| Much of the early popularity of tobacco | | | | suffering from a headache thought they |
| in Europe rested on its supposed | | | | could avoid the risk of getting one by |
| medicinal properties, rather than on its | | | | an occasional sniff or two; snuff-taking |
| pleasurable smoking qualities. The | | | | rapidly became very fashionable. |
| tobacco leaf was introduced as a | | | | But snuff was not as yet taken purely |
| universal remedy for all ailments by a | | | | for pleasure; it was still considered |
| Frenchman, Jean Nicot, from whom both | | | | strictly a medicinal preparation, to be |
| the tobacco plant Nicotiana and the term | | | | purchased at the local apothecary's. |
| nicotine derive their name. | | | | Physicians gave it the somewhat |
| Nicot, appointed ambassador to Portugal | | | | repugnant Latin name of clysterium nasi |
| by the French Queen, Catherine de | | | | which, liberally translated, means |
| Medici, first saw the plant growing in | | | | "nasal purge." An encyclopedia published |
| the royal gardens in Lisbon. Learning | | | | at the time by Nicot himself provides |
| that the Indians believed the plant to | | | | the following listing: |
| have healing powers, the ambassador | | | | "Nicotiane. An herb with miraculous |
| decided to experiment. As Nicot's chef | | | | healing powers against all complaints |
| happened to have sliced his thumb with a | | | | such as boils, open sores, and rashes, |
| kitchen knife, Nicot bandaged the cut | | | | etc. 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 young | | | | Nicot, after whom it derived its name." |
| lady acquaintance of Nicot's had a | | | | The name Nicotiana was given to the |
| severe rash on her face, and a gentleman | | | | tobacco plant not by Nicot himself but |
| friend had sharp pains in his foot. In | | | | by the famed Swedish botanist, Linnaeus, |
| both cases, after the application of | | | | to acknowledge Nicot's efforts in |
| tobacco leaves, the maladies | | | | encouraging the plant's general use. |
| disappeared. | | | | Nicot did not live to see his medical |
| Nicot pursued his experiments, and not | | | | observations discredited as having |
| long afterward returned to France where | | | | little scientific value; nor did he see |
| he informed the Queen of the marvelous | | | | snuff abused and vulgarized by being |
| cures which the plant had effected. One | | | | taken merely for its pleasurable |
| day, when the Queen was suffering from a | | | | sensations. |
| severe headache. Nicot suggested that | | | | In popularizing snuff, Nicot |
| she sniff some powder he had crushed | | | | inadvertently also helped to introduce |
| from dried tobacco leaves. The Queen | | | | smoking. A pinch of snuff or a pipe of |
| agreeably took a pinch of the brown | | | | tobacco both produced a stimulating |
| powder, and sneezed. After a few more | | | | effect; whether one smoked or took snuff |
| sneezes, the Queen remembered her | | | | was just a matter of taste. When |
| headache only to find it considerably | | | | Frenchmen were first taking snuff, |
| improved. | | | | Englishmen were smoking pipes; but later |
| From that moment on, the Queen of France | | | | on, when snuff became fashionable in |
| became an ardent snuff enthusiast. The | | | | England, pipe smoking had already spread |
| French Court followed her example, and | | | | throughout the rest of Europe. After |
| the popularity of tobacco spread | | | | Europe had had sufficient time to try |
| throughout the country. For many years | | | | both ways, the taste for smoking |
| the plant was called "The Queen's Herb" | | | | triumphed. |
| or "The Medici's Herb." Even those not | | | | |