An Anti-Tobacco Protest.
By William B. Hidden
THE Rev. James Brand says: "The deterioration of the moral sense, the decay of the will power, the loss of manhood, are the characteristics of the drunkard." Is this defective condition normal or acquired? If it is both, what contributes most to its development and what can be done to arrest the decay of the will power and tone up the moral sense? It is the fashion now to turn all our heavy artillery upon the dram shops, which is only taking the animal by the tail. As a nation, we are fast becoming the devil's agents for converting tobacco into spittle and smoke. Our boys are being dwarfed and stunted, mentally and physically, by its use. Let us see what "the weed" has to do with the loss of moral sense and decay of will power and manhood. It is a law of our being that nature accommodates herself to the gradual inroads of any poison, but always with a corresponding loss or surrender of her finer sensibilities and powers. We see the proof of this in the effect of opium and alcohol upon its devotees. Tobacco is a sedative, narcotic poison, having no elements in common with the human system, and therefore not necessary to the welfare of any human being. It impoverishes the soil upon which it is raised. It enslaves all of those who use it, though, generally, they do not know it until they try to break up the habit. It diminishes the frequency of the heart's action and greatly increases its force, through its effects upon the brain and nerves. It invades that sacred temple of communication 'twixt earth and heaven—the brain—with influences benumbing. It depresses the system and makes many persons hanker for stimulants. Its injurious effects are in direct ratio to the effort it costs to give up its use. There is no such thing as a temperate use of tobacco or strychnine for the same reason. Tobacco and whisky—as boon companions—enter the haunts of vice and crime. How large a proportion of the sudden deaths from heart disease, paralysis, and apoplexy are due to this agent is difficult to estimate; for, as almost every physician uses the weed, the road to investigation is blocked. Is not the use of tobacco the highway to the decay of the will-power, moral sense, and manhood? To illustrate: A father came to consult a physician—thought he had consumption. Said "he was a church member; had no desire to live except to support his family, and wished to be told frankly if he must die, of which he had no fears, thank God. Examination revealed irregular action of the heart and intense nervous depression, such as often leads men to take their own lives by various means. During this examination his wife sat near, weeping. He was told that if he continued the use of tobacco he would be his own executioner; if he left it off, it would be a terrible struggle, in which he would need divine assistance. He gave up what tobacco he had with him, and promised never to use any more; came back in three days in a pitiable condition, wholly disqualified for any mental or physical labor, but soon recovered his health and manhood. It is the observation of the writer that nine-tenths of those who have given up the use "the weed" after being under its influence, return to its use sooner or later, which shows that its wonderful power over the will is really something to be dreaded. This national vice is as filthy as it is fashionable; as detrimental to the user as profitable to the producer, as sure in its effect upon the brain as upon the pocket of the user. It defiles God's dwelling-place (1 Cor. 3: 16, 17) as much as it does our dwellings, and the lips of God's messenger as much as the profane swearer.—Wm. B. Hidden, M. D.