Periscope of Medical and General Science in their Relations to Dentistry. [Volume: 2, Issue: 4, November, 1860, pp. 234-240]

PERISCOPE OF MEDICAL AND GENERAL SCIENCE.

239

strong tape, and passing the ends over the head, tied them firmly, thus
completely securing the fractured parts in apposition. The bleeding was
gradually stopped by the formation of coagula in the nose, which were
allowed to remain till all tendency to hoemorrhage had ceased. The case
progressed favorably, and in four weeks the dressings were removed and
the patient able to be out. In ten weeks from the date of the injury he
was able to work on his farm, and could use his teeth for masticating purposes as well as ever. He now reports himself entirely well, and there is
no deformity left."-(American Journal of Medical Sciences, October,
1860.)
Effects of Tobacco.-In a letter to the London Times, republished in
the Medical Times and Gazette, SIR BENJ. BRODIE expresses his general
disapprobation of the habitual use of tobacco, and makes the following
observations on its deleterious effects:
"The effects of this habit are indeed various, the difference depending
on difference of constitution and difference in the mode of life otherwise.
But, from the best observations which I have been able to make on the
subject, I am led to believe that there are very few who do not suffer harm
from it, to a greater or less extent. The earliest symptoms are manifested in the derangement of the nervous system. A large proportion of
habitual smokers are rendered lazy and listless, indisposed to bodily and
incapable of much mental exertion. Others suffer from depression of the
spirits, amounting to hypochondriasis, which smoking relieves for a time,
though it aggravates the evil afterwards. Occasionally there is a general
nervous excitability, which, though very much less in degree, partakes of
the nature of the delirium tremens of drunkards. I have known many individuals to suffer from severe nervous pains, sometimes in one, sometimes in
another part of the body. Almost the worst case of neuralgia that ever
carne under my observation, was that of a gentleman who consulted the
late Dr. Bright and myself. The pains were universal, and never absent;
but during the night they were especially intense, so as almost wholly to
prevent sleep. Neither the patient himself nor his medical attendant had
any doubts that the disease was to be attributed to his former habit of
smoking, on the discontinuance of which he slowly and gradually recovered. An eminent surgeon, who has a great experience in ophthalmic
diseases, believes that, in some instances, he has been able to trace blindness from amaurosis to excess in tobacco smoking; the connection of the
two being pretty well established in one case by the fact that, on the
practice being left off, the sight of the patient was gradually restored.
It would be easy for me to refer to other symptoms indicating deficient
power of the nervous system to which smokers are liable; but it is unnecessary for me to do so; and, indeed, there are some which I would
rather leave them to imagine for themselves than undertake the description of them myself in writing.
"But the ill effects of tobacco are not confined to the nervous system.
In many instances there is a loss of the healthy appetite for food, the imperfect state of the digestion being soon rendered manifest by the loss of
flesh and the sallow countenance. It is difficult to say what other diseases may not follow the imperfect assimilation of food continued during
a long period of time. So many causes are in operation in the human
body which may tend in a greater or less degree to the production of
organic changes in it, that it is only in some instances we can venture to
pronounce as to the precise manner in which a disease that proves mortal