ll it has encircled the earth, and now holds in slavery a
larger number of human minds than any other herb.

_Effects of Tobacco upon Animal Life._

To the organs of smell and taste in their natural condition, it is one
of the most disgusting and loathsome of all the products of the
vegetable kingdom.[1]

[Footnote 1: This is proved by applying it to these organs in infancy,
among those children whose parents do not use tobacco. Caspar Hausser,
who was fed wholly on farinaceous food and water, from infancy to the
age of sixteen or seventeen years, was made sick to vomiting by walking
for a "considerable time by the side of a tobacco field."]

Dr. Franklin ascertained, that the oily material, which floats upon the
surface of water, upon a stream of tobacco smoke being passed into it,
is capable, when applied to the tongue of a cat, of destroying life in
a few minutes.

Mr. Brodie applied one drop of the empyreumatic oil of tobacco to the
tongue of a cat; it occasioned immediate convulsions and an accelerated
breathing. Five minutes after, the animal lay down on the side, and
presented, from time to time, slight convulsive movements. A quarter of
an hour after, it appeared recovered. The same quantity of the oil was
applied again, and the animal died in two minutes.

In December, 1833, aided by several gentlemen of the medical class, and
occasionally in the presence of other individuals, I made a number of
experiments upon cats and other animals, with the distilled oil of
tobacco.

EXPERIMENT 1.

A small drop of the oil was rubbed upon the tongue of a large cat.
Immediately the animal uttered piteous cries and began to froth at
the mouth.

In 1 minute the pupils of the eyes were dilated and the
respiration was laborious.
" 2-1/2 do. vomiting and staggering.
" 4 do. evacuations; the cries continued, the voice
hoarse and unnatural.
" 5 do. repeated attempts at vomiting.
" 7 do. respiration somewhat improved.

At this time a large drop was rubbed upon the tongue. In an instant
the eyes were closed, the cries were stopped, and the breathing was
suffocative and convulsed. In one minute the ears were in rapid
convulsive motion, and, presently after, tremors and violent convulsions
extended over the body and limbs. In three and an half minutes the
animal fell upon the side sens