He Made a Mistake by Editor

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Nov 6, 1879

He Made a Mistake.

By Editor

IN some remarks made at the Fresno camp-meeting we said, in reference to the supposed medicinal effects of narcotics and stimulants, as tobacco and whisky, that, if the theory were correct; if such medicinal powers really existed in them, the effect would be lost by continual usage. In this we only stated a well-known truth. A given amount of cathartic may produce a certain effect on the system; but if the same amount be taken daily for three months, the same effect will not follow. The system, by long-continued abuse, fails to recognize the intruder. It may be that the powers of the organs become partially paralyzed, and so cannot respond when a call is made. But whatever the cause may be the fact remains beyond question.

On this a friend reasons and concludes thus: If a narcotic ceases to have effect on the system by long-continued usage, then tobacco can have no effect on my system, as I have used it many years!

That is not what we said; and no one at all acquainted with the subject would arrive at such a conclusion. It does not have the same effect on the system that it had at the commencement of use. This every one knows. And, if it had any medicinal effect at first, it ceases to have, after long use. A given amount of brandy does not have the same effect on a man after he has used it daily for ten years, that it had when he commenced to use it. Is it right thence to conclude that it is no longer injurious to that man to drink it? If the aim was to produce a certain effect at first, that effect does not follow after using it for years. But it has an effect; it is certainly injurious, and is gradually undermining the whole system. And so with all stimulants and narcotics.

We knew a lady who, for a certain ailment, was given regularly for months minute doses of strychnia. After a time the same quantity ceased to have any apparent effect, and, so far from fearing any injury from the use, she craved it, and felt that it was necessary to her system. Was it therefore innocent? By no means. After a time it manifested its baneful power; her nervous system gave way, and was shattered beyond all hope of recovery.

If that person who reasons as above, thinks that tobacco has no effect on his system, let him stop using it for forty-eight hours, and mark the result. If he does not become convinced that it holds him in slavery more abject than any of which he ever dreamed, we shall confess ourselves mistaken. Many who are convinced that it is injurious and wrong to use it dare not attempt to reform, as they both dread the trial and fear a failure. They realize something of its power. A man in Stockton, Cal., once said to us: “A man is not half a man who uses tobacco.”

“Why, then,” we queried, “do you not abstain from its use?”

“That is the very reason,” he replied; “I have not manhood enough left to stop it!”

A sad experience with the vile narcotic, years ago, enables us to appreciate his answer. Let the apologist for tobacco ponder it well.