"I knew a certain Person afflicted with Ulcers of the Nostrils, which discharged a seemingly contagious _Sanies_. By my Advice he dropped the Juice of _Tobacco_ into them; after the second Instillation a large Number of Worms fell away; then a smaller Quantity and after a few Days the Ulcers were cured, though the Parts eroded were not restored. The rubbing Ring-worms and Scall'd Heads with _Tobacco_ Leaves is also a beneficial Practice.
"_Tobacco_ is the celebrated Plant used by the _Indian_ Priests before they give their Responses; for it is customary among the _Indians_ to consult the Priests with respect to the Event of Wars, and other Affairs of Importance. Upon such Occasions, the Priest consulted, burnt dry _Tobacco_ Leaves, received the Smoak of them into his Mouth through a small Tube contrived for that Purpose, then dropt down as it were in an Extasy, lay totally destitute of Motion, and remained in that Condition for some Time. When the Fumes of the _Tobacco_ were discussed, he returned to himself, told that he had communicated the Affair to his Demon, and gave such ambiguous Responses, that, whatever the Event should be, the superstitious Crowd might be easily perswaded, that he had prophesied rightly. Thus the credulous _Barbarians_ are miserably hood-wink'd by the impious and fraudulent Stratagems of their Priests.
"The common People among the _Indians_ also receive the Smoak of _Tobacco_ into their Mouths and Nostrils, when they want either to be transported with pleasant Dreams, or to predict the Events of their Affairs from the Occurrences which happen to them during Sleep; for as the grand Impostor, the Devil, knows the Virtues of Herbs, he has taught them the Qualities of _Tobacco_, in order to deceive them by means of these Dreams.
"Various Plants, when chewed, or taken internally, are observed to excite false and delusory Representations and Ideas of Objects. Thus _Dioscorides_, in Cap. de _Solano Maniaco, seu Furioso_, tells us, that a Dram of the Root of this Plant, drank in Wine, produces false, tho' not unpleasant Representations; that double the Quantity produces an Alienation of Mind, which lasts for three Days; and that four Times the Quantity proves mortal. It is also reported, that if a Person, when he is going to sleep, eats _Aniseeds_, they excite pleasant and agreeable Dreams; whereas, the eating of _Horse-Raddish_ procures those of a turbulent and ungrateful Kind.