in botany. See NICOTIANA and SNUFF.

The Indians (says Dr Leake) poison their arrows with the oil of tobacco, which, infused into a fresh wound, occasions sickness and vomiting, or convulsions and death; with what safety therefore, setting aside propriety, the subtile powder of this plant, called snuff, may be applied to the tender internal surface of the nose, it may be proper to inquire; for, if the oil of tobacco is a mortal poison when applied to the open vessels of a wound, surely this plant, when taken in substance as snuff, must in a certain degree be injurious. From the infinite number of nerves diffused over the mucous membrane of the nose, it is endowed with exquisite feeling; and, the better to preserve the sense of smelling, those nerves are continually lubricated with moisture.

By the almost caustic acrimony of snuff, this moisture is dried up, and those fine, delicate nerves, the organs of smelling, are rendered callous and insensible. To this self-evident bad effect may be added the narcotic or stupifying power of tobacco, by which not only the brain and nerves are injured, but also the eyes depending upon their influence, together with the sense of smelling; and, from the force with which snuff is usually drawn up the nose, its passage will be obstructed, and the voice lose its clearness and distinct articulation.

Besides those pernicious qualities, snuff often involuntarily descends into the stomach, creating nausea, loss of appetite, and vomiting; and by its narcotic power will diminish nervous influence and impair digestion; it discolours the skin contiguous to the nose, and will taint the sweetest breath with the rank odour of a tobacco cask. For this reason the ladies of fashion in France seldom take snuff till they are married; a very high compliment, no doubt, to their husbands. The only advantage of taking snuff is that of sneezing, which, in flitting phlegmatic habits, will give universal concussion to the body, and promote a more free circulation of the blood; but of this benefit, snuff-takers are deprived, from being familiar with its use.

We have been told, that tobacco, when chewed, is a preservative against hunger; but this is a vulgar error; for, in reality, it may more properly be said to destroy appetite by the profuse discharge of saliva, which has already been considered as a powerful, dissolving fluid, essential both to appetite and digestion. In smoking, the fumes of tobacco induce a kind of pleasing insensibility not easily described. Tobacco, Its narcotic odour, thus administered, equally infatuates the ignorant savage and the intelligent philosopher; but, by the large expense of saliva thereby occasioned, it is productive of many disorders of the head and stomach, particularly the last.

Tobacco-Pipe-Fish. See Fistularia.

Tobacco-wine. See Pharmacy-Index.