Baltimore, Md. - According to the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, nearly one-fourth of Americans are smokers.
That's more than 60 million people who are at increased for lung
cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths nationwide.
Despite the risks, many people have trouble kicking this
addictive habit. As a result, officials and doctors are
trying to find less harmful alternatives to cigarette smoking. But
some products, like smokeless tobacco, may not be effective
replacements, according to research presented today during the
American Association for Cancer Research's 4th annual Frontiers in
Cancer Prevention Research meeting in Baltimore.
"While new products are being developed and marketed as less
harmful alternatives to cigarettes, they should be evaluated for
efficacy in reducing smoking use, as well as actual reduced
incidence of related diseases," said William G. Nelson, V, M.D.,
Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins University and Program Chair of the
meeting. "With such a large population at risk for serious health
consequences, we need to move quickly on strategies to thwart this
dangerous habit."
Carcinogen Exposure across Oral Tobacco and Medicinal Nicotine
Products (Abstract 3477)
Smokeless oral tobacco products including lozenges and moist
snuff may be safer than cigarette smoking, but neither represents a
good alternative for those wishing to quit smoking, according to
studies conducted by scientists at the University of Minnesota.
Instead, the best aid appears to be medicinal nicotine products
such as the patch.
"Collectively, these results indicate that most smokeless
tobacco products are not necessarily a safe alternative to smoking
and are inferior to medicinal nicotine products with respect to
carcinogen exposure," said Stephen Hecht, Ph.D., of the University
of Minnesota Cancer Center and lead author of the study. "Smokeless
tobacco products should not be considered an acceptable substitute
for cigarette smoking, especially when relatively harmless
medicinal nicotine products are available."
In their study, the Minnesota researchers evaluated carcinogen
levels in smokeless tobacco and medicinal nicotine products as well
as carcinogen biomarker levels present in the users. The study
compared the carcinogen levels of several types of oral tobacco
products made in the U.S, which have carcinogen levels at least 100
times that of other consumer products designed for oral use. The
lowest levels were found in hard snuff lozenges and only trace
amounts were found in medicinal nicotine products. The most
prevalent strong carcinogens in smokeless tobacco products are the
tobacco-specific nitrosamines (cancer causing chemical agents), of
which the strongest carcinogens are in N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN)
and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK).
The new results conflict with some prior research that suggested
that smokeless tobacco, including moist snuff, may be a less
harmful alternative to cigarette smoking because many of the
carcinogens in cigarette smoke are either reduced or not present in
smokeless tobacco.
Smokeless Tobacco as a Substitute for Cigarettes: An Appraisal
of the Evidence. (Abstract 2684)
One of the most popular forms of smokeless tobacco (ST) in the
U.S. and parts of Europe is moist snuff, which is used by placing
the product in the mouth. Because there are fewer side effects and
risks associated with its use than with standard cigarette smoking,
use of snuff has been proposed as a safer alternative for smokers
unable or unwilling to quit using tobacco.
The "Swedish experience" is used as evidence that ST is
effective in smoking cessation and harm reduction because there is
a reduced use of cigarettes and increased consumption of moist
snuff, while the incidence of tobacco-related cancers has
decreased. But the correlation appears to be largely related to
other factors.
In a study from the University of Florida, researchers conclude
that use of smokeless tobacco in Sweden was not associated with
smoking cessation. In fact, it's possible that smokeless tobacco
may actually encourage some teens to take up smoking.
What's more, recent cohort studies suggest that U.S. males are
more likely to switch from smokeless tobacco to cigarettes than the
reverse. Use of both smokeless tobacco and cigarettes is a more
common pattern in the U.S. than switching from cigarettes to
smokeless tobacco.
"Based on this evidence, we feel that the use of smokeless
tobacco is rarely a successful strategy for smoking cessation in
the U.S., and may actually be a risk factor for starting to smoke,"
said Scott Tomar, of the University of Florida, and lead author of
the study.
"There is insufficient evidence that using smokeless tobacco is
effective, feasible or acceptable as a smoking cessation strategy
in most populations," he added.
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A
COVNTER-BLASTE
TO
TOBACCO.
(WRITTEN BY KING JAMES I.)
EDITED BY
EDMUND GOLDSMID, F.R.H.S.
PRIVATELY PRINTED, EDINBURGH.
1884.
Covnter-Blaste To Tobacco.
IMPRINTED AT LONDON
by R.B.
Anno 1604.
TO THE READER.
As euery humane body (deare
Countrey men) how wholesome soeuer, be notwithstanding subiect, or at least
naturally inclined to some sorts of diseases, or infirmities: so is there no
Common-wealth, or Body-politicke, how well gouerned, or peaceable soeuer it
bee, that lackes the owne popular errors, and naturally enclined corruptions:
and therefore is it no wonder, although this our Countrey and Common-wealth,
though peaceable, though wealthy, though long flourishing in both, be amongst
the rest, subiect to the owne naturall infirmities. We are of all Nations the
people most louing and most reuerently obedient to our Prince, yet are wee (as
time has often borne witnesse) too easie to be seduced to make Rebellion, vpon
very slight grounds. Our fortunate and off prooued valour in warres abroad,
our heartie and reuerent obedience to our Princes at home, hath bred vs a long,
and a thrice happy peace: Our Peace hath bred wealth: And Peace and wealth hath
brought foorth a generall sluggishnesse, which makes vs wallow in all sorts
of idle delights, and soft delicacies, The first seedes of the subuersion of
all great Monarchies. Our Cleargie are become negligent and lazie, our Nobilitie
and Gentrie prodigall, and solde to their priuate delights, Our Lawyers couetous,
our Common-people prodigall and curious; and generally all sorts of people more
carefull for their priuate ends, then for their mother the Common-wealth. For
remedie whereof, it is the Kings (as the proper Phisician of his Politicke-body)
to purge it of all those diseases, by Medicines meete for the same: as by a
certaine milde, and yet iust form of gouernment, to maintaine the Publicke quietnesse,
and preuent all occasions of Commotion: by the example of his owne Person and
Court, to make vs all ashamed of our sluggish delicacie, and to stirre vs up
to the practise againe of all honest exercises, and Martiall shadowes of VVarre;
As likewise by his, and his Courts moderatenesse in Apparell, to make vs ashamed
of our prodigalitie: By his quicke admonitions and carefull overseeing of the
Cleargie to waken them vp againe, to be more diligent in their Offices: By the
sharpe triall, and seuere punishment of the partiall, couetous and bribing Lawyers,
to reforme their corruptions: And generally by the example of his owne Person,
and by the due execution of good Lawes, to reform and abolish, piece and piece,
these old and euill grounded abuses. For this will not bee Opus vnius diei,
but as euery one of these diseases, must from the King receiue the
owne cure proper for it, so are there some sorts of abuses in Common-wealths,
that though they be of so base and contemptible a condition, as they are too
low for the Law to looke on, and too meane for a King to interpone his
authoritie, or bend his eye vpon: yet are they corruptions, as well as the greatest
of them. So is an Ant an Animal, as well as an Elephant: so is a VVrenne
Auis, as well as a Swanne, and so is a small dint of the Toothake, a disease
as well as the fearefull Plague is. But for these base sorts of corruption in
Common-wealthes, not onely the King, or any inferior Magistrate, but
Quilibet è populo may serve to be a Phisician, by discouering and
impugning the error, and by perswading reformation thereof.
And surely in my opinion,
there cannot be a more base, and yet hurtfull corruption in a Countrey, then
is the vile vse (or other abuse) of taking Tobacco in this Kingdome,
which hath moued me, shortly to discouer the abuses thereof in this following
little Pamphlet.
If any thinke it a light
Argument, so it is but a toy that is bestowed upon it. And since the Subiect
is but of Smoke, I thinke the fume of an idle braine, may serue for a sufficient
battery against so fumous and feeble an enemy. If my grounds be found true,
it is all I looke for; but if they cary the force of perswasion with them, it
is all I can wish, and more than I can expect. My onely care is, that you, my
deare Countrey-men, may rightly conceiue euen by this smallest trifle, of the
sinceritie of my meaning in great matters, never to spare any
paine
that may tend to the
procuring of your weale
and prosperitie.
A COVNTER-BLASTE TO TOBACCO.
That the manifolde abuses
of this vile custome of Tobacco taking, may the better be espied, it
is fit, that first you enter into consideration both of the first originall
thereof, and likewise of the reasons of the first entry thereof into this Countrey.
For certainely as such customes, that haue their first institution either from
a godly, necessary, or honorable ground, and are first brought in, by the meanes
of some worthy, vertuous, and great Personage, are euer, and most iustly, holden
in great and reuerent estimation and account, by all wise, vertuous, and temperate
spirits: So should it by the contrary, iustly bring a great disgrace into that
sort of customes, which hauing their originall from base corruption and barbarity,
doe in like sort, make their first entry into a Countrey, by an inconsiderate
and childish affectation of Noueltie, as is the true case of the first inuention
of Tobacco taking, and of the first entry thereof among vs. For Tobacco
being a common herbe, which (though vnder diuers names) growes almost euerywhere,
was first found out by some of the barbarous Indians, to be a Preseruative,
or Antidot against the Pockes, a filthy disease, whereunto these barbarous people
are (as all men know) very much subiect, what through the vncleanly and adust
constitution of their bodies, and what through the intemperate heate of their
Climate: so that as from them was first brought into Christendome, that most
detestable disease, so from them likewise was brought this vse of Tobacco,
as a stinking and vnsauorie Antidot, for so corrupted and execrable a Maladie,
the stinking Suffumigation whereof they yet vse against that disease, making
so one canker or venime to eate out another.
And now good Countrey men
let vs (I pray you) consider, what honour or policie can mooue vs to imitate
the barbarous and beastly maners of the wilde, godlesse, and slauish Indians,
especially in so vile and stinking a custome? Shall wee disdaine to imitate
the maners of our neighbour France (hauing the stile of the first Christian
Kingdom) and that cannot endure the spirit of the Spaniards (their King being
now comparable in largenes of Dominions to the great Emperor of Turkie).
Shall wee, I say, that haue bene so long ciuill and wealthy in Peace, famous
and inuincible in Warre, fortunate in both, we that haue bene euer able to aide
any of our neighbours (but neuer deafed any of their eares with any of our supplications
for assistance) shall we, I say, without blushing, abase our selues so farre,
as to imitate these beastly Indians, slaves to the Spaniards,
refuse to the world, and as yet aliens from the holy Couenant of God? Why doe
we not as well imitate them in walking naked as they doe? in preferring glasses,
feathers, and such toyes, to golde and precious stones, as they do? yea why
do we not denie God and adore the Deuill, as they doe?A]
Now to the corrupted basenesse
of the first vse of this Tobacco, doeth very well agree the foolish and
groundlesse first entry thereof into this Kingdome. It is not so long since
the first entry of this abuse amongst vs here, as this present age cannot yet
very well remember, both the first Author,[B]
and the forme of the first introduction of it amongst vs. It was neither brought
in by King, great Conquerour, nor learned Doctor of Phisicke.
With the report of a great
discouery for a Conquest, some two or three Sauage men, were brought in, together
with this Sauage custome. But the pitie is, the poore wilde barbarous men died,
but that vile barbarous custome is yet aliue,[C]
yea in fresh vigor: so as it seemes a miracle to me, how a custome springing
from so vile a ground, and brought in by a father so generally hated, should
be welcomed vpon so slender a warrant. For if they that first put it in practise
heere, had remembred for what respect it was vsed by them from whence it came,
I am sure they would haue bene loath, to haue taken so farre the imputation
of that disease vpon them as they did, by vsing the cure thereof. For Sanis
non est opus medico, and counter-poisons are neuer vsed, but where poyson
is thought to precede.
But since it is true, that
diuers customes slightly grounded, and with no better warrant entred in a Commonwealth,
may yet in the vse of them thereafter, prooue both necessary and profitable;
it is therefore next to be examined, if there be not a full Sympathie and true
Proportion, betweene the base ground and foolish entrie, and the loathsome,
and hurtfull vse of this stinking Antidote.
I am now therefore heartily
to pray you to consider, first vpon what false and erroneous grounds you haue
first built the generall good liking thereof; and next, what sinnes towards
God, and foolish vanities before the world you commit, in the detestable vse
of it.[D]
As for these deceitfull
grounds, that haue specially mooued you to take a good and great conceit thereof,
I shall content myselfe to examine here onely foure of the principals of them;
two founded vpon the Theoricke of a deceiuable apparance of Reason, and two
of them vpon the mistaken Practicke of generall Experience.
First, it is thought by
you a sure Aphorisme in the Physickes, That the braines of all men, being naturally
colde and wet, all dry and hote things should be good for them; of which nature
this stinking suffumigation is, and therefore of good vse to them. Of this Argument,
both the Proposition and Assumption are false, and so the Conclusion cannot
but be voyd of it selfe. For as to the Proposition, That because the braines
are colde and moist, therefore things that are hote and drie are best for them,
it is an inept consequence: For man beeing compounded of the foure Complexions
(whose fathers are the foure Elements) although there be a mixture of them all
in all the parts of his body, yet must the diuers parts of our Microcosme
or little world within ourselves, be diuersly more inclined, some to one, some
to another complexion, according to the diuersitie of their vses, that of these
discords a perfect harmonie may bee made vp for the maintenance of the whole
body.
The application then of
a thing of a contrary nature, to any of these parts is to interrupt them of
their due function, and by consequence hurtfull to the health of the whole body.
As if a man, because the Liuer is hote (as the fountaine of blood) and as it
were an ouen to the stomache, would therefore apply and weare close vpon his
Liuer and stomache a cake of lead; he might within a very short time (I hope)
be susteined very good cheape at an Ordinairie, beside the cleering of his conscience
from that deadly sinne of gluttonie. And as if, because the Heart is full of
vitall spirits, and in perpetuall motion, a man would therefore lay a heauy
pound stone on his breast, for staying and holding downe that wanton palpitation,
I doubt not but his breast would bee more bruised with the weight thereof, then
the heart would be comforted with such a disagreeable and contrarious cure.
And euen so is it with the Braines. For if a man, because the Braines are colde
and humide, would therefore vse inwardly by smells, or ontwardly by application,
things of hot and drie qualitie, all the gaine that he could make thereof would
onely be to put himselfe in a great forwardnesse for running mad, by ouer-watching
himselfe, the coldnesse and moistnesse of our braine beeing the onely ordinarie
meanes that procure our sleepe and rest. Indeed I do not denie, but when it
falls out that any of these, or any part of our bodie growes to be distempered,
and to tend to an extremetie, beyond the compasse of Natures temperate mixture,
that in that case cures of contrary qualities, to the intemperate inclination
of that part, being wisely prepared and discreetely ministered, may be both
necessarie and helpefull for strengthning and assisting Nature in the expulsion
of her enemies: for this is the true definition of all profitable Physicke.
But first these Cures ought
not to bee vsed, but where there is neede of them, the contrarie where of, is
daily practised in this generall vse of Tobacco by all sorts and complexions
of people.
And next, I deny the minor
of this argument, as I haue already said, in regard that this Tobacco,
is not simply of a hot and dry qualitie; but rather hath a certaine venemous
facultie ioyned with the heate thereof, which makes it haue an Antipathie against
nature, as by the hatefull smell thereof doeth well appeare. For the nose being
the proper Organ and convoy of the sense of smelling to the braines, which are
the onely fountaine of that sense, doeth euer serue vs for an infallible witnesse,
whether that Odour which we smell, be healthfull or hurtfull to the braine (except
when it fals out that the sense it selfe is corrupted and abused through some
infirmitie, and distemper in the braine.) And that the suffumigation thereof
cannot haue a drying qualitie, it needes no further probation, then that it
is a smoake, all smoake and vapour, being of it selfe humide, as drawing neere
to the nature of the ayre, and easie to be resolued againe into water, whereof
there needes no other proofe but the meteors, which being bred of nothing else
but of the vapours and exhalations sucked vp by the Sunne out of the earth,
the Sea, and waters, yet are the same smoakie vapours turned, and transformed
into Raynes, Snowes, Dewes, hoare Frostes, and such like waterie Meteors, as
by the contrarie the raynie cloudes are often transformed and euaporated in
blustering winds.
The second Argument grounded
on a show of reason is, That this filthie smoake, as well through the heat and
strength thereof, as by a naturall force and qualitie, is able and fit to purge
both the head and stomacke of Rhewmes and distillations, as experience teacheth,
by the spitting and auoyding fleame, immeadiately after the taking of it. But
the fallacie of this Argument may easily appeare, by my late preceding description
of the Meteors. For euen as the smoakie vapours sucked vp by the Sunne, and
staied in the lowest and colde Region of the ayre, are there contracted into
Cloudes and turned into raine and such other watery Meteors: So this stinking
smoake being sucked vp by the Nose, and imprisoned in the colde and moyst braines,
is by their colde and wett facultie, turned and cast foorth againe in waterie
distillations, and so are you made free and purged of nothing, but that wherewith
you wilfully burdened yourselues: and therefore are you no wiser in taking Tobacco
for purging you of distillations, then if for preuenting the Cholike you would
take all kinde of windie meates and drinkes, and for preuenting the Stone, you
would take all kinde of meates and drinkes, that would breede grauell in the
Kidneys, and then when you were forced to auoyde much winde out of your stomacke,
and much grauell in your Vrine, that you should attribute the thanke thereof
to such nourishments as bred those within you, that behoued either to be expelled
by the force of nature, or you to haue burst at the broad side, as the
Prouerbe is.
As for the other two reasons
founded vpon experience. The first of which is that the whole people would not
haue taken so generall a good liking thereof, if they had not by experience
found it verie soueraigne, and good for them: For answere thereunto how easily
the mindes of any people, wherewith God hath replenished this world, may be
drawen to the foolish affectation of any noueltie, I leaue it to the discreet
iudgement of any man that is reasonable.
Doe we not dayly see, that
a man can no sooner bring ouer from beyond the Seas any new forme of apparell,
but that hee cannot bee thought a man of spirit, that would not presently imitate
the same? And so from hand to hand it spreades, till it be practised by all,
not for any commoditie that is in it, but only because it is come to be the
fashion. For such is the force of that naturall Selfe-loue in euery one of vs,
and such is the corruption of enuie bred in the brest of euery one, as we cannot
be content vnlesse we imitate euerything that our fellowes doe, and so prooue
our selues capable of euerything whereof they are capable, like Apes, counterfeiting
the maners of others, to our owne destruction.[E]
For let one or two of the greatest Masters of Mathematickes in any of the two
famous Vniuersities, but constantly affirme any cleare day, that they see some
strange apparition in the skies: they will I warrant you be seconded by the
greatest part of the Students in that profession: So loath will they be, to
bee thought inferiour to their fellowes, either in depth of knowledge or sharpnesse
of sight: And therefore the generall good liking and imbracing of this foolish
custome, doeth but onely proceede from that affectation of noueltie, and popular
errour, whereof I haue already spoken.[F]
The other argument drawen
from a mistaken experience, is but the more particular probation of this generall,
because it is alleaged to be found true by proofe, that by the taking of Tobacco
diuers and very many doe finde themselves cured of diuers diseases as on the
other part, no man euer receiued harme thereby. In this argument there is first
a great mistaking and next a monstrous absurditie. For is it not a very great
mistaking, to take Non causam pro causa, as they say in the Logicks?
because peraduenture when a sicke man hath had his disease at the height, hee
hath at that instant taken Tobacco, and afterward his disease taking
the naturall course of declining, and consequently the patient of recouering
his health, O then the Tobacco forsooth, was the worker of that miracle.
Beside that, it is a thing well knowen to all Physicians, that the apprehension
and conceit of the patient hath by wakening and vniting the vitall spirits,
and so strengthening nature, a great power and vertue, to cure diuers diseases.
For an euident proofe of mistaking in the like case, I pray you what foolish
boy, what sillie wench, what olde doting wife, or ignorant countrey clowne,
is not a Physician for the toothach, for the cholicke, and diuers such common
diseases? Yea, will not euery man you meete withal, teach you a sundry cure
for the same, and sweare by that meane either himselfe, or some of his neerest
kinsmen and friends was cured? And yet I hope no man is so foolish as to beleue
them. And al these toyes do only proceed from the mistaking Non causam pro
causa, as I haue already sayd, and so if a man chance to recouer one of
any disease, after he hath taken Tobacco, that must haue the thankes
of all. But by the contrary, if a man smoke himselfe to death with it (and many
haue done) O then some other disease must beare the blame for that fault. So
do olde harlots thanke their harlotrie for their many yeeres, that custome being
healthfull (say they) ad purgandos Renes, but neuer haue minde how many
die of the Pockes in the flower of their youth. And so doe olde drunkards thinke
they prolong their dayes, by their swinelike diet, but neuer remember howe many
die drowned in drinke before they be halfe olde.
And what greater absurditie
can there bee, then to say that one cure shall serue for diuers, nay, contrarious
sortes of diseases? It is an vndoubted ground among all Physicians, that there
is almost no sort either of nourishment or medicine, that hath not some thing
in it disagreeable to some part of mans bodie, because, as I haue already sayd,
the nature of the temperature of euery part, is so different from another, that
according to the olde prouerbe, That which is good for the head, is euill for
the necke and the shoulders. For euen as a strong enemie, that inuades a towne
or fortresse, although in his siege thereof, he do belaie and compasse it round
about, yet he makes his breach and entrie, at some one or few special parts
thereof, which hee hath tried and found to bee weakest and least able to resist;
so sicknesse doth make her particular assault, vpon such part or parts of our
bodie, as are weakest and easiest to be ouercome by that sort of disease, which
then doth assaile vs, although all the rest of the body by Sympathie feele it
selfe, to be as it were belaied, and besieged by the affliction of that speciall
part, the griefe and smart thereof being by the sense of feeling dispersed through
all the rest of our members. And therefore the skilfull Physician presses by
such cures, to purge and strengthen that part which is afflicted, as are only
fit for that sort of disease, and doe best agree with the nature of that infirme
part; which being abused to a disease of another nature, would prooue as hurtfull
for the one, as helpfull for the other. Yea, not only will a skilfull and warie
Physician bee carefull to vse no cure but that which is fit for that sort of
disease, but he wil also consider all other circumstances, and make the remedies
suitable thereunto; as the temperature of the clime where the Patient is, the
constitution of the Planets,[G]
the time of the Moone, the season of the yere, the age and complexion of the
Patient, and the present state of his body, in strength or weaknesse. For one
cure must not euer be vsed for the self-same disease, but according to the varying
of any of the foresaid circumstances, that sort of remedie must be vsed which
is fittest for the same. Whear by the contrarie in this case, such is the miraculous
omnipotencie of our strong tasted Tobacco, as it cures all sorts of diseases
(which neuer any drugge could do before) in all persons, and at all times. It
cures all maner of distellations, either in the head or stomacke (if you beleeue
their Axiomes) although in very deede it doe both corrupt the braine, and by
causing ouer quicke disgestion, fill the stomacke full of crudities. It cures
the Gowt in the feet, and (which is miraculous) in that very instant when the
smoke thereof, as light, flies vp into the head, the vertue thereof, as heauie,
runs downe to the little toe. It helpes all sorts of Agues. It makes a man sober
that was drunke. It refreshes a weary man, and yet makes a man hungry. Being
taken when they goe to bed, it makes one sleepe soundly, and yet being taken
when a man is sleepie and drowsie, it will, as they say, awake his braine, and
quicken his vnderstanding. As for curing of the Pockes, it serues for that vse
but among the pockie Indian slaues. Here in England it is refined, and
will not deigne to cure heere any other then cleanly and gentlemanly diseases.
Omnipotent power of Tobacco! And if it could by the smoke thereof chace
our deuils, as the smoke of Tobias fish did (which I am sure could smel
no stronglier) it would serue for a precious Relicke, both for the superstitious
Priests, and the insolent Puritanes, to cast out deuils withall. Admitting then,
and not confessing that the vse thereof were healthfull for some sortes of diseases;
should it be vsed for all sicknesses? should it be vsed by all men? should it
be vsed at al times? yea should it be vsed by able, yong, strong, healthfull
men? Medicine hath that vertue that it neuer leaueth a man in that state wherein
it findeth him: it makes a sicke man whole, but a whole man sicke. And as Medicine
helpes nature being taken at times of necessitie, so being euer and continually
vsed, it doth but weaken, wearie, and weare nature. What speak I of Medicine?
Nay let a man euery houre of the day, or as oft as many in this countrey vse
to take Tobacco, let a man I say, but take as oft the best sorts of nourishments
in meate and drinke that can bee deuised, hee shall with the continuall vse
thereof weaken both his head and his stomacke: all his members shall become
feeble, his spirits dull, and in the end, as a drowsie lazie belly-god, he shall
euanish in a Lethargie.
And from this weaknesse
it proceeds, that many in this kingdome haue had such a continuall vse of taking
this vnsauerie smoke, as now they are not able to forbeare the same, no more
than an olde drunkard can abide to be long sober, without falling into an vncurable
weakenesse and euill constitution: for their continuall custome hath made to
them, habitum, alteram naturam: so to those that from their birth haue
bene continually nourished vpon poison and things venemous, wholesome meates
are onely poisonable.
Thus hauing, as I truste,
sufficiently answered the most principall arguments that are vsed in defence
of this vile custome, it rests onely to informe you what sinnes and vanities
you commit in the filthie abuse thereof. First are you not guiltie of sinnefull
and shamefull lust? (for lust may bee as well in any of the senses as in feeling)
that although you bee troubled with no disease, but in perfect health, yet can
you neither be merry at an Ordinarie, nor lasciuious in the Stewes, if you lacke
Tobacco to prouoke your appetite to any of those sorts of recreation,
lusting after it as the children of Israel did in the wildernesse after Quailes?
Secondly it is, as you vse or rather abuse it, a branche of the sinne of drunkennesse,
which is the roote of all sinnes: for as the onely delight that drunkards take
in wine is in the strength of the taste, and the force of the fume thereof that
mounts vp to the braine: for no drunkards loue any weake, or sweete drinke:
so are not those (I meane the strong heate and the fume), the onely qualities
that make Tobacco so delectable to all the louers of it? And as no man
likes strong headie drinke the first day (because nemo repente fit turpissimus),
but by custome is piece and piece allured, while in the ende, a drunkard will
haue as great a thirst with a draught as when hee hath need of it: So is not
this the very case of all the great takers of Tobacco? which therefore
they themselues do attribute to a bewitching qualitie in it. Thirdly, is it
not the greatest sinne of all, that you the people of all sortes of this Kingdome,
who are created and ordeined by God to bestowe both your persons and goods for
the maintenance both of the honour and safetie of your King and Commonwealth,
should disable yourselves in both? In your persons hauing by this continuall
vile custome brought yourselues to this shameful imbecilitie, that you are not
able to ride or walke the journey of a Jewes Sabboth, but you must haue a reekie
cole brought you from the next poore house to kindle your Tobacco with?
where as he cannot be thought able for any seruice in the warres, that cannot
endure oftentimes the want of meate, drinke, and sleepe, much more then must
hee endure the want of Tobacco. In the times of the many glorious and
victorious battailes fought by this nation, there was no word of Tobacco.
But now if it were time of warres, and that you were to make some sudden Caualcado[H]
vpon your enemies, if any of you should seeke leisure to stay behinde his fellowe
for taking of Tobacco, for my part I should neuer bee sorie for any euill
chance that might befall him.[I]
To take a custome in any thing that bee left againe, is most harmefull to the
people of any land. Mollicies and delicacie were the wracke and ouerthrow,
first of the Persian, and next of the Romane Empire. And this very custome of
taking Tobacco (whereof our present purpose is), is euen at this day
accounted so effeminate among the Indians themselues, as in the market they
will offer no price for a slaue to be sold, whome they finde to be a great Tobacco
taker.
Now how you are by this
custome disabled in your goods, let the gentry of this land beare witnesse,
some of them bestowing three, some foure hundred pounds a yeere[J]
vpon this precious stinke, which I am sure might be bestowed vpon many farre
better vses. I read indeede of a knauish Courtier, who for abusing the fauour
of the Emperour Alexander Seuerus his master by taking bribes to intercede,
for sundry persons in his master's eare (for whom he neuer once opened his mouth)
was iustly choked with smoke, with this doome, Fumo pereat, qui fumum vendidit:
but of so many smoke-buyers, as are at this present in this kingdome, I neuer
read nor heard.
And for the vanities committed
in this filthie custome, is it not both great vanitie and vncleanenesse, that
at the table, a place of respect, of cleanlinesse, of modestie, men should not
be ashamed, to sit tossing of Tobacco pipes, and puffing of the smoke
of Tobacco one to another, making the filthie smoke and stinke thereof,
to exhale athwart the dishes, and infect the aire, when very often, men that
abhorre it are at their repast? Surely Smoke becomes a kitchin far better then
a Dining chamber, and yet it makes a kitchen also oftentimes in the inward parts
of men, soiling and infecting them, with an vnctuous and oily kinde of Soote,
as hath bene found in some great Tobacco takers, that after their death
were opened. And not onely meate time, but no other time nor action is exempted
from the publicke vse of this vnciuill tricke: so as if the wiues of Diepe
list to contest with this nation for good maners their worst maners would in
all reason be found at least not so dishonest (as ours are) in this point. The
publike vse whereof, at all times, and in all places, hath now so farre preuailed,
as diuers men very sound both in iudgement, and complexion, haue bene at last
forced to take it also without desire, partly because they were ashamed to seeme
singular (like the two Philosophers that were forced to duck themselues in that
raine water, and so become fooles as well as the rest of the people) and partly,
to be as one that was content to eate Garlicke (which he did not loue) that
he might not be troubled with the smell of it, in the breath of his fellowes.
And is it not a great vanitie, that a man cannot heartily welcome his friend
now, but straight they must bee in hand with Tobacco? No it is become
in place of a cure, a point of good fellowship, and he that will refuse to take
a pipe of Tobacco among his fellowes, (though by his own election he
would rather feele the sauour of a Sinke[K])
is accounted peeuish and no good company, euen as they doe with tippeling in
the cold Easterne Countries. Yea the Mistresse cannot in a more manerly kinde,
entertaine her seruant, then by giuing him out of her faire hand a pipe of Tobacco.
But herein is not onely a great vanitie, but a great contempt of God's good
giftes, that the sweetenesse of mans breath, being a good gift of God, should
be willfully corrupted by this stinking smoke, wherein I must confesse, it hath
too strong a vertue: and so that which is an ornament of nature, and can neither
by any artifice be at the first acquired, nor once lost, be recouered againe,
shall be filthily corrupted with an incurable stinke, which vile qualitie is
as directly contrary to that wrong opinion which is holden of the wholesomnesse
thereof, as the venime of putrifaction is contrary to the vertue Preseruatiue.
Moreouer, which is a great
iniquitie, and against all humanitie, the husband shall not bee ashamed, to
reduce thereby his delicate, wholesome, and cleane complexioned wife, to that
extremetie, that either shee must also corrupt her sweete breath therewith,
or else resolue to liue in a perpetuall stinking torment.
Haue you not reason then
to bee ashamed, and to forbeare this filthie noueltie, so basely grounded, so
foolishly receiued and so grossely mistaken in the right vse thereof? In your
abuse thereof sinning against God, harming yourselues both in persons and goods,
and taking also thereby the markes and notes of vanitie vpon you: by the custome
thereof making your selues to be wondered at by all forraine ciuil Nations,
and by all strangers that come among you, to be scorned and contemned. A custome
lothsome to the eye, hatefull to the Nose, harmefull to the braine, dangerous
to the Lungs, and in the blacke stinking fume thereof, neerest
resembling
the horrible Stigian
smoke of the pit that is
bottomelesse.
UNWIN BROTHERS, PRINTERS,
LONDON AND CHILWORTH.