View source for A Counterblaste to Tobacco

'''''A Counterblaste to Tobacco''''' was written by [[James I of England|James VI of Scotland and I of England]] in [[1604]].  It is one of the earliest anti-tobacco publications. Although it is written in a very archaic style and is rife with medical theories not currently accepted by Western medical practitioners (e.g. the [[Four humours]]) and an assertion that the "[[Native Americans in the United States|Indians]]" were responsible for it, it makes some valid points, specifically regarding [[lung]] irritations, [[secondhand smoke]], and foul odor ("hatefull to the nose").

{{quotation|Have you not reason then to bee ashamed, and to forbeare this filthie noveltie, so basely grounded, so foolishly received and so grossely mistaken in the right use thereof? In your abuse thereof sinning against God, harming your selves both in persons and goods, and raking also thereby the markes and notes of vanitie upon you: by the custome thereof making your selves to be wondered at by all forraine civil Nations, and by all strangers that come among you, to be scorned and contemned. A custome lothsome to the eye, hatefull to the Nose, harmefull to the braine, dangerous to the Lungs, and in the blacke stinking fume thereof, neerest resembling the horrible [[Styx (mythology)|Stigian]] smoke of the pit that is bottomelesse.|James 1604}}

== External links ==

{{Wikisource}}

* [http://www.la.utexas.edu/research/poltheory/james/blaste/ Full text]

[[Category:Tobacco control|Counterblaste to Tobacco, A]]
[[Category:Works by heads of state or government|Counterblaste to Tobacco, A]]
[[Category:Medical manuals]]
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