Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-11-09

eIdltOU.
Il have noticed what [ thought
transmitted tendency in the children
of few families, some of whom were
lovers of tobacco from a very early
age. These children, in one instance,
were born after the father became a
habitual user of tobacco, while their
brothers and sisters, born before that
time, had a perfect loathing for it
Such fact seems to be very signif-
can't
QUESTION 10. "Have you OBJ
served whether or not the rapidly ex-
tending use of tobacco during recent
years has been efficient in producing
disease of any specific kind, especially
of the nervous, respiratory or diges-
tive systems z"
FOrty-fve per cent of the replies to
this question were in the affirmative,
twenty-five per cent. in the negative,
and the remainder, thirty per cent. of
the correspondents made no response
Tobacco is undoubtedly one chief
cause of the rapid increase OF dyspep-
sia. nervous debility and all the long
train of symptoms of nervous trouble
so common among our business and
professional men, and those who lead
sedentary lives.
81 do not know that there is an
article in use in this country whose
legitimate effect upon the nervous
system tends to induce deterioration
more decidedly than does the effect of
tobacco"
''As our studies of the causes of
disease acquire the defniteness of
science, and convictions of the laws
and requirements of bodily health are
forcing themselves upon US, the evils
to the physical life Of society that re-
suit from whiskey and tobacco become
more and more apparent | have
little hesitation in attributing a very
large proportion of some of the most
painful maladies that come under my
notice to the ordinary and daily use Of
tobacco IN the quantity usually deemed
moderate"
"W lille there are differences in the
medical estimate of tobacco, and diff
terences to some extent in opinions as
to the federation of its use which can
be established or endured by individu.
ais, there is yet great uniformity of
the opinion as to anadvisability Of its
use under any nretext whatever. No
person or community need make the
effort to use tobacco extensively in
any form, without the expectation and
assurance that the result will be con-
tinued injury to the individual and
enfeeblement to the race. [ do not
mean to say by this that one cigar or
one pipe of tobacco will leave the par
taker permanently impaired, any more
than | would assert that the loss Of
one nights sleep is a permanent injury
to person in fair average health; but
1t should be understood that the gen
eral line of direction is toward the
impairment of vital force and hence
toward prostration and serious nervous
disease"
81 think the majority of my office
patients are those whose systems have
been shattered by the excessive use of
tobacco the effects of this drug and
its entailments are not sufficiently
taught by the medical profession"
'EXperience and observation alike
show that the use of tobacco is pro,
ducing . rapid increase in the amount
of nervous and pulmonary disease.
Hence comes also a demand for whis-
key to counterfeit the depression
caused by tobacco. and from both we
have broken down constitutions and
premature exhaustion in the offspring
of their consumers"
Il answer your question generally
by saying that [ believe that the use
of tobacco tends to promote intemper-
ance by causing profuse expectoration
and consequent exhaustion which calls
for stimulating liquors. During thir-
ty years in which [ used tobacco
laid the foundation for dyspepsia, dis
eased throat, catarrh and general de-
rangement of the nervous system,
which. now after twenty years abSti-
hence, still maintain a hold upon nv
bodily, mental and moral powers; and
though the effect is far less injurious
than 1t would have been had [ not re-
formed, | must regard the formation
OF the evil habit as one of the gravest
sins of my life.
1--WE are told that nature never
forgives sins committed against her by
individuals; that the record of offens-
es against her is never effaeed that
the penalty is always exacted to the
uttermost and | have never been
more firmly convinced of these facts
that when attempting to treat the long
train of nervous and digestive troubles
traceable, directly or indirectly, to the
use of tobacco in one form or another
that are continually coming before the
physician for his attention [ do not
suppose that practicing physician
can be found who will not admit that
If no tobacco in any form were used
during ten years within the sphere of
his observation and practice, most
noticeable change would take place in