Tobacco: A Brief History Part 2

I will have to admit that before I began using E-Cigs and was a smoker of traditional cigarettes, I did not know all the facts that I have learned since researching Electronic Cigarettes. It’s funny now that I think about it, I researched Electronic Cigarettes very thoroughly, but if I had researched tobacco so much before I started smoking, I may never have lit that first cigarette at all.

Remember Jean Nicot from Tobacco: A Brief History Part 1, stated in 1559 that tobacco was useful in treating wounds, asthma and cancer. In the 1600s, this theory was put to its first test. In 1670 a Dutch anatomist by the name Theodor Kerckring had been performing autopsies on bodies of deceased smokers. He is quoted as having noted “The tongue of the cadaver is black and gives off an odour of poison; the trachea is coated with soot, like a cooking pot; the lungs are dried-out and almost friable.” He also concluded that “the corpse gives the overall impression that someone had lit a fire among the organs”.

During World War 1, cigarettes were referred to as the “soldier’s smoke”. Even after the war ended, tobacco companies banded together to deny that tobacco use has any harmful effects. During World War 2, American infantry soldier began WWII with the “combat” meal known officially as Field Ration , Type C. The first version of these rations included 4 packs of cigarettes, and matches.

The Surgeon General released a report on “Smoking and Health” in 1964. This report allowed the government to regulate the marketing and sales of cigarettes. During the 1960’s a lot more information was reaching the general public about the health hazards of smoking.

During the 1980’s there were numerous lawsuits that were filed against tobacco companies due to the harmful effects of their dangerous products. In fact, even in recent years, there is more and more evidence that tobacco companies have been aware of the health risks associated with smoking, and the addictiveness of nicotine. There is also evidence that these companies exploited this knowledge to get millions of people addicted to their potentially fatal product.

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Tobacco: A Brief History Part 1

In order to understand the importance of the invention of the Electronic Cigarette or E-Cig, I think that it is good to know the history of tobacco and smoking. I do have to admit that all this knowledge that I have found, has definitely made me happy to with my decision to buy electronic cigarettes. In part one of this two part history, we are going to find out how tobacco has become a part of our culture, and how tobacco and smoking use has grown over the centuries.

Tobacco began being used by South American Cultures over 2,000 years ago. The Brazilian people invented cigarettes by rolling tobacco leaves in paper.

In 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered Cuba, and they noted the strange practice of the natives to put thin rolls of dried leaves (tobacco) into their nostrils or mouths, lighting them, and blowing out smoke. Christopher Columbus took tobacco leaves back to Queen Isabella of Spain.

People used to believe tobacco had medicinal value. There was a French Ambassador named Jean Nicot, who brought tobacco plants to Portugal in 1559. He had informed his friends that the tobacco was useful in treating wounds, asthma and cancer. The words nicotine and nicotiana are derived from Jean Nicot’s last name.

During the time of the American Colonies tobacco was a major crop and became so valuable that it could be used as money. The residents of Virginia planted it in every square of soil they could find. In fact, the Virginia Company, which sponsored the early colony, had to pass a law requiring people to grow food, and not just tobacco.

Until the 1700’s, pipe smoking was the preferred method of tobacco use. Then people began using dry snuff or chewing tobacco instead. By the 1800’s, cigarettes became more fashionable but had to be rolled by hand and were extremely expensive.

The next posting we will begin to understand when tobacco was first considered to be harmful, which may come as a big surprise.

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