A
DISSERTATION
ON THE
MEDICAL PROPERTIES AND INJURIOUS EFFECTS
OF THE
HABITUAL USE OF TOBACCO:
READ, ACCORDING TO APPOINTMENT, BEFORE THE MEDICAL
SOCIETY OF THE COUNTY OF ONEIDA, AT THEIR
SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING,
JANUARY 5, 1830.
BY A. McALLISTER, M. D.
Second Edition.
Improved and enlarged, with an Introductory Preface,
BY MOSES STUART,
Associate Professor of Sac. Lit. in the Theol. Inst. at Andover.
BOSTON:
PUBLISHED BY PEIRCE & PARKER,
No. 9. Cornhill.
NEW YORK:—H. C. SLEIGHT,
Clinton Hall.
1832.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1832, by
Peirce &Parker, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.
PRESS OF PEIRCE & PARKER.
No. 9, Cornhill.
INTRODUCTION.
The first edition of Dr. McAllister's Essay, was printed without anyAppendix. Having myself been in the habit of using tobacco verymoderately (usually but once in a day) from early life, I read the Essayas first printed with great interest. It appeared to me a sober,judicious, rational appeal to the understanding and judgment of thepublic, with respect to the subject of which it treats. A highlyrespected friend of mine desired me to give him my opinion of the Essayin writing. I consented to do this; and when I had done it, he judged itexpedient to publish that opinion; to which I gave my consent. It waspublished in the Journal of Humanity; and for substance it was made upof an abridgement of Dr. McAllister's views, and some strictures on hisstyle and method of treating the subject. In particular, a desire wasexpressed that Dr. McA. would discuss more fully some of the argumentsemployed in defence of using tobacco. This critique was sent to theauthor of the Essay; who in consequence of it expressed a willingness torevise his work, and make such additions as had been suggested. Someweeks since he transmitted to me a copy of the original edition, with amanuscript containing the Appendix to the present edition. At the sametime he requested me to make any alterations in either part, which Imight deem expedient. I have used this liberty so far as to change a fewtechnical words for popular and intelligible ones. In some of thesecases, I have detracted from the specific accuracy of the writer, as amedical man, for the sake of making his expressions more intelligible tothe mass of readers. What he will thus lose, in his reputation forscientifical accuracy, he will gain by becoming more useful. A few otherslight alterations and modifications have been made; but only such as Ijudged the worthy author would at once cheerfully admit. I have keptwithin the bounds of the liberty which he gave me; and I trust he willnot be dissatisfied with what I have done.
I command the serious perusal of the following Essay and Appendix toevery man, who wishes to become well informed respecting the propertiesof tobacco. Whoever uses this substance as a luxury, is bound by a dueregard to his own physical welfare to make himself acquainted with itsproperties and their influence. If any man can soberly peruse thefollowing pages, without conviction that he is "playing withed