Study and Stimulants | Page 6

habits. I have the conviction that in order to have the eye and the brain
clear, you ought to make your skin act vigorously at least once in
twenty-four hours.
J. E. BOEHM. February 20, 1882.

DR. BREDENCAMP, ERLANGEN.
In reply to your letter, I am accustomed to smoke. If I do not smoke, I
cannot do my work properly; and it is quite impossible to do any work
in the morning without smoking. Strong drink I do not need at all, but I
drink two glasses of Bavarian beer, which contains very little alcohol.
E. BREDENCAMP. April 18, 1882.

MR. FORD MADOX BROWN, R. A.
I have smoked for upwards of thirty years, and have given up smoking
for the last seven years. Almost all my life I have taken alcoholic
liquors in moderation, but have also been a total abstainer for a short

period. My experience is that neither course with either ingredient has
anything to do with mental work as capacity for it; unless, indeed, we
are to except the incapacity produced by excessive drinking, of which,
however, I have no personal experience.
F. M. BROWN. Feb. 28, 1882.

MR. ROBERT BUCHANAN.
I am myself no authority on the subject concerning which you write. I
drink myself, but not during the hours of work; and I smoke-pretty
habitually. My own experience and belief is, that both alcohol and
tobacco, like most blessings, can be turned into curses by habitual
self-indulgence. Physiologically speaking, I believe them both to be
invaluable to humankind. The cases of dire disease generated by total
abstinence from liquor are even more terrible than those caused by
excess. With regard to tobacco, I have a notion that it is only dangerous
where the vital organism, and particularly the nervous system, is badly
nourished.
ROBERT BUCHANAN. March 7, 1882.

DR. BUDDENSEIG, DRESDEN.
I have no decided opinion whatever as to the question you ask. I can
only say that I am a very small smoker, taking one or two cigars daily,
and I drink Rhine wine, but not daily, as most scholars or those
working with their brains generally do. There can be, I should think, no
question that immoderate use of alcohol produces most destructive
results.
E. BUDDENSEIG. Feb. 20, 1882.

CAPTAIN FRED BURNABY.
In my humble opinion, every man must find out for himself whether
stimulants are a help to his intellectual efforts. It is impossible to lay
down a law. What would, perhaps, enable one man to write brilliantly
would make another man write nonsense. I myself, although not an
abstainer, should think it a great mistake to seek inspiration in either
tobacco or alcohol.
F. BURNABY. March 2, 1882.

LIEUT.-COL. W. F. BUTLER.
In reply to your communication, asking for a statement of my
experience as to the effects of tobacco and alcohol upon the mind and
health, I beg to inform you that as I have not been in the habit of using
the first-named article at any period of my life, I am unable to speak of
its effects, mental or otherwise. With regard to alcohol, I have found
that although the brain may receive a temporary accession to its
production of thought, through the use of wine, etc., such increased
action is always followed by a decided weakening of the thinking
power, and that on the whole a far greater amount of even mental work
is to be obtained without the use of alcohol than with it.
W. F. BUTLER. Feb. 18, 1882.

DR. LAUDER BURNTON, F. R. S.
I am unable to give you personal experience as to the use of tobacco,
inasmuch as I do not use it in any form. From observation of others it
appears to me that, when not used to excess, it is serviceable both as a
stimulant during work, and as a sedative after work is over.
LAUDER BURNTON. Feb. 9, 1882.

MAXIME DU CAMP.
I have never been able to make any experiences on the influence of
alcohol upon the mind. I never drink it, and have never been tipsy. I
smoke very much, but only the pipe and cigarette. I take two meals
every day--one at eleven, consisting of a mutton chop, vegetables, and
a cup of tea. I make a hearty dinner at seven, and drink a bottle of
Bordeaux wine. I never work in the evening; and go to bed at half-past
ten. I think the use of tobacco very useless and rather stupid. As to
alcohol, I consider it very hurtful for the liver, and highly injurious to
the mind. The life of mental workers should be well regulated and
temperate in all respects. Bodily exercises, such as riding, walking and
hunting, are very necessary for the relaxation of the mind,