The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-03

ing; in fact, in these cases there could
be no doubt of an injurious effect.
In boys of fourteen or fifteen who be-
gin to smoke, | think have observed
that tolerance is slowly attained; that
appetite is less, and presume diges-
ton and nutrition less good, and that
the complexion becomes pasty and less
fiorid and clear. There was a striking
case of this kind in the son of a medical
friend, who watched his son, naturally,
very carefully, and who told me that
the effect of tobacco Ga good deal was
smokey was quite unmistakable. /
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 is is to find i'll effects, even in
the young, when the quantity is not ex-
cessive.
AS to the effect on the young even, it
is curious in Burmah to see children
smoking in their mothers arms, and
yet when l was serving in Burmah,
many years ago, often saw woman
walking along smoking her cigar of to-
bacco rolled up in plaintain leaf and
carrying on her hip her child of two or
three 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
never allow that even their children
were in the least way damaged. When
l was in Turkey tried to make in
quiries of some of the intelligent Tur-
kish gentlemen; one or two of them
said that they thought the Turks had
learned to smoke from the Europeans,
and had been growing apathetic and
dull ever since. But others laughed at
this, and the rural Turk, who smokes
a good deal, is fine active, energetic
fellow.
| have talked to many Germans, who
all stand out manfully for tobacco. In
conclusion, confess myself quite I'M
certain. can find nothing like good
evidence in books; too often foreg one
conclusion, without any evidence to
back it, is given. l think we must de-
cidedly admit injury from excess; from
moderate use can see no harm, ex-
cept, it may be, in youth. My opinions
are, you will see, very indefinite, and |
would gladly see some really good
evidence collected. If at any time you
can send me any facts / shall be very
grateful. Believe me, very sincerely
yours, E. A. PARKS.
Bitterne, Southampton, Jan. %, 1876.
The British Medical Journal cites an
interesting communication from DIR.
Decaisne on the subject of smok ing,
particularly as regards children and
women. In 1864, Dr. Decaisne related
cases of thirty eight young people. in
twenty-seven of whom the effects of to-
bacco on the economy were observable,
especially in cardiac affections, palpita-
tions and intermissions. He concluded
by saying that, whatever conditions
may be perceived in adult subjects, the
pernicious effects of tobacco smoking
are incontestible in children. Even the
restricted use of tobacco in children
leads often to a change in the blood,
and sometimes to chlorotic anamia,
ptbiOhOoo VI ZIG ldV6s 6l1dCIdtlOu, uOE-
bid sound in the carotid arteries, palpi-
tation and intermission of the heart,
diminution of the normal quantity of
the blood corpuscles, difficulty of di-
gestion, etc. Young people who smoke
show generally a certain sluggishness
of intelligence, and more or less pro-
Inounced taste for strong drinks. In
children who cease to smoke, and who
are not affected by any organic lesion,
the disorders of economy which have
Just been mentioned. disappear, often
very quickly, and almost always with
out leaving any trace. Since 1865 DIR.
Decaisne has commenced to examine
the effects of tobacco on women. He
has observed forty-three who present
symptoms arising from this source, in
Guiding intermissions of the pulse and
disorders in the digestion, and he has
arrived at the same conclusions as he
arrived at in 1864. He adds that the
effects of tobacco smoking in women
appear to him to resemble very closely
those which he observed in children;
that in a certain number of them, as
among children, even in q relatively
small dose, tobacco leads promptly to
the symptoms of an8mia, as well as in
termittent pulse, and develops, for the
most part, pronounced taste for strong
drink.