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. 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. Months Calendar 1804 1805 1806 1807 1808 1809 1810 1100 of an inch 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 1761 4461 32 August 8056 7656 40 9 Sept. 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 An account of the quantity of rain fallen in each month. 190 Numerical order of the months. 1804 1805 1806 1807 1808 1809 1810 The highest temperature of the Atmosphere indicated by the Thermometer, at any one time during the last Seven Years. 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 21 180 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 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 12 Days of the month. 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 morning. The quantity of rain fallen in each month, upon an |