what is "snuff"?

[Alexander Boguslawski]

Devin P Browne wrote:
>
> What exactly is snuff, as is often referenced in Gogol's "The Nose"?  I
> know this question is coming on Monday when my kids and I start discussing
> this, and I realized I don't really know!
>
> Devin / Divan
>
> Devin P Browne
> dpbrowne+ at pitt.edu
Devin,

Snuff is a powdered stuff (tobacco) which you insert into your nose and
it causes powerful "explosive" sneezes.  As far as I remember, it was
considered not only fashinable but good for you (go figure!).  Snuff was
taken from little snuff boxes (one of the reasons Russian lacquer boxes
appeared was that there was a big market for European ones -- finally
Lukutin, I think, decided to make such boxes in Russia, with great
success).  Snuff is finely ground and very dry, so it can immediately
irritate your nasal passages.  Hope that you'll never try it,

Alex