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The Early Popularity of Tobacco in Europe

Everything you want to know about smoking pipes


The Early Popularity of Tobacco in Europe

Much of the early popularity of tobaccosuffering from a headache thought they
in Europe rested on its supposedcould avoid the risk of getting one by
medicinal properties, rather than on itsan occasional sniff or two; snuff-taking
pleasurable smoking qualities. Therapidly became very fashionable.
tobacco leaf was introduced as aBut snuff was not as yet taken purely
universal remedy for all ailments by afor pleasure; it was still considered
Frenchman, Jean Nicot, from whom bothstrictly a medicinal preparation, to be
the tobacco plant Nicotiana and the termpurchased at the local apothecary's.
nicotine derive their name.Physicians gave it the somewhat
Nicot, appointed ambassador to Portugalrepugnant Latin name of clysterium nasi
by the French Queen, Catherine dewhich, liberally translated, means
Medici, first saw the plant growing in"nasal purge." An encyclopedia published
the royal gardens in Lisbon. Learningat the time by Nicot himself provides
that the Indians believed the plant tothe following listing:
have healing powers, the ambassador"Nicotiane. An herb with miraculous
decided to experiment. As Nicot's chefhealing powers against all complaints
happened to have sliced his thumb with asuch as boils, open sores, and rashes,
kitchen knife, Nicot bandaged the cutetc. It was introduced to France by the
with fresh green tobacco leaves.envoy to the King of Portugal, Mr. Jean
Surprisingly, the wound healed. A youngNicot, after whom it derived its name."
lady acquaintance of Nicot's had aThe name Nicotiana was given to the
severe rash on her face, and a gentlemantobacco plant not by Nicot himself but
friend had sharp pains in his foot. Inby the famed Swedish botanist, Linnaeus,
both cases, after the application ofto acknowledge Nicot's efforts in
tobacco leaves, the maladiesencouraging the plant's general use.
disappeared.Nicot did not live to see his medical
Nicot pursued his experiments, and notobservations discredited as having
long afterward returned to France wherelittle scientific value; nor did he see
he informed the Queen of the marveloussnuff abused and vulgarized by being
cures which the plant had effected. Onetaken merely for its pleasurable
day, when the Queen was suffering from asensations.
severe headache. Nicot suggested thatIn popularizing snuff, Nicot
she sniff some powder he had crushedinadvertently also helped to introduce
from dried tobacco leaves. The Queensmoking. A pinch of snuff or a pipe of
agreeably took a pinch of the browntobacco both produced a stimulating
powder, and sneezed. After a few moreeffect; whether one smoked or took snuff
sneezes, the Queen remembered herwas just a matter of taste. When
headache only to find it considerablyFrenchmen were first taking snuff,
improved.Englishmen were smoking pipes; but later
From that moment on, the Queen of Franceon, when snuff became fashionable in
became an ardent snuff enthusiast. TheEngland, pipe smoking had already spread
French Court followed her example, andthroughout the rest of Europe. After
the popularity of tobacco spreadEurope had had sufficient time to try
throughout the country. For many yearsboth ways, the taste for smoking
the plant was called "The Queen's Herb"triumphed.
or "The Medici's Herb." Even those not



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