THE LIGHT TOUCH OF JEAN NICOT
One of tobacco’s most potent harmful substances—nicotine—was named after Jean Nicot, the French ambassador to Portugal. In 1560, he presented tobacco seeds to Queen Catherine de’ Medici, highlighting the plant’s supposed medicinal properties. Thanks to Nicot’s influence, tobacco began to be used as a remedy across much of Europe.
“THE HATRED OF TOBACCO”
This was the title of a work by King James I, in which he vehemently condemned smoking, calling it “contrary to appearance, offensive to the sense of smell, dangerous to the brain, and harmful to the chest.”
Medical literature in the 18th century also began to document tobacco’s harmful effects.
THE TRIAL OF COUNT BOCARME
Count Bocarme poisoned his brother-in-law with a substance derived from tobacco leaves. Doctors found high concentrations of nicotine in the victim’s brain, liver, and other organs, which they identified as the cause of death.
The sensational mid-19th-century trial undermined faith in tobacco’s healing reputation. The move away from using tobacco as a medicine was reinforced by work from prominent scientists of that era.
