p. 1 | TOBACCO ON HEALTH

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 19, 1864

TOBACCO ON HEALTH

Tobacco - Using. No. 7.

TOBACCO ON HEALTH.

ONE seeming misfortune about this pernicious habit—to which allusion has already been made—is, it remains so long doing its fatal work without being perceived. If its doings could speak out as readily and as loudly as those of alcohol at this day, many a life might be saved that is now being sacrificed upon its cruel altar. The time has been when alcohol did its work unperceived. It walked boldly among men of the first respectability with its arrows of death, without being considered a destroying angel, but rather an angel of mercy, exercising good-will to man. Now its cloven foot is seen, and the demon tries to hide himself. He is still doing a fearful work, but not with so bold a face, nor in so reputable a circle.

It is somewhat amusing, as well as painful, to see the monster now retire behind a large screen, or in a back apartment of the dram-shops; or down, out of sight, in the basement of respectable hotels; in order that he may carry on his work unblushingly, and that his friends, who would be glad to preserve their respectability and their drams, may associate with him with much less embarrassment.

But as yet the Devil's great agent, tobacco, goes shamelessly forth, without the external signs of blood upon his skirts. Not because no blood is there; nay, his garments are full of the blood of his victims; but the world has thrown over him the long red veil of fashion, which shields his real character and the marks of his doings. But my prayer before Heaven is, that the veil that covers the sins of this incorrigible monster may soon be torn asunder. It seems to me, that time is not far ahead; that a revolution will soon take place; that men of common sense, of thought and reflection, will wake up and concentrate the forces of public opinion, to dispel the darkness that hovers over this enormous evil, and wipe its foul stain from the face of human society.

A few men are disseminating light upon the subject. It is to be hoped others will enlist their powers in this warfare. Every medical man is called upon, for the highest good of humanity, to which the profession dedicates itself, to carry a lamp in his hand that will shed light upon the subject. Every minister of the Gospel ought to "cry aloud and spare not," against an evil habit that not only destroys the bodies of those who are required to present themselves living sacrifices upon the altar of Christ, but in benumbing the highest susceptibilities of their souls; an evil habit which, like alcohol, stands in the way of those whom they would persuade to become reconciled to God; an evil habit that is costing the members of the church not only a large amount of their physical and moral energies, but an enormous amount of money, which, in the Christian treasury, would do immense good to a benighted world.

There never has been a time since tobacco came into popular use, when men, possessed of a spirit of humanity or of Christian zeal, were so loudly called upon to come to the help of God and the rescue of the race in this matter, as at the present time. Americans are using it more extensively than any other people. It is estimated that the consumption of tobacco in this country is eight times as great as in France, and three times as great as in England, in proportion to the population.

The habit is increasing. There is a larger number, in proportion to the population, who are using it now, than at any former period. It is being used earlier in life than formerly. Our fathers began to use it later in life than the present generation of men. Now it is used very early. Young boys are chewing and smoking. It often seems to me that if laying my own life on the altar of humanity could save this rising generation, and those that may follow them, from this dreadful destroyer, the offering should freely be made.

To see the boys in our streets crippling their vital energies in the very buddings of life, with this Bohun Upas, is truly appalling. This is the time, if ever, to lay in a good stock of health and soundness. If the vital forces are crippled now, they are probably crippled for life. Its withering influence at this period, on the brain and nerves, and the electrical currents that flow constantly through them, and on the serous and mucous membranes which gather this electrical fluid, is far greater than at any other age. At this period especially, are needed all the avails of the nervous energies, for accomplishing the full and perfect developments of the different organs of the body; and for ushering in the completions of manhood. But perhaps a more fearful view of the matter still, is its destructive power transmitted from parent to child.

(To be continued.)