in botany, a genus of the pentandrae monogynia clasps. The corolla is funnel-shaped, with a plaited limbus; the stamens are inclined; and the capsule has two valves and two cells. There are 7 species, all natives of warm climates. The nicotiana tabacum, or tobacco, was first brought into Europe about the year 1560, from the island Tobago in America. It is cultivated in the following manner.

After sowing the tobacco seeds, the ground is watered every day, and in hot weather covered to prevent its being scorched by the sun; and when the plants are grown to a convenient pitch, they are transplanted into a soil well prepared for their reception: care is also taken to keep this ground clear of weeds, and to pull off the lowest leaves of the plant, that ten or fifteen of the finest leaves may have all the nourishment. When these leaves are ripe, which is known by their breaking when bent, the stalks are cut, and left to dry two or three hours in the sun; after which they are tied together two and two, and hung on ropes under a shade to be dried in the air. And when the leaves are sufficiently dried, they are pulled from off the stalks, and made up in little bundles; which being steeped in seawater, or, for want thereof, in common water, are twisted in manner of ropes, and the twist formed into rolls, by winding them with a kind of mill around a stick: in which condition it is imported into Europe, where it is cut by the tobacco-cutters for smoking, formed into snuff, and the like. See Snuff.

Besides the tobacco of the West-Indies, there are considerable quantities cultivated in the Levant, the coasts of Greece and the Archipelago; the island of Malta and Italy.

The marks of good twist-tobacco, are a fine shining cut, an agreeable smell, and that it have been well kept. Tobacco is either taken by way of snuff, as a stimulant; or as a masticatory, by chewing it in the mouth; or by smoking it in a pipe. It is sometimes also taken in little length pellets put up the nose, where it is found to produce very good effects, to attract a deal of water or pituita, unload the head, resolve catarrhs, and make a free respiration; for the subtle parts of the tobacco in inspiration, are carried into the trachea and lungs, where they loosen the peccant humours adhering thereto, and promote expectoration. Some have left this tobacco in their noses all night; but this is found to occasion vomiting the next morning. Another thing charged on this way of application, is, that it weakens the sight. When taken in great quantities in the way of snuff, it is found to prejudice the smelling, greatly diminishes the appetite, and in time gives rise to a phthisis. That taken in the way of smoke, dries and damages the brain. Borhri, in a letter to Bartholomew, mentions a person who through excess of smoking had dried his brain to that degree, that after his death there was nothing found in his skull but a little black lump, consisting of mere membranes.

Some people use the infusion of tobacco as an emetic; but it is a very dangerous and unjustifiable practice, and often produces violent vomiting, sickness, and stupidity.

Bates and Fuller give some receipts, in which tobacco is an ingredient, with mighty encomiums in asthmatic cases. A strong decoction of tobacco, with proper carminatives and cathartics, given after-wash, sometimes proves of good effect in what is usually called the stone-cholic, and also in the iliac passion. A drop or two of the chymical oil of tobacco, being put on the tongue of a cat, produces violent convulsions, and death itself in the space of a minute; yet the same oil used in lint, and applied to the teeth, has been of service in the tooth-ach: though it must be to those that have been used to the taking of tobacco; otherwise, great sickness, reachings, vomitings, &c. happen; and even in no case is the internal use of it warranted by ordinary practice.

A strong decoction of the stalks, with sharp-pointed dock and alum, is said to be of good service, used externally, in cutaneous distempers, especially the itch: some boil them for that purpose in urine. The same is said to be infallible in curing the mange in dogs.

Beat into a mash with vinegar, or brandy, it has been found serviceable for removing hard tumours of the hypochondria.