“Tobacco drieth the brain, dimmeth the sight, vitiateth the smell, hurteth the stomach,
destroyeth the concoction, disturbeth the humors and spirits, corrupteth the breath,
induceth a trembling of the limbs, exsiccateth the windpipe, lungs and liver,
annoyeth the milt, scorcheth the heart, and causeth the blood to be adjusted”
Tobias Venner (1577-1660), VIA RECTA AD VITAM LONGAM
Tobias Venner, a physician, recognizes the prevalence of tobacco smoking as early as 1621. Venner criticises those who “cannot travel without a tobacco-pipe at their mouth”, as well as those who smoke between the courses at meals. He also warns that “this custome of taking the fume downe into the stomack and lungs” is “very pernicious.” The lungs will “consequently become unapt for motion, to the great offence of the heart, and ruine at length of the whole body.
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