have just completed an attentive perusal of the manuscript _discourse
on tobacco_, which you handed to me this afternoon; and I really feel
obliged to the author for the interest and instruction which it has
afforded me. I am sincerely of opinion that the respectable society
before whom it was delivered, owe it to themselves, to the public, and
to the author, (if they have not already done so,) to request its
publication. And, favorably as it leads me to think of the author's
intellectual and professional endowments, he must be still more
distinguished for his _modesty_, if he declines a compliance with such a
request. He has treated a highly important subject, in a clear,
forcible, and striking manner; and the public are deeply concerned in
knowing what he has said of it. I will only add, that in point of
literary execution, it is, in my judgment, most decidedly respectable,
and would in that respect reflect no discredit upon any medical
gentleman in this state.

Very respectfully and truly yours, &c. &c.

A. CONKLING.

R. R. Lansing, Esq.

* * * * *

At a meeting of the Medical Society of the County of Oneida, on the
5th of March, 1830, a communication was received, signed by a number
of highly respectable gentlemen from this and other counties of this
state, on the subject of a dissertation delivered before this
society, at their late semi-annual meeting, by Dr. McAllister, "on
the properties and effects of tobacco." The communication was
referred to a committee.

The committee reported, "That although dissertations so delivered became
the properly of the society, yet believing as we do, that the subject is
one of great importance, and the dissertation highly meritorious, and as
we have not funds to defray the expense of publication, we will
cheerfully relinquish our claim thereto in favor of our correspondents,
and cordially unite with them in the desire which they have expressed to
us, 'that the dissertation be published in a pamphlet form,' for their
gratification and the benefit of the public."

Resolved, That the above report be accepted, and that a copy of the
proceedings be delivered to the gentlemen who presented the
communication.

C. B. COVENTRY, Sec'y pro. tem.

PREFACE.

In consenting to the publication of the following pages, the author
yielded to the request of gentlemen whose opinions he did not feel at
libert