have a better chance to recover, from intoxication and the apoplexia venenata.* ON the use of Tobacco in Asthma and consumption, parti cularly the smoke of it, the old writers are minutely laborious. They assert its efficacy with confidence, and cases are produced to support their assertion. The following, from Edmund Gardiner, is a favourable specimen; perhaps, its quaintness recommends it. "I know myselfe a verie learned gentleman dwelling at Buckworth in Huntingdonshire, who had long languished of an orthopnoia; so that by reason of too many slimy and wa terish humours which distilled downe from the braine into the chest, his lungs were so choaked, that hee could not breath, but by holding his necke upright, insomuch that many times, especially in the night season, he was in danger to be suffocated: by meanes of which, and his extreame cough, together with an extenuation of the whole bodie, he was adjudged Tabidus of most physicians that visited him, yea, and to be almost past all hope of recoverie; and one of the physicians being first asked his opinion, concerning the sicke patient, cast out these words: Virtus lassa cadit, solvuntur frigore membra, Vitaque tartareas fugit indignata per umbras. And because I being his familiar friend, and one that was best acquainted with his whole course, and order of physicke and diet, which was both rationally prescribed, and diligently taken and observed, yet nothing taking effect that was administered, when all men thought he would have died, he was at length counselled to take Tobacco in fume; which he daily did, and onely by this way by little and little, he recovered his former health of bodie. His friende before * I have no inclination to enter on the controverted point of the employment of emetics in apoplexy; the connection I have mentioned to exist between the reversed action of the stomach and the subsidence of the fit, has been suggested by my own observation in a great variety of cases, and under very different circumstances. I have never seen a case of apoplexy or asphyxia, when full vomiting spontaneously arose, or was excited by art, that did not escape the immediate danger of the paroxysm. The obscure history of the reciprocal sympathies that operate from the brain to the stomach, and from the stomach to the brain, I leave to be unravelled by profound physiologists. To those who would see much ingenious, much learned, and much useful investigation, on the employment of emetics in apoplexy, I recommend the perusal of the controversy between Langslow and Crowfoot, as found in the preceding volumes of this Journal. spoken spoken being a doctor of physick, and he who cast forth the former verses, seeing the sodaine mutation, and wondring at the good successe, he thus again pleasantly and conceitedly answered: Mors aderat, cymbamq; Charon remosq; parabat: "Smoaking Tobacco, says Dr. BREE, (certainly the most valuable writer on the subject of asthma) is practiced by some asthmatics, who mistake the great secretion of saliva for a necessary evacuation. I am satisfied that a much more copious determination of lymph is made to the bronchia and salivary glands by smoaking, and it will be entirely conformable to the rules of the animal economy, if the habit of such secretion be confirmed, though this exciting cause be absent. I have persuaded some asthmatics attacked with the first species (convulsive asthma from the irritation of effused serum in the lungs) to abandon the practice, with great advantage to their health. The system cannot obtain the necessary sup ply of oxygen sufficiently fast in this species of the disease, even if the disoxygenating property of tobacco fumes be not employed." Much as the opinions of this physician, in all parts of medical science, deserve to be respected, and especially in every form of disordered respiration; we must not be led to reject, out of veneration for those opinions, tobacco fume in every difficulty of breathing, or disorder in the chest. He speaks here of its inutility in one species of asthma only. There are forms of dyspnea which do not arise from mechanical obstructions, nor are occasioned by effused serum irritating the sensient fibrilla of nerves, but result from some disturbed or irregular sensibility not easily explained; in which no organic alteration, or abundant morbid secretion is observed. In these cases it is that the fume of tobacco and other narcotics has been serviceable by mitigating the paroxysm; and by obviating the effect, finally perhaps, so weaken the habitual morbid action, as to wear out the disease. Taken in this view, no reasoning a priori can convince that the smoking of tobacco may not be serviceable in some form or degree of asthma. It is obvious, however, that as it is capable of exasperating the complaint, its use will require the superintendance of an experienced physician.* Neander goes very minutely into the efficacy of tobacco in asthma. Tobacologia, 4to. Lugd. Bat. 1622. p. 36, gives many formula of the plant IN Dropsy Tobacco has been employed with more effect than in any other disease. At least the evidence of its efficacy is more distinct, and the history of its employment more rational, than is remarked in other instances. The earliest writers on this subject were sufficiently impressed with an opinion of the powers of Tobacco in hydropic complaints; but their details, are vague, and generally unauthenticated by actual observation.* At length an experimental inquiry into the powers of this substance on the kidnies, was undertaken by Dr. Fowler; and to him the faculty is indebted for a collection of facts which elucidate the extent and quality of its diuretic properties. This physician was so strongly influenced by a letter sent by Dr. Garden, of Charlston, South Carolina, to Dr. Hope, of Edinburgh, in 1775, stating the surprising effects of the ashes of tobacco+ in hydropic cases, that he undertook an investigation of the subject; and in 1785, published ‡ the result of his inquiries. plant as employed in this disease. Among these are syrups, powders, wines, waters, cerates, &c. As a specimen of the mode of prescribing the Nicotiana in the 16th century, I cite the following, Syrupus optimus ad Hydropicos. R. Foliorum sanæ sanctæ Indorum. m. vj.—Hyssopi sicci, Pulegii regalis, Ceterach (seu asplenii) ana M. jss.-Cala menti minoris, p. ij.-Sem. anisi, sem. urtica, sem anethi, ana ziij.— Galanga, hellebori albi, ana ziiiiss.-Asari, agarici, ana 3ij.-Rad. angelicæ hort. R. iridis, costi, amomi, polipodii quercini, ana 3j. These, in powder, are ordered to be infused in six pints of wine vinegar for three days in the sun, in a glass vessel; afterwards evaporate one half over a slow fire, strain and add mel rosarum, lbj. sacchari Ibss. Boil again, to the consumption of the vinegar, and aromatize with saffron, ginger, and mace, ana ij. *Everard, Gardiner, Neander, and many others, were fully, if not rationally, convinced of its efficacy in hydropic effusions. "Here we use with surprisingly great efficacy, in dropsical cases, the alkaline fixed salts of tobacco. It is given from the quantity of half a dram to a whole dram, twice a-day, in as little liquid as possible. During its operation, also, the patient is enjoined to use very little liquid and much exercise. This remedy proves deobstruent, diuretic, and purgative, and does make great cures. After it, however, I generally give purges of rhubarb and sal martis every second or third day, according to circumstances. Besides this, I sometimes use a strong decoction of the radix scillæ, with some syrupus scilliticus, and two, three, or four grains of kermes mineral or tartar emetic. These I find a most effica cious purgative and diuretic." Extract of a Letter from Dr. Garden. Med. Comment. V. iii. 330. Medical Reports of the Effects of Tobacco, principally with regard to its diuretic Quality in the Cure of Dropsies and Dysuries: together with some Observations on the Use of Glysters of Tobacco, in the Treatment of the Colic. By THOMAS FOWLER, M. D. 8vo. Lond. Dr. From this it appeared that Tobacco might be exhibited both as a safe and efficacious diuretic in cases of dropsy and dysury. In thirty-one dropsical cases in which Dr. Fowler employed it, eighteen were cured and ten relieved. In eighteen cases of dysury ten were completely cured, and seven relieved. Since the period of Dr. Fowler's publication, many instances have occurred of its efficacious operation in anasarca, in ascites abdominalis, and in hydrops ovarium. The ingenious Dr. Ferriar often found it to be a ready diuretic.* The fashion for using it as a diuretic has unwisely Dr. Fowler gave the Nicotiana in various forms. He employed it chiefly in infusion, but thinks it may be used with advantage in a spirituous or vinous tincture, in an acetum nicotiana, and also in pills. A pound of each of the preceding menstrua with an ounce of the leaves of the N. Tabacum, are the quantities he employs, for the tinctures and ace For the pills he gives the subsequent formula. tum. R. Pulveris foliorum nicotianæ Virginiensis cautè siccatorum. Mucilaginis gummi Arabici, quantum satis sit. Misce, fiat massa de qua pilule sexaginta formantur. This he considers as one of the most certain modes of exhibiting the Nicotiana, and observes, that upon several trials he found these pills to be powerfully diuretic. The latest and the best medical Dictionary in the English language, compiled by BARTHOLOMEW PARR, M. D. of Exeter, (we have now to lament the loss of this most industrious and ingenious man, who died a few weeks since) says of the N. Tabacum, that "its emetic power prevents its acting as a laxative, except in glysters; and as a diuretic, except in the form of its alkali after burning. The oil whic remains adhering to the salts, adds to the diuretic power of the alkali and it has been supposed useful in dropsy. In the days of its fashion we used it, but without such decided success as to continue it." Art. N. Americana. This is an imperfect account of its powers, and incorrect, inasmuch as Dr. Fowler found an infusion of the plant to be the most convenient and efficacious form for its exhibition. Under Ascites Dr. Parr does some justice to the Nicotiana; for he says, "it appears to be an active, useful medicine, meriting much more attention than it has received." He still seems to mistake when he dwells on its alkaline salt as the form preferred for its diuretic properties, by Dr. Fowler. It would be a violation of candour to suppress the opinion of CULLEN. "The infusion of tobacco when it is carried into the blood-vessels, has sometimes shewn its stimulant powers exerted in the kidnies; and very lately we have had it recommended to us as a powerful diuretic of great service in dropsy. Upon the faith of these recommendations we have now employed this remedy in various cases of dropsy, but with very little success. From the small doses that are proper to begin with, we have hardly observed any diuretic effects; and though from larger doses they have in some measure appeared, we have seldom found them considera (No. 145.) H ble: 1.. passed away, and affords an impressive instance of disappointed expectation, succeeded by injudicious neglect. * MODERN Science knows nothing of the employment of Tobacco in Gout; we must apply to the uncertain and equivocal records of the first writers on the subject, for the antipodagric qualities of this plant. Everard speaks very positively of its possessing such qualities, and that it even radically cures the disease, when taken in the form of snuff. Its external application either as cataplasm or ointment was esteemed to quiet the painful part of the arthritic paroxysm. The extractum peticum of some of the old Pharmacopoeias was believed to be a powerful remedy in jaundice, dropsy, asthma, and gout; and that it was almost a specific in tertian and quartan agues. The violent operation of Tobacco may possibly point it out as a medicine likely to remove chronic affections not depending on organic alterations in the vital parts; and especially as affording a probable means of removing the gouty diathesis. It is evident that the fact of its acting with great and unexpected violence will demand the most cautious employment, and a minute investigation of the peculiarities of the patient. Ir a detailed examination of all the diseases in which tobacco has been used, were to be given, with the reasons for its employment, and the rationale of its action, as founded on the shifting hypotheses of different periods, these remarks would swell into a volume. It may not be deemed improper, however, before the subject is dismissed, to add some observations, conjectural indeed or analogical, on the probable effect this potent vegetable might have on a disease, the frightful symptoms of which are only to be paralleled by its unvarying fatality. ble: and when to obtain these in a greater degree, we have gone on increasing the doses, we have been constantly restrained by the severe sickness at stomach, and even vomiting, which they have occasioned : so that we have not yet learned the administration of this remedy so as to render it a certain or convenient remedy in any cases of dropsy." Materia Medica. GERARD mentions a curious fact: "A strong country man having a dropsie, tooke four ounces of the juice of tobacco, and having waked out of his sleepe, called for meate and drinke, and after that became perfectly whole." In this instance it operated upwards and downwards; the patient exhausted fell into a deep sleep, and awaked perfectly cured. *If the Eau medicinale were proved to be a composition made from tobacco (vid. this Journal, vol. xxiv. p. 353) it would shed a temporary brilliance on the genus Nicotiana. Temporary, however, it would only be, for this wonder-working nostrum is following its brethren, with rapid strides, to the tomb of the Capulets. The |