The editors of the Edinburgh Dispensary also remark, that of late, tobacco under the form of a vinous or watery infusion, given in small quantities, so as to produce little effect by its action on the stomach, has been found a very useful and powerful diuretic. _Dr. Fowler_ published some cases of dropsy and dysury, in which its application was attended with the best effects, and this has been confirmed by the practice of others. Beaten into a mash with vinegar or brandy, it has sometimes proved highly serviceable for removing hard tumours of the _hypochondres_. Two cases of cure are published in the 'Edinburgh Essays.' Considerable reliance has also been placed upon it, by some of the most eminent practitioners, as an injection by the anus of the smoke, in cases of obstinate constipation, threatening _Ileus_, of _incarcerated hernia_, of spasmodic asthma, and of persons apparently dead from drowning or other causes. _Dr. Strother_ speaks of its being beneficial in smoking, to persons having defluxions on the lungs. By long boiling in water, its deleterious power is said to be neutralized, and at length destroyed: an extract made by long decoction, is recommended by _Stubb_ and other German physicians, as the most efficient and safe aperient detergent, expectorant and diuretic.--_Lewis Mat. Med._ _Bates_ and _Fuller_ give many encomiums on its powers in asthmatic cases. _Boyle_ asserts the juice and the plant to be very excellent in curing ulcers and mortifications, although its operation, in this respect, is stated by numerous other authorities, to be deleterious in the extreme. As regarding, indeed, many of the virtues attributed to its use by Lewis and others, in decoctions and poultices, candour obliges us to declare, though with great deference to those opinions which have been expressed by the most eminent of the medical profession, that we cannot consider it of any particular efficacy. We shall, therefore, forbear tiring our readers with recipes of the different forms in which it is prescribed for many illnesses. Taken as snuff, tobacco is generally allowed to be a mild and inoffensive stimulant, which, indeed, in many cases, is prescribed as a most effectual errhine for clearing the nostrils and head. When taken, however, as it frequently is, in excessive quantities, its consequences become often visible, and tumours and secretions in the nose are said to be the result. It is likewise said by some, when taken immoderately, to greatly tend to weaken the sight and bring on apoplexy. _Revenus_ and _Chenst_ likewise wrote against the habit of smoking; but like more modern writers, among whom may be named _Dr. Adam Clarke_, with little or no effect; for it may be set down as a fact, proved in many other instances, as well as this illustrates,--that where a people have the facilities of judging for themselves, they invariably will do so. In this case, practice and precept peculiarly go together.