Practical observations on the use and abuse of tobacco : greatly enlarged from the original communication on the effects of tobacco smoking which appeared in Medical Times and Gazette, August 5, 1854, accompanied with cases, illustrated by coloured plates, the drawings after nature / by John Lizars.

  • John Lizars
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Practical observations on the use and abuse of tobacco : greatly enlarged from the original communication on the effects of tobacco smoking which appeared in Medical Times and Gazette, August 5, 1854, accompanied with cases, illustrated by coloured plates, the drawings after nature / by John Lizars. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    men have sought -with a kind of phrenzy, means of procuring sensations which may be continually renewed. There are few nations among whom these practices are not observed, from which is dei'ived a ])leasm-e that occupies whole days, or is repeated at every interval, that prevents the weight of time from being felt, satisfies the necessity of ha^^ng the faculties roused, and at last blunting the edge of this necessity, thus prolongs the duration Chester, the work people of the cottou manufactories are rapidly getting into the ])ractice of opium-eating. In the Nineteenth Report of the Inspec- tors of Prisons in the Northern and Eiisteni Districts of England, it is stated, that in the district of Wisbeach, opium-eating is very prevalent in this district, and the use of the drug is often apparent in its eifects on the morals and intellects of the prisoners. The Rev. A. S. Thelwall, in his interest- ing work on the Iniquities of the Opium Trade with China, gives a deplorable account of the destructive effect on the health of the Chinese who indulge in it. He gives a translation of a memorial to the Emperor, by Choc Tsun, a member of Council, &c. In the history of Formosa, says he, we find the following passage — Oijium was first produced in Kaoutsinne, which by some is said to be the same as Kalapa or Batavia. The natives of this place were at the first sprightly and active, and being good soldiers, were always successful in battle. But the people called Hung-maou (red- haired) came thither, and having manufactured 0f)ium, seduced some of the natives into the habit of smoking it. From these the mania for it spread rapidly throughout the whole nation ; so that in process of time the natives became feeble and enervated, submitted to foreign rule, and ulti- mately were completely subjugated. Now the English, continues he, are of the race of foreigners called Hung-maou. In introducing opium into this country, their pur^jose has been to weaken and enfeeble the Central Empire. If not early aroused to a sense of our danger, we shall find our- selves ere long on the last step towards ruin. It thus appears, concludes Choo Tsun, it is beyond the power of any artificial means to save a people enervated by luxury. In the same memorial Choo Tsun thus observes — While the stream of importation of opium is not turned aside, it is impossible to attain any certainty that none within the camp do ever secretly inhale the drug. And if the camp be once contaminated by it, the baneful influence will work its way, and the habit will be contracted beyond the power of reform. When the periodical times of desire for it come round, how can the victims — (their legs tottering, their hands trem- bling, their eyes flowing with child-like tears) be able in any way to attend to their proper exercise ? Or how can such men form strong and powerful legions ? Under these circumstances, the military will become alike vtiflt to the fight, or in a retreat to defend their posts. Of this there is a clear proof in the instance of the campaign against the Yaou rebels in 1832. Jn the army sent to Leenchow on that occasion, great numhers of the soldiers iaere opium-smokers; so that, although their numerical force tvai large, there was hardly any strength to be found among them,''
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