Is smoking injurious? : the arguments pro and con rationally considered / by John Skelton.

  • Skelton, John, active 1852-1865.
Date:
[between 1860 and 1869?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Is smoking injurious? : the arguments pro and con rationally considered / by John Skelton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    IS SMOKING INJURIOUS ? THE ARGUMENTS PRO AND CON RATIONALLY CONSIDERED: BY CTOHUST SKELTON, ESQ,., MEMBER OE THE ROYAL COLLEGE OE SURGEONS OE ENGLAND. “ What a brotherhood ! There are but three animals that can abide tobacco—the African rock-goat; the most loathsome animal on earth, the foul tobacco-worm ; and the rational creature may.”—Dr. Caldwell. PRICE ONE PENNY. Published by the Author at 13, Aldenham Terrace, Somers-Town, LONDON, N.W. And at 11, East-Parade, Leeds. tc Nor is it left arbitrary, at the will and pleasure of every man, to do as he list, after the dictates of a depraved humour and extravagant fancy, to live at what rate he pleaseth ; but every one is bound to observe the injunctions and law of nature, upon the penalty of forfeiting their health, strength, and liberty, the true and long enjoyment of themselves.”—Mainwayringe, “ Of all the plants that Tellus’ bosom yields, In groves, glades, gardens, marshes, mountains, fields, None so pernicious to man’s life is known, As is tobacco, saving hemp alone. If there be any herb in any place Most opposite to God’s good herb of grace, ’Tis doubtless this ; and this doth plainly prove it, That for the most part, graceless men do love it, Or rather doat most on this withered weed, Themselves as withered in all gracious deed.”—Sylvester. INTRODUCTION. If we believe the truism, that happiness cannot exist without health, then the summit of our desires should be to be healthy, inasmuch as without it there can be no lasting enjoyment of life ; any thing, therefore, that tends to influence our physical nature, whether for good or evil, becomes a consideration of vital importance. The two most important vital influences of men are, imitation and habit; the one existing before the judgment is formed, as a consequence of external impressions, and the other overcoming the judgment, and reconciling to our natures practices repulsive and injurious, as pleasing or beneficial, or vice versa. We may see from these two operations the prime causes of the almost universal custom of using Tobacco ; and believing it pernicious, both physically and mentally, we shall proceed at once to give our reasons.