The Anatomy of Tobacco
in so small a treatise, so I do but give hints and outlines, which the reader may fill in for himself as it pleaseth him.
Next I will notice those sophisms or fallacies with which Pipe Philosophers are wont, on occasion, to divert themselves. And, for example, take the following, by which it has been shown that smoking is impossible. To smoke is to inhale tobacco, but to do this it is necessary for the mouthpiece of the pipe to come in contact with the lips. And suppose that the mouthpiece of the pipe about to be smoked is a foot distant from the lips, then move it so that it becomes nearer by a half; then again move it nearer by a quarter, and then by an eighth, and so on. By which it will continually come more and more near to the mouth, but yet will never touch it. But since it is necessary in smoking for the mouthpiece to touch the mouth, smoking is impossible. This against the possibility of smoking, but against the utility of smoking take the following:—
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