The following are a few of the toxic remedies used by old school physicians in the treatment of nearly all forms of dis-ease:
Laudanum—which is merely another name for opium
Paregoric—a standard baby medicine which is a tincture of opium with camphor and other drugs
Codein—an alkaloid manufactured from morphin
Lyoscine—the alkaloid of henbane
Atropin—an alkaloid extensively used by oculists. (It is contained with other alkaloids in BELLADONNA, which, in turn, is prepared from the plant known as the "Deadly Nightshade")
Hellebore—a powerful alkaloid, is one of the old standard drugs used in the treatment of rheumatic gout
TOBACCO
Tobacco belongs strictly to the narcotic class of drugs. With the possible exception of opium, tobacco is by far the most detrimental narcotic used by man.
Effect of nicotin
The active principle of tobacco is nicotin, which resides in the leaves in combination with malic acid. Nicotin is an alkaloid, and one of the most deadly poisons known. In distilled form, nicotin, even in minute quantities, produces death almost instantaneously. The nicotin contained in a pound of tobacco is sufficient to kill several hundred men if administered in the form of pure nicotin, but in smoking and chewing tobacco only a small amount of this poison is absorbed into the body at one time, and, owing to the gradual growth of the tobacco habit, the system has time to partly adjust itself to the use of this powerful drug, enough at least to prevent acute narcotic poisoning.
The violent sickness caused by the first use of tobacco evidences the poisonous effects of the nicotin upon a body not accustomed to its use.
Tobacco as a narcotic is not as drastic in its effect as opium, morphin, and cocain; for this reason its use is not so generally condemned. Popular opinion, however, is now rapidly recognizing that all of these substances belong in the same general class and are deteriorating factors in human development. The rapid spread of the cigarette habit among young boys has done much to arouse popular agitation against the tobacco evil.