y it was firmly held. Howell
in one of his "Familiar Letters" dated January 1, 1646, says that the
smoke of tobacco is "one of the wholesomest sents that is against all
contagious airs, for it overmasters all other smells, as King James
they say found true, when being once a hunting, a showr of rain drave
him into a Pigsty for shelter, wher he caus'd a pipe full to Be taken
of purpose." But here Mr. Howell is certainly drawing the long-bow.
One cannot imagine the author of the "Counterblaste" countenancing
the use of tobacco under any circumstances.

At the time of the Great Plague all kinds of nostrums were sold and
recommended as preservatives or as cures. Most of these perished with
the occasion that called them forth; but the names of some have been
preserved in a rare quarto tract which was published in the Plague
year, 1665, entitled "A Brief Treatise of the Nature, Causes, Signes,
Preservation from and Cure of the Pestilence," "collected by W. Kemp,
Mr. of Arts." In the list of devices for purifying infected air it is
stated that "The American Silver-weed, or Tobacco, is very excellent
for this purpose, and an excellent defence against bad air, being
smoked in a pipe, either by itself, or with Nutmegs shred, and Rew
Seeds mixed with it, especially if it be nosed"--which, I suppose,
means if the smoke be exhaled through the nose--"for it cleanseth the
air, and choaketh, suppresseth and disperseth any venomous vapour."
Mr. Kemp warms to his subject and proceeds with a whole-hearted
panegyric that must be quoted in full: "It hath singular and contrary
effects, it is good to warm one being cold, and will cool one being
hot. All ages, all Sexes, all Constitutions, Young and Old, Men and
Women, the Sanguine, the Cholerick, the Melancholy, the phlegmatick,
take it without any manifest inconvenience, it quencheth thirst, and
yet will make one more able, and fit to drink; it abates hunger, and
yet will get one a good stomach; it is agreeable with mirth or
sadness, with feasting and with fasting; it will make one rest that
wants sleep, and will keep one waking that is drowsie; it hath an
offensive smell to some, and is more desirable than any perfume to
others; that it is a most excellent preservative, both experience and
reason do teach; it corrects the air by Fumigation, and it avoids
corrupt humours by Salivation; for when one takes it either by Chewing
it in the leaf, or Smoaking it in the pipe, the humors are drawn an