wholesome food, good digestion, and a good constitution. To those of a robust habit and sanguine temperament, they are particularly baneful. Sound beer of moderate strength, or wine-andwater, is generally a valuable help where the food is insipid and not sufficiently stimulating and nutritious; also, where the tissues of the body are flaccid, the living power is depressed, and the circulation sluggish, whether arising from cold, damp, over-exertion, fever, or any exhausting malady or circumstance. It is, however, a sacred duty to buy good and proper food, in preference to that which is not sufficiently nutritious, to be supplemented by fermented liquors.

Good beer and wine, particularly the former, are sometimes magic restoratives in extreme nervous excitation and want of sleep, attended with anomia and general debility. In some of these cases, the pupils of the eyes are dilated, and the whole surface of the body is pale and damp. In others, the pupils are contracted, and the face is flushed. In either state the pulse is unusually rapid. But whether the face be pale or flushed in exhaustion of vital power, stimulants, as wine, beer, or spiritand-water, must be freely given, in addition to other nutriment. The living power and the nervous energy must be sustained; without which all the manifestations of life go wrong, or soon ter

minate. Spiritous stimulants, in cases of exhaustion, not only soothe and keep the nerves alive, but serve as elements of respiration, and thus help to prevent life ebbing out before proper ordinary food can be taken.

In exhaustion consequent upon childbirth, wine or brandy, or both, given freely, are sometimes imperative, in order to save life or prevent mania. And in some puerperal cases, good ale or stout is requisite from the first day of delivery, beside animal food, in order to prevent fever of debility, and give the mother a chance of wet-nursing her baby. Waiting a certain number of days before giving meat and stimulants is the way to commit mischief. It must depend upon circumstances.

And in many cases of debility, with febrile congestion of some of the abdominal viscera, attended with tenderness and pain, and a general feeling of distress, a liberal supply of wine, good ale, or stout, proves an essential remedy, bringing comparative ease and comfort in half-an-hour.

Of course the direction of stimulants for invalids belongs to the medical attendant. Mental excitement, with corporeal irritative action and congestion of exhaustion, must not be confounded with the mental excitement connected with sthenic action and sanguineous plethora.

Good draught beer is, in general, preferable to

bottled; and it should be had direct from the brewer or his stores, to give the patient the best chance of recovery. In cases of spasms, acidity, and debility of the stomach in the decline of life, spirit and water is preferable to wine or beer.

To take ardent spirits, or any kind of fermented liquor to excess, is one of the abominations of this earth. It causes disease of the blood, brain, nerves, heart, lungs, stomach, liver, kidneys, bladder, and every tissue and secretion of the body, ending in dropsy and premature, if not sudden, death.

Alas! bodily suffering from strong drink is not the main evil. Instead of an understanding heart, wisdom, proper energy, affection, faithfulness, peace, joy, a soothing voice, a comfortable home, and good food, there is loss or disturbance of intellect, volition, memory, and sensation; poverty, wretchedness, swearing, blasphemy, falsehood, robbery, anger, malice, and all manner of violence, vice, and crime, even to torture and bloodshed. The allotted work in the Lord's vineyard is left undone, and heed is not given to the solemn truth, that "As a man soweth now, that shall he also reap in eternity."

87

TOBACCO-SMOKING.

WE cannot rightly go beyond the chapter embracing drink without a few words upon smoking.

It is said that tobacco-smoking is a vice leading to other vices; that it leads to the abuse of fermented liquors, and to drunkenness; that it takes money which is wanted for just debts and family requirements and comforts at home; and that it is a waste of time that might be profitably employed.

But tobacco-smoking is injurious in itself. Tobacco contains three powerful poisons—“Nicotin, a crystallizable salt; Nicotianin, a camphoraceous oil; and an empyreumatic oil." These poisons are considerably destroyed by heat, and the process of preparing the plant for smoking, snuff, and chewing; but much still remains.

The poisonous effects of tobacco are very striking in those first beginning to smoke. We well remember a youth making his first smoking essay. Soon after he began a cigar he staggered to a tree in the garden, laid hold of a lower bough with both hands, and there lodged his head. He was very pallid; a cold sweat came over his temples; he complained of feeling powerless, a continued nausea, numbness of the scalp, dimness of sight, and discomfort of the bowels. This was enough tobacco fume for him; he has never since wasted

his money and time in smoking; and such a resolution has proved to him a great advantage.

If these symptoms do not happen to those who are accustomed to smoke, others more durable, and consequently worse, sometimes do, separately or conjointly, viz., nervousness, want of muscular steadiness, bad appetite, indigestion, headache, palpitation, diarrhoea, and emaciation.

A notable effect of a cigar, however, did happen one day recently to an old smoker. After some puffs of the cigar, which at the time appeared unusually potent, he fell apparently lifeless on the floor, except a "gurgling in the throat." nearest doctor was sent for, but before he arrived the patient had rallied.

The

Some persons smoke after breakfast, to promote intestinal evacuation; but still, are they not substantially injured by the tobacco if it has this effect? and would not the habit of daily giving the bowels a chance of natural relief regularly at one hour, and other means, do better?

Some say, "I am nervous; I must smoke; it soothes my nerves." But is not the nervous

system first enervated by the tobacco, and then a little more is required to give a momentary steadiness to the trembling hand and faltering voice? Is it not the same with delirium tremens from spiritous liquors?