Whilst flicking through the first edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica (published in 3 volumes in 1771) I fell upon 'Tobacco' (by pure chance of course) but was redirected to 'Nicotiana'. Here I found some fascinating 18c. insights on the production and various uses of our beloved leaf. Below are a couple of the more interesting and scary ones..Do Not Try These At Home Folks :wink:
'That taken in the way of smoke, dries and damages the brain. Borrhi in a letter to Bartholine mentions a person who through excess of smoking had dried his brain to that degree that after his death there was nothing found in his skull but a little black lump, consisting of mere membranes.'
'It is sometimes also taken in little longish pellets put up the nose, where it is found to produce very good effects, to attract a deal of water or pituita, unload the head, resolve catarrhs, and make a free respiration; for the subtle parts of the tobacco in inspiration, are carried into the trachea and lungs, where they loosen the peccant humours adhering thereto, and promote expectoration. Some have left this tobacco in their noses all night; but this is found to occasion vomiting the next morning. Another thing charged on this way of application is that it weakens the sight.'
'When taken in great quantities in the way of snuff, it is found to prejudice the smelling, greatly diminishes the appetite and in time give rise to a phthisis [wasting disease].'
'Some people use the infusion of tobacco as an emetic; but it is a very dangerous and unjustifiable practice, and often produces violent vomiting, sickness and stupidity.'
'A strong decoction of the [tobacco] stalks, with sharp pointed dock and alum, is said to be of good service, used externally, in cutaneous distempers, especially the itch [?]: some boil them for that purpose in urine. The same is said to be infallible in curing the mange in dogs.'
'A drop or two of the chymical oil of tobacco, being put on the tongue of a cat, produces violent convulsions and death itself in the space of a minute. Yet the same oil used in lint, and applied to the teeth has been of service in the tooth-ache: though it must be to those that have been used to the taking of tobacco; otherwise great sickness, retchings, vomitings, &c happen.'
'Beat into a mash with vinegar or brandy it has been found serviceable in removing hard tumours of the hypochondria.'
Life seemed so much more fun back in the olden days :
:
Regards,
Jay.
'That taken in the way of smoke, dries and damages the brain. Borrhi in a letter to Bartholine mentions a person who through excess of smoking had dried his brain to that degree that after his death there was nothing found in his skull but a little black lump, consisting of mere membranes.'
'It is sometimes also taken in little longish pellets put up the nose, where it is found to produce very good effects, to attract a deal of water or pituita, unload the head, resolve catarrhs, and make a free respiration; for the subtle parts of the tobacco in inspiration, are carried into the trachea and lungs, where they loosen the peccant humours adhering thereto, and promote expectoration. Some have left this tobacco in their noses all night; but this is found to occasion vomiting the next morning. Another thing charged on this way of application is that it weakens the sight.'
'When taken in great quantities in the way of snuff, it is found to prejudice the smelling, greatly diminishes the appetite and in time give rise to a phthisis [wasting disease].'
'Some people use the infusion of tobacco as an emetic; but it is a very dangerous and unjustifiable practice, and often produces violent vomiting, sickness and stupidity.'
'A strong decoction of the [tobacco] stalks, with sharp pointed dock and alum, is said to be of good service, used externally, in cutaneous distempers, especially the itch [?]: some boil them for that purpose in urine. The same is said to be infallible in curing the mange in dogs.'
'A drop or two of the chymical oil of tobacco, being put on the tongue of a cat, produces violent convulsions and death itself in the space of a minute. Yet the same oil used in lint, and applied to the teeth has been of service in the tooth-ache: though it must be to those that have been used to the taking of tobacco; otherwise great sickness, retchings, vomitings, &c happen.'
'Beat into a mash with vinegar or brandy it has been found serviceable in removing hard tumours of the hypochondria.'
Life seemed so much more fun back in the olden days :
:Regards,
Jay.
