Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-03-12
Tobacco Smoking.

- = go = e r ~:
s. Mr.. VIM. Pratt, of Newtown. Mont
gomeryshire, forwarded to the London
Lancet the following interesting letter
from the late Prot. Parkes: My dear
Dr. Pratt: ! think my state Of mind Is
regards tobacco Is very much what
yours seems to be. I have honestly
tried to collect evidence from moder-
alto smokers, both medical men and
others, and when tolerance has been es-
tabished I have never been able to
make out any symptoms which implied
injury. In the case Of many medical
men whom I have asked to study their
own condition the answer has always
been the same, viz: they could see. no
harm OF disturbance of I, any junction.
Even in some cases Of enormous smok-
ers-i. e., mon who were rarely without
pipe or cigar could learn OF no IN
jury. On the other hand, I have seen,
like all Of us, men complaining OF dys-
pepsia, nervousness, palpitation,. etc d
and who were much better for leaving
off smoking; in fact, in these cases
ID there could be no doubt Of an injurious
effect. In boys of Ia or Is who begin
to smoke I think I have observed
that tolerance is slowly attained; that
appetite is,less, and, I presume, digest.
ion and nutrition less good, and that
the complexion becomes pasty and less
Aorid and clear. There was striking
case of this kind in the son of q medical
friend, who watched his son. naturally
very carefully, and who told me that the
effect of the tobacco "a good deal was
smokey was quite .qnmistakable. l
persuaded the son to lessen his tobacco
one-half, and his health certainly i'm
proved; but he was then a young man.
That some injury, therefore, is some
times produced, and especially on young
people, seems to me quite clear; but it
| is curious in other cases how difficult it
is to find i'll effects, even, in the young,
when the quantity is not excessive. As
to the effect on the young, even it is
curious tosee children smoking in their
mothers arms; and yet when I was in
Burmah many years ago I often saw a
woman walking along smoking her
cigar of tobacco, rolled up in plantain
leaf, and carrying on her hip her child
of q or 3 years old, who also had his
or her little cigar, which was smoked
with the. greatest gravity. On talking
| to the Burmese (who smoke constantly
they would never allow that even the
| young children were in the least dam.
aged. When T was in Turkey tried to
make inquiries of some of the intelli.
gent Turkish gentlemen; one or two Of
them said that they thought the Turks
had learned to smoke from the Euro
peans, and had been growing apatnetit
and dull ever since. But others laughed
at this, and the rural Turk, who smokes
a good deal, is a fine, active, energetic
fellow. I have talked with many Ger
mans, who all stand out manfully fol
tobacco. In conclusion, I confess my
self quite uncertain. I can find moth
ing like good evidence in books; too
often q foregone conclusion, without
any evidence to back it, is given.
think we must decidedly admit injur.
from excess; from moderate use + Cal
see no harm, except it may be in youth
My opinions are, you will see, very in
definite, and would gladly see som
really good evidence collected" LION
don Times. ,,r,)J