Tobacco Injurious to the Mind.
By Wm. H. Brinkerhoff
JoEL ShEW says, "Any narcotic, the use of which is capable of causing hypochondriasis, hysteria, epilepsy, mental imbecility, and insanity, must of necessity, if employed habitually, become detrimental to the intellect and the morals in proportion to the extent of the abuse. Besides it is a recognized principle in nature, that whatever enfeebles the body, must, in the end, and in the same degree, enfeeble the mind. 'A sound mind in a sound body' is the physiological law. This every tobacco user violates." Dr. Rush "states of the father of Dr. Massillac that he lost his memory through the excessive use of snuff at only forty years of age." Sir John Pringle's memory was also sadly impaired in the same way, as was proved by his recovery on abstaining from it at the suggestion of Dr. Franklin. Prof. Hitchcock says, "Intoxicating drinks, opium and tobacco, exert a pernicious influence upon the intellect. They tend directly to debilitate the organs; and we cannot take a more effectual course to cloud the understanding, weaken the memory, unfix the attention, and confuse all the mental operations, than by thus entailing on ourselves the whole hateful train of maladies. These can bow down to the earth an intellect of giant strength, and make it grind in bondage like Samson shorn of his locks and deprived of his vision. The use of tobacco may seem to soothe the feelings, and quicken the operations of the mind; but to what purpose is it that the machine is furiously running and buzzing after the balance-wheel is taken off." Remarks. Paul in 2 Tim. i, 7, says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind." It is designed that the Christian should have a "sound mind," an unclouded intellect. This is very necessary in these last days, as Satan is continually placing before the mind many devices calculated to lead astray. These are days of peril; but the tobacco inebriate, with his mind racked and balance-wheel gone, is illy prepared to battle against these evils and travel in the pathway of purity. Again, in Romans vii, 25, Paul says, "I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, so then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin." The slave of tobacco, with his mind beclouded, memory weakened, and all his mental operations confused, can render but a feeble service unto God. Men, by the use of tobacco might forget that God has a law: at least many of them who profess to keep the commandments, ignore the testimony because it condemns tobacco. Oh what a monster vice! and how many are willing slaves to tobacco in all its uses! Let me say, Adopt for your motto "Immediate Emancipation," now and forever. Ask God to help you in your resolves, and you will then be free and able to work in the Master's vineyard.