The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-05-12

more constantly in the sick-room,
were far more exposed? Were their
lives Of less value than his? Why
didn't the doctor prescribe it for them
also?
know man of fine intellect and
high moral character who had come
to ripe maturity without touching
the filthy weed. He is attacked with
whooping cough. A wise (?) doctor
recommends smoking, to quiet the
paroxysms of the cough, and himself
brings and presents the first cigar to
the patient his 0ery best medical
prescription. Does he offer one to the
woman, suffering from similar parox-
ysms and with less strength to bear
them? And the children, with their
fearful coughing fits-does he bring
cigar for their relief? The poor baby,
too, who grows black and all but dies
in the struggle for BREATH It is too
yonag to smoke? Why not, then,
teach the little coughing sister this
fine art, and let her smoke in baby's
face? Does not every doctor know
that under any such ill-omened spell
the tender infant would speedily pine
away and die?
But what Of the husband and father
after his first and second and third ci-
gar? Why, grand man though he is
"a man, too, of great strength of
character he, becomes an inveterate
smoker. And, though, with his fine
constitution, the i'll effects on his
health may not at once be obvious,
yet, like many another tobacco user,
he may be suddenly stricken down
with apoplexy or heart disease, when
the doctors, perhaps, will pronounce
judgment that he died from the effects
of smoking. Win any one complain
of his medical adviser for malpractice?
Then who cah tell what injury this
loving father may not have entailed
on his children, by the sore retribu-
tive law of heredity? And what If
his boys aspire to cigar? Shall their
smoking father forbid them, holding
himself up in ter1Orem? Alas! this
Havana cloud on the homes horizon
Who can say that it is not a very
dreadful one?
A leading physician in one of our
largest cities, in speaking Of those
who had indulged in this practice for
years, with seeming impunity, adds:
But | have never known habitual
tobacco user whose children, born af-
ter he had long used it, did not have
deranged nervous systems and some
times evidently weak minds. Shat
tered nervous systems of generations |
to come may be the result of his in
diligence" "
Another prominent physician, who
himself both chews and smokes, is
honest enough to admit that tobacco
IS too deadly poison to be used even
as medicine" and declares that he
would give five hundred dollars to be
free from its use'
A miserable tobacco slave, who had |
tried again and again to break his fet-
ters, but in vain, exclaimed, in his
despair: Tobacco is killing me by
inches, and yet | cannot stop using
it. j" And it did kill him.
Says Solly, surgeon Of st. Thomas
Hospitals:
IknSw S Of no single vice which does much harm
bic ultimately. ''' = ''-' - ''''' anu i'Oi' -e
A minister Of rare qualities of head
and heart, but of delicate organiza-
ton and highly nervous temperament,
who has, unfortunately, learned to
smoke, consults his trusted physician,
What grand opportunity for help
ing the man to knock off his fetters!
Does he seize the occasion? Why,
he tells him that moderate smoking,
lust little, will not only not in
jure, but will help him-will quiet his
excited nerves! So the minister's
wife, who knows he is the very last
man that ought to smoke and who
sees that it is only confirming his un-
favorable symptoms, is obliged. us she
sees the fetters tightening, to hide her
anxiety aud her sorrow in her own
heart.
Now, how can we account for such
a course on the part of the accredited
guardians of health, to whom we look
for counsel in all matters of hygiene?
Sometimes 1t may, without doubt,
be explained on the ground of incon-
sideratiOn. A physician, having rec
commended one of his patients to
smoke, on being questioned as to this
advice, gave as his only reason that,
as the patient was old and deaf and
infirm, he thought smoking might be q
little amusement for him!
A young clergyman, in feeble
health, was directed by his medical ad-
wiser to smoke. Some doubt being
expressed on the subject, the case was
referred to an old physician, who de-
cided in favor of the smoking. This
same experienced physician had, twen-
ty years before, recommended another
minister to smoke. The results had
proved so disastrous to his health that
his attending doctor felt constrained
to write to the veteran physician, ask
ing information as to the medical val
ue of tobacco, which had led to such
prescriptions. His answer was: 81
have not paid suficient attention to
the subject of smoking to make my
opinion of the slightest value"
But, whether such counsel IS given
by the doctors from ignorance,
thoug htlessness, or a weak catering to
human infirmities, we are compelled
to cry: 80, my soul, come not thou
into their secret; unto their assembly.
Mine honor, be not thou united"
OF physician who not only pres
cribes but uses tobacco what can be
said? His tell-tale breath, as he bends
over his suffering patient, the very
smell Of his garments, to one for
whose recovery Gods pure air is first
necessity-are not these ample cause
for his banishment from the sick
room, no matter how great his skill?
Said highly intelligent and cult
waited lady: Il would never employ as
a nhysician one who should smell of /