922102
9780756764401
As a plant of healing & ceremony, tobacco originated among the Mayans & Aztecs of Central America Introduced into Europe by Spanish & Portuguese explorers, its reputation as a panacea for every ill spread rapidly. This book, originally published in 1931, describes in detail how the smoking habit triumphed in spite of efforts to suppress it. Pope, Emperor & Tzar punished smokers by imprisonment & excommunication, while the Sultan of Turkey executed smokers by the hundreds. Attitudes changed in the 18th century, however, when tobacco was accepted as a way for governments to raise money through taxation. This fascinating account of probably the most common Ôvice' known also includes the coming of the pipe, snuff box & cigar. Illustrations.Corti, Count is the author of 'History of Smoking' with ISBN 9780756764401 and ISBN 0756764408.
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