As a plant of healing and ceremony, tobacco originated among the Mayans and Aztecs of Central America Introduced into Europe by Spanish and Portuguese explorers, its reputation as a panacea for every ill spread rapidly. This book, originally published in 1931, describes in detail how the smoking habit triumphed in spite of efforts to suppress it. Pope, Emperor and Tzar punished smokers by imprisonment and excommunication, while the Sultan of Turkey executed smokers by the hundreds. Attitudes changed in the 18th century, however, when tobacco was accepted as a way for governments to raise money through taxation. This fascinating account of probably the most common Ôvice' known also includes the coming of the pipe, snuff box and cigar. Illustrations.