Search -
The Workman's Pipe: what it Is, and what it Does
The Workman's Pipe what it Is and what it Does Author:William Ritchie Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE WORKMAN'S PIPE, Mr. Chairman And Friends,— As just announced, "Tobacco" is the subject of discussion to-night. This unpopular topic, so deeply interest... more »ing to all, is especially important to labouring men, whether we consider the nature of the drug, its wide-spread consumption, the ordinary mode of using it, or its effects upon the consumer and his offspring. For thus submitting these matters to public debate, we expect a further share of that treatment which is the common reward of striving to do mankind good by censuring evil habits. But every lover of his kind is bound, at whatever sacrifice, and to his utmost ability, to expose what is one powerful element in sapping the foundation of his countrymen's happiness, prosperity, health, and life. Such a movement is imperatively required, when young and old are adding a most pernicious practice to the other evils of our times ; and we trust that patience and perseverance will do in this case what they have done for every great scientific truth. To obviate being justly charged with " talking nonsense," I shall, first, notice the botanical order,—the chemical and medical properties of tobacco. Second. I shall scrupulously quote its acknowledged injurious effects from its supposed friends, as Dr. B. W. Richardson, Sir B. Brodie, the Lancet, Mr. Lewis, the Athenaum, Daily News, and others, some of whom would occasionally allow its use when not strictly medicinal: but illustrations of its consequences will be collected from any source. Third. I consider neither exceptional cases (if such exist), nor discuss its fancied importance in hernia, tetanus, and like serious affections, in which its depressing power on the heart renders it so dangerous 8 PLAN. and of doubtful utility, that the most careful practitioners, once it...« less