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    The Tobacco Controversy of 1857: An Early Debate and its Delayed Results
    The Tobacco Controversy of 1857: An Early Debate and its Delayed Results
    The Tobacco Controversy of 1857: An Early Debate and its Delayed Results
    Ebook47 pages37 minutes

    The Tobacco Controversy of 1857: An Early Debate and its Delayed Results

    By Colin Mustful

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    During the Crimean War British soldiers developed an affinity for tobacco smoke. Upon returning to Great Britain they brought with them the habit of smoking tobacco. The proliferation of smoking sparked the first public debate about its effects. Beginning in 1857, this passionate debate of those both for and against the use of tobacco was laid out in the British Medical Journal The Lancet. Ultimately the Controversy led to no immediate results, but it acted as an introduction to the real and possible effects of tobacco smoking. And, it left a lasting impact on the tobacco question.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherColin Mustful
    Release dateApr 8, 2014
    ISBN9781310897559
    The Tobacco Controversy of 1857: An Early Debate and its Delayed Results
    Author

    Colin Mustful

    Colin Mustful is an independent historian, author, and publisher. His work, which includes five historical novels, focuses on the tumultuous and complicated periods of settler-colonialism and Native displacement in American history. He has a Master of Arts degree in history and a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing. He is the founder and editor of History Through Fiction, an independent press that publishes compelling historical novels that are based on real events and people. As a traditional publisher, he works with authors who want to share important historical stories with the world. Mustful is an avid runner and soccer player who lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He believes that learning history is vital to understanding our world today and finding just, long-lasting solutions for the future.

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      Book preview

      The Tobacco Controversy of 1857 - Colin Mustful

      The Tobacco Controversy of 1857

      An Early Debate and Its Delayed Results

      Colin Mustful

      Published by Colin Mustful at Smashwords

      Copyright 2014 Colin Mustful

      Contents

      Abstract

      During the Crimean War British soldiers developed an affinity for tobacco smoke. Upon returning to Great Britain they brought with them the habit of smoking tobacco. The proliferation of smoking sparked the first public debate about its effects. Beginning in 1857, this passionate debate of those both for and against the use of tobacco was laid out in the British Medical Journal The Lancet. Ultimately the Controversy led to no immediate results, but it acted as an introduction to the real and possible effects of tobacco smoking. And, it left a lasting impact on the tobacco question.

      An Introduction

      The Controversy

      A Delayed Result

      Conclusion

      Appendix

      Excerpt from Samuel Solly, Clinical Lectures on Paralysis

      Bibliography

      End Notes

      An Introduction

      In May 1851, the Great Exhibition was held at London’s Hyde Park.¹ The exhibition was a grand display of modern industrial technology, design, and innovation. It represented a move toward industry and capitalism that continued well into the twentieth century. At the time, Britain was the leader in industrial growth as well as imperial expansion.² In order to achieve this, the nation relied on endless numbers of low-class, low-wage labor as a foundation to fledgling capitalism.³ Long hours and deplorable conditions were commonplace as a result of what Karl Marx called unbridled selfishness.⁴

      Alongside a growth in industry was the growth of media. This became apparent through the daily coverage of the Crimean War. Reports given by William Howard Russell of The Times were an historical innovation that allowed people to follow the events of the Eastern campaign.⁵ The newspaper became the instrument of information and made possible the sharing of opinions. In addition to media expansion, tobacco smoking also emerged from the Crimean War.⁶ Western observers took to the habit, and with their newfound capitalist ambition, brought the habit back to England to be exploited.⁷ It was not long before the addictive narcotic enamored the British people, especially its workers. Though smoking had previously been engaged in, never had it become so public than after the Crimean War. The new accessibility of the press and the constant industrious attitude of advancement developed a setting for wholesome dispute. In 1857, this led to the Tobacco Controversy, a discussion held in the pages of The Lancet debating the effects of tobacco smoking on the character and well-being of its users.⁸

      The contenders in the Tobacco Controversy of 1857 set out to determine whether tobacco smoking was injurious. Physicians were ready and even enthusiastic about the question and the topic. Physicians and other commenter’s made their opinions known and encouraged responses and criticism. They believed that smoking was an important public issue that had not yet been discussed but needed to be. Unfortunately, the debate led to no immediate results. The controversy produced no initial action from Parliament but it did create public awareness as

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