
as deno-
minated
in the

Calendar

1804 1805 1806 1807 1808 1809 1810

1100 of an inch

[blocks in formation]

129 6029 60129 62 0 530 1030 11 30 25 29 3520 529 9130 29-74.30 29 5030 15 30

5/30 7529 75

30 29

58 29 91

9030 30 30 1530 530 9530 15 31

80 29 67

10 29 35

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

1761 4461 32

August

8056 7656 40

9

Sept.

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

29 9030 30 30 35,30 29 729 45 31 30 G30 530 10 29 9029 50 31 29 75 29 95'29 9030 1029 4531 29 90 30 30 29 8529 7529 6531 29 85 29 2030 20 30 15/29 60 29

49,29 80

40 29 94

4 29 82 1029 37 13 29 18

530 2030, 730 2531 -29 9030 1530 2581

[blocks in formation]

An account of the quantity of rain fallen in each month.

190

Numerical order of

the months.

1804 1805 1806 1807

1808

1809 1810

[blocks in formation]

The highest temperature of the Atmosphere indicated by the Thermometer, at any one time during the last

Seven Years.

[blocks in formation]

5

May

2751 43 1 50 5 82 2 99

Inches

100 of an inch.

luches

100 of an inch

10 Inches

4 43 2 44 5 971 2 28

30 2 14 21

[blocks in formation]

180 0 98 1 67 0 34 0 35 1 270 62 2.27 278 1 29 0 49 5 37

100 of an inch

000 1100 of an inch

Inches

ql! u? Jo 001

luches

100 of an inch

Inches

100 of an inch

375 142

6

June

0 25 2 58

1 32 0 15 175

1 45 259 175 1 55

July

3 78 2 60

3 87

4 2

276 1

74 52

8

August

2 26 2 22

4 27

2 55

3 6 4 38 2 66

9

Sept.

0 28 1 59

1 81 3 69

4 36 4 16 2 65

10

Oct.

2 80 1 94

1 49 2 14

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
[merged small][ocr errors]

5 26 0 8 3 45

8 1 54 6 80

OLVASOLThe months noticed

numerically

Months

as denominated in the Calendar.

52

2 68 5 24 829-5135 71

9

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

12

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

Days of the month.

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

of former periods, from Hippocrates to Sydenham, very connected with widely spreading epidemics. The physicians velope some principle, or demonstrate some state of the air comprehending a long series of time, may be expected to deof snow, direction, force, and continuance of winds, when ture, gravity, humidity and dryness, quantity of rain, falls Correct statements of Atmospherical changes in tempera

uniformly

1

The lowest temperature of the Atmosphere, indicated
by the Thermometer, on the two coldest days in
the last Seven Years, according to observa-
tions made at eight o'clock in the

morning.

The quantity of rain fallen in each month, upon an
average of the last Seven Years.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« ElőzőTovább »