p. 295 | Health Department by James Edson White

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jul 22, 1875

Health Department.

By James Edson White

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 2.

Tobacco as a Medicine.

WE hold that tobacco is essentially bad, an unmitigated curse, as well to the health as to the pocket, of every consumer. Not only this, but it is almost impossible to conceive of a worse nuisance in society. In the crowded street, in the railroad car, on the steamboat, in the lecture hall, in the church, and in the parlor, the tobacco-user makes himself an object of disgust to every one who does not defile himself by the use of the filthy weed.

But we might be inclined to put up with the inconvenience if there were no worse results. But when we realize that the life energy is being sapped by every cigar and by every “chew” taken, we see reason for protest which should recommend itself to every candid person.

But right here we meet with a difficulty which has always been the most obstinate enemy to the tobacco reform. It is the statement that the use of tobacco was recommended by the physician. This is always given with an air of triumph, and is expected to put a quietus upon further argument on the subject. You ask them what their experience is in regard to the benefits which they have derived from its use, and they will reply that it has “cured them.”

The maladies for which tobacco is used are various: for dyspepsia, heart burn, water-brash, &c., &c. In fact, we have heard it stated by a physician of note that tobacco has seventeen medicinal properties, any one of which is supposed to be sufficient indication for its use, which, of course, means its adoption as a permanent habit, for we seldom hear of a discontinuance of the habit when the “cure” is effected, and we find upon questioning that the “cure” is only effectual so long as the remedy is used, which fact leads us to look with suspicion upon the whole affair.

Tobacco is a powerful narcotic. So long as it is used it may deaden the sensibility to inconvenient symptoms. For instance, tobacco is frequently used for toothache. Toothache is often caused by the nerves of the teeth being exposed to the action of outside agencies. Tobacco being a powerful narcotic, and the nerves being exposed almost to its direct influence, are deadened in sensibility, and the toothache is relieved. Time after time the experiment is tried, and each time with the same result. Experience, therefore, proves that tobacco cures toothache; hence it is an excellent article for all to use who are troubled with toothache. This is a fair sample of what is denominated experience at the present day.

But let us examine a little closer. In order that the integrity of the whole body may be preserved, it is necessary that the mind be made aware of anything that is injuring the system in any part. This is one of the important offices which the nerves perform. Reason will not answer. It must be something which will compel the remedying of the evil as quickly as possible. This sensibility to injury we call pain. Unconsciously the child places his hand in the fire. If it were not for the pain he immediately feels he would allow it to remain there until it became a useless crisp. Thus the pain that is felt is what preserves the hand from destruction. If by any means the pain could be avoided, any amount of injury might be done without our knowledge. Hence we see that pain is absolutely a friend, and not an enemy.

The application of this to toothache can readily be understood. The pain felt is the notification from the tooth to the brain that there are agencies at work, which, sooner or later, destroy the tooth, unless preventive measures are adopted. If some agency is employed which will deaden the sensibility without removing the cause, no radical cure is effected, and the danger is that the tooth will be neglected until it is too late to save it.

From its effects upon toothache we can reason in regard to other maladies for which tobacco is considered a specific. By wrong habits in life some parts of the system are being injured. The rational course is to look for the cause of the difficulty and put it away, when the results will disappear. The inconvenience or pain which is felt is the demand on the part of Nature for the remedying of some evil which is injuring the integrity of the system. The use of tobacco may, in some instances, still this voice, but it cannot hinder the results.

It takes time and self-denial at first to look into the cause of the difficulty, and then live in strict conformity to Nature’s laws; and so the usual inquiry is: “How can I stave off the penalty and still continue in my old habits?” The fallacy of this is seldom discovered until Nature takes the case in hand. Nature may tolerate abuse for a long time, but the retribution is none the less sure for being tardy. J. E. White.