Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/255

TOB Bsaves begin to ripen ; a change which is known, by tlieir becoming rough and mottled with yellow spots, and by the stalk being cover- ed with a species of down. The tobacco plants are now cut off closely to the roots, and exposed on the dry ground to the rays of the sun, till the leaves become ivilted, or so pliant as to bend in any direction without breaking. — They are then laid in heaps under shelter, for three or four days, in order to siveat, or ferment j being turned every day ; next, the to- bacco leaves are suspended on strings, at a small distance from each other, for the space of a month 5 at the end of which they may be taken down, laid in heaps, and sweated a second time for a week, being then pressed with heavy logs of wood. The last ope- ration is that of picking the leaves ; when they are packed in hogsheads for exportation. By the 29th Geo. III. c. 68, and the 31st Geo. III. c. 4/, no tobacco is importable, excepting the produce of the British planta- tions in America, the United States, Spain, Portugal, or Ireland, in Bri- tish ships, or in vessels legally na- vigated, and carrying at least 120 tons : nor must it be brought in casks, containing less than 450lbs. weight ; 5lbs. of loose tobacco, however, being allowed for each of the crew : in contrary cases, both the ship and cargo are for- feited. — ^1 his drug is subjedt to the duty of Is. 6^ d. per lb. on import- ing it from the plantations of Spain and Portugal ; but, if it be brought from Ireland, the United States of America, or from the British co- lonies in that country, it pays only 6|d. per lb. It is farther charged with an exdse duty of 3s. per lb. TOB [227 on importation from Spain and Portugal ; but> if obtained from Ireland, or America, it pays only the additional sum of Is. id. per lb. ; so that in the former cases, the whole duty is 4s. 6|d. j and, in the latter, is. ';fd. per lb. Vses : — Various properties have been attributed to this stupefying drug, since it was first introduced into Europe, about the middle of the 16th century. Its smoke, when properly blown against noxi- ous inserts, effedually destroys them } but the chief consumption of this plant, is in the manufactures of Snuff and Tobacco, or the cut leaves for Smoking. It is likewise (though we think, with- out foundation), believed to pre- vent the return of /mw^er j and is therefore chetved in, considerable quantities by mariners, as well as the labouring classes of people j a disgusting pra6tioe, which cannot be too severely censured. For, though in some cases, this method of using tobacco, may. afford relief in the rheumatic tooth-ach, yet, as the constant mastication of it in- duces an uncommon discharge of saliva, its narcotic qualities ope- rate more powerfully, and thus eventually impair the digestive or- gans. As a medicine, the use of tobacco requires great precaution j and it should never be resorted to with- out professional advice : it is chiefly employed in clysters, and as an in- gredient in ointments, for destroy- ing cutaneous inserts, cleansing in- veterate ulcers, &c. Lately, in- deed, Dr. Fow^LER has success- fully prescribed it, in the various forms of tindure, infusion, and pills, as a diuretic, in cases of dropsy and dysury : — if one ounce of tlie infusion of tobacco be mixed Q 2 Willi