An occasional paper of the British Anti-Tobacco Society / by Wm. Hardwicke ... embracing the recent researches of M. Jolly on tobacco smoking in France.

  • William Hardwicke
Date:
[Between 1865 and 1869?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An occasional paper of the British Anti-Tobacco Society / by Wm. Hardwicke ... embracing the recent researches of M. Jolly on tobacco smoking in France. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    has ordained, is a subject vitally important to all. If there beany truth in the belief that links in the chain of healthy progress are broken by morbid habits and vices, in which tobacco smoking must be considered to rank, it becomes our duty as opportunity offers, to express strongly the views which have been put forth in this paper. Most smokers have much to say in favour of the practice of smoking ; the fact which they allege is, that it has a tranquillising and soothing influence on the brain. Some describe it as the pleasure of a reverie, consequent upon the temporary annihilation of thought. Mr. G. F. Lewis, who has had many opportunities of conversing with great smokers in Germany, says he could fancy they had practically discovered a way of liberating the mind from the trammels of the body, giving it a free range and more undisturbed liberty of action ; he regrets he never experienced the much-to-be-desired effect upon himself. I fully concur in this opinion. Dr. E. Smith believes the action of tobacco must be antagonistic to health; for although its effects may not be always evident to the observer, they are oftentimes secretly known to the victim. He says, justly, “ A man who passes through life with disturbances to the vital processes by the habitual use of a narcotic drug, must however have many disad¬ vantages to contend with. No bad result may appear on the surface, but the evils resulting are not unknown to the medical profession.” That stimulation and narcotism may be safely and lawfully employed at certain periods and under certain circumstances has been proved by the experience of multitudes of intelligent persons of all ranks in all nations; but in view of the deplorable evils which ensue from the injudicious and unrestricted use of tobacco in the early periods of life, and associated—as it too frequently is—with alcohol in later periods, it must be considered dangerous to say anything which is calculated to encourage its use. Observing almost daily as I do, the injurious effects of tobacco and alcohol, and the inroads they make upon the national health and strength, and feeling convinced that thousands of persons are dispossessing them¬ selves, and perhaps their offspring, of physical and mental energy by employing in excess these substances as instruments of pleasure, I con¬ ceive there are strong reasons for considering it criminal, and for making it penal for persons who drink and smoke in excess, and who damage themselves to such an extent as to render themselves incapable for per¬ forming work, and of sustaining an independent position as members of society. It is becoming evident, by statistical inquiries, that our prisons, lunatic asylums, and workhouses are crowded with inmates who have brought upon themselves poverty, disease, insanity, old age, and a pre¬ mature death, from excessive indulgence, mainly in tobacco and alcohol. The burden to ratepayers also, is becoming so heavy, that it is a ques¬ tion for consideration how far it will be longer tolerated, and whether it cannot be legitimately reduced by placing a salutary check upon the inebriate practices of society, which are call ing aloud for immediate action throughout this great nation.
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