Tobacco must therefore be considered as a narcotic acrid poison. Habit reconciles the system to its action when used moderately, but nothing can secure the body from its irritative property and its ultimate absorption when employed in excess or incautiously. Uncon trollable fits of sneezing have produced death, and smoking a number of pipes or cigars has also caused death. The use of an infusion as a wash to the head in ringworm, or against the itch, has produced death by absorption through the abraded surface. The greater number of fatal cases have resulted from the employment of it as an injection into the rectum, either against worms, or, by a most singular practice, in the form of smoke in the case of persons drowned, a custom which ought to be strongly censured and relinquished.
The few eases which can justify the use of so formidable an agent are those in which great relaxation of the muscles is wished, such as to reduce dislocations or hernias, or to remove obstructions in the intes tines, in ilcus, and similar diseases. But the utmost caution is here requisite; and an injection of uniform strength, as ordered iu the ' Pharmacopccia; is to be prepared, and thrown up in divided portions, under the direction and in the presence of the medical attendant.
In case of over-close, vital stimulants, such as brandy or ammonia, must be resorted to. Tobacco is now nearly entirely superseded by chloroform in such cases. The infusion of tobacco has been recom mended as a diuretic in some cases of dropsy ; but it is a dangerous remedy, and seldom employed.
Against the common use of tobacco for snuffing or smoking it is perhaps useless to declaim. Chewing it is limited in a great measure to sailors, and it were to be wished that the practice of smoking were similarly restricted. The evils which follow indulgence in these customs are not very obvious, but that injury results in most eases is certain. [ANTIDOTES; EBIIIIINES.] Tobacco is largely sophisticated. These are frauds on the revenue, or on the purchaser, but not many of them am dangerous. Snuff, however, is adulterated at times with lead. The use of such adulterated snuff produces paralysis of some of the facial nerves.