The other narcotic : addressed especially and earnestly to abstainers from intoxicants / by Mrs. Hind Smith.

  • Hind Smith, Mrs.
Date:
Between 1870 and 1879?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The other narcotic : addressed especially and earnestly to abstainers from intoxicants / by Mrs. Hind Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    defensible at all, surely the argument is in favour of its monopoly by those who make no pretensions to any elevation of mind, and who are aiming at nothing beyond plodding through the lowest levels of life. In conclusion, let me say that, with all my personal shrinking from the smell of tobacco—the effect on my system being instantaneous, producing headache and nausea in proportion to the length of time I am occasionally and unfortunately obliged to inhale the fumes—yet I would willingly bear the annoyance and inconvenience if I thought anyone really profited thereby. But I know that this is not the effect of the habit, and that the temporary relief it gives is only a relief to suffering and uneasiness which it has itself created. Dr. Gibbon justly describes it as u a blessing only where it has become a curse.” Examine for a moment the phenomena of the habit. During the reaction from a dose, a terrible ennui sets in. Can it be wondered at that, whilst in this condition, the poor victim—hodman, literary man, or preacher—is in a state utterly unfit for work ? Give him, however, his narcotic, and all his wretchedness disappears—his whole frame is comforted, soothed, and refreshed ; and, semi-intoxicated as he is, he blesses and praises tobacco for its wonderful inspiration aud stimulus to work. But now we are brought face to face with a momentous consideration. Spiritual life in the soul is directly hindered by alcohol, tobacco, and all other narcotic “ stimulants.” The experience of one minister in regard to tobacco is thus expressed—“ While I have seen many honoured and beloved brethren manifestly injured in their spiritual interests by7 the habit, I have never yet seen one made a better man for it.” And Dr. Stock, in the book already referred to, testifies, “When I gave up smoking, one ligature that bound me to the earth was loosened. I found smoking any¬ thing but friendly to a growth in grace, and, on the other hand, I have found decided spiritual advantage from the renunciation of the habit.” Dear friends, “The time is short.” Our day of usefulness is limited. Let none of us be so anxious to prove how much we may indulge ourselves as how much wTe may give up for the Lord Jesus, and for our fellow-men, “ for whom he died.” And let it never be said that we total abstainers are only half in earnest; that while knocking down one evil habit we are building up another; while attacking the traffic in drink we are countenancing and supporting the tobacco trade. Let us be out-and-out in the reform we seek, and, by our habit and example, as well as by our words, teach the prayer, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” “I beseech you, therefore, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Anti-Narcotic Lca^me, 56, Peter Street, Manchester.