Smoking is the practice of drawing into the mouth or nose the fumes of a burning vegetable substance with narcotic, sedative or stimulant properties. The chief substances thus used are tobacco, opium and cannabis. Cannabis smoking was traditionally practised in central Asia and India and across Africa from the Middle East to South Africa, and is referred to by Herodotus among the Scythians. Tobacco smoking was practised by the Neolithic age mound builders of the upper Ohio, and for over 300 years for its health-giving properties in Britain until competition from the pharmaceutical manufacturers led to a campaign of counter information claiming connections between tobacco smoking and disease. During the 20th century a widespread campaign of oppression of all forms of smoking commenced, starting with opium, then cannabis and finally tobacco, the oppression being more prevalent in the USA and Britain than other parts of the world. Research Smoking
Andira is a genus of leguminous American trees, with fleshy plum-like fruits. The wood is well fitted for building. The bark of Andira inermis, or cabbage-tree, is narcotic, and is used as an anthelminthic under the name of worm-bark or cabbage-bark. The powdered bark of Andira araroba was formerly used as a remedy in certain skin diseases, such as herpes. Research Andira
Andromeda is a genus of plants belonging to the heaths. One species, Andromeda polifolia, found in peat-bogs in Britain and elsewhere in Europe, is an acrid narcotic hurtful to sheep. Research Andromeda
Arbutus is a genus of plants belonging to the Ericaceae, or heath order, and comprising a number of small trees and shrubs, natives chiefly of Europe and North America. Arbutus Unedo abounds near the lakes of Killarney, where its fine foliage adds charms to the scenery. The bright red or yellow berries, somewhat like the strawberry, have an unpleasant taste and narcotic properties. The Corsicans make wine from them. The trailing arbutus or may-flower of North America, a plant with fragrant and beautiful blossoms, is Epigaea repens, of the same natural order. Research Arbutus
Belladonna (Atropa belladonna) or deadly nightshade (also known as dwale) as it is also known, is a highly poisonous European, native in Britain, perennialherb of the natural order Solanaceae with a large, turnip-like root and spreading, branched stems from which atropine is derived. The large, soft, oval leaves are alternate or opposite where a flower arises. The flowers are stalked, bell-shaped and reddish-brown and grow singularly from the leaf axils. The fruit is a black, glossy, conspicuous berry cupped by the spreading sepals. Belladonna is found in hedges, woods and thickets and on wasteland, especially where the soil is rich in lime.
The inspissated juice is commonly known by the name of extract of belladonna. It is narcotic and poisonous, but is of great value in medicine, especially in nervous ailments. It has the property of causing the pupil of the eye to dilate. Deadly nightshade became known as belladonna (Italian for beautiful lady) after the practice of women using the plant as a cosmetic to enlarge their pupils and beautify their eyes. Research Belladonna
Datura is a genius of plants of the family Solanaceae, with large trumpet- shaped flowers. They are all poisonous. The genus includes the thorn-apple, which posesses strong narcotic properties and some-times employed as a remedy for neuralgia, convulsions, etc. The dried leaves of Datura Stramonium, and Datura Tatula, an American species, were formerly smoked as a cure for asthma. Research Datura
Euphorbiaceae is the spurgeworts family of plants, distributed over most of the tropical and temperate regions of the globe, especially the warmer parts of America. They are either trees, shrubs or herbs, some having the external form of the cactus family. Nearly all the members of this large tribe possess a juice, often milky, which is highly acrid and narcotic. Research Euphorbiaceae
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea also known as fairy's glove and fairy-bells) is a common British flower of the family Scrophulariaceae. It grows on banks and pastures. The flowers are campanulate and resemble the fingers of a glove, hence the name. Foxglove possesses diuretic, narcotic and sedative qualities which are used in medicine. It is also deadly in sufficient quantity. Research Foxglove
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Smoking
