In 1560 Jean Nicot, the French Ambassador at Lisbon, sent some tobacco to Catherine de Medici as a cure for headache. Catherine was pleased with it and is said to have become quite addicted to its use. Tobacco was designated the “Queen’s herb” and the “Sovereign herb” from this circumstance and Nicot himself is perpetuated in the word “Nicotine” and its derivatives.
Many persons erroneously give credit to Nicot for the introduction of tobacco into Europe. It is quite clear, however, from Oviedo’s book, quoted above, that the plant was known in Spain very much earlier; and it is most probable that the immediate followers of Columbus brought samples of the leaves and pipes back to Spain with them. Moreover, in 1558, Phillip II of Spain sent Francisco Hernandez, a physician, to investigate the resources, etc., of Mexico, and on his return he brought back tobacco as one of the products, and grew it as a drug. From Spain and England, the use of tobacco spread by degrees all over the known world.
REFERENCES
Penn, W. A. The Soverane Herbe; a history of Tobacco. Chapters I, II. London and New York, 1901.
Bouant, E. Le Tabac; culture et industrie. Paris, 1901.
Shew, Joel. Tobacco; its history, nature and effects on the body and mind. Wortley, 1876.
Billings, E. R. Tobacco; its history, varieties, culture, etc. Chapters II, IV. Hartford, Conn., 1895.
Comes, O. Histoire, geographie, statistique du Tabac. Son introduction et son expansion dans tous les pays depuis son origine jusqu’ à la fin du XIX siècle. Naples, 1900.
Fairholt, F. W. Tobacco; its history and associations. London, 1876.
Wolf, Jakob. Der Tabak und die Tabakfabrikate. Chapter I. Leipzig, 1912.