The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-04-19
A Bill to Make Idiots.

ait characterized Il hill introduced in
Congress by Delegate Post Of Wyoming
Territory, AS "a bill to make idiots. :"
The object Of said bill was to reduce the
internal revenue tax on cigarettes. The
Herald very appropriately suggested as
more suitable titie-"A Till to make
iunatics and idiots, and to fill up the
cemeteries ana make hi llionaircs Of the
undertakes :" and goes on to assert {:
1.-The cigarette annually kills Thousands
and thousands Of children aud young
men, and those whom it does not de-
stroy physically, it mentally ruins"
Now observation confirms the fact here
stated, that the habit Of smoking pre-
walls to All alarming extent among the
children and youth in every commune
ty, and indeed among all classes, an
that the danger is constantly increasing.
So great is this growing evil that it has
recently attracted the attention OF med
ical authorities ai! Christian r!.llan-
tire, lists, both in this and other coun-
trie: The Boston ./Dnwai has called at
tent n to the subject ty an able article
! fron An Old Teacher" and an eiit"ri-
al. !;r. Henry Gibson, 4 distinguished
physician Of San Francisco, says !:
:Nr.:crs who have investigated the
subject are generally agreed that the Use
Of tobacco dilninis:.es vitality. There
can he no doubt that such is it, action
OH ln'csoEs who commence the Use Oi it
in early lite. In this point OF view the
| tobacco question Identifies itself with
| nntiona! character and nutiona! ,!,ycn
eyacy. Prot. Albert l.. Gihon. med cal
director cf ti.c United States Naval
! Academy ut Annapolis, in his report
which :orn,sa part Of the report of the
Surgeon General OF the Navy lOr 1870,
! t;cv!:t res thu, the most imlart.:n! matter
! in the health history Of the students at
! the academy, is that relating 10 the Use
| of tobacco, and he urges that the !'r":.i-
| bi.ion Of the use Oc tobacco is absolutely
essential to the future health and useful
! ness Of tl,t boys educated 1T tni:. school.
in this opinion all his colleagues and
! other slnitarians whom he has cOnsi.it-
| ell agree. He declares that :n::c,i: i.l-
pairs the nutrition of the nerve centres,
| deyra,less the tissues, predispHses to dis
; cases of the nerves and c;"c,lial"ry and
digestive organs, mi ares the vision. de
ranges the .-;.ri:i, and the rc ::t,.:rity q:
| the hearts action. All these RESULTS 80
, a!arminyly manifest i'll the cadets al
ANNAPOLIS. He further shows that tho
use OF tO!,ac,.o induces an ih,lurnHa'
thirst and craving for stim,l!an;s that
lead directly to the use o: alcoholic
drinks and drunkenness that it it'd
| pmj rs the mcnta! faculties and leads t"
insanity and ia;ocy. 50 evident were
! these facts in France in 1850. that the
minister Of public instruction issued Il
circular torl,i,!.sing the li,,. Of tobacco II,
F.; public schools.
Considerable u,,casilpS> has been felt
in France, in regard 10 the Ginsn si'in:.
stature in Frenchnen which Is a>cril.Hi
! 10 the use Of tcl,ats.o. IN Germany, the
use OF tobacco has recently been forbid
den cor boys under sixteen years 81 age.
| \ distinguished Edinburgh physician
says, IL have invariably t",.n'i that pa
, ,ir.:ls addicted tut"'n.c: % smoking were
deficient in manly fortitude to undergo
surgical operation. The authorities q!
l..rne, in Switzerland, hay" prohibited
! tobacco to all youths under sixteen
-; years oi age. III view 81! all this 'cs''.
! Inoiiy ~ 10 til" cvi: effects Of the use q!
! tuhac,.;. il is uimccnuntahic that t:c
community parents and citizens every
! where are so indifferent ON lie subject
and th:t 80 many give their example
and influence in fave: Q: this alarming
! evil and common nuisance. Here is ~.
illustration: "A smoking; concert was
| given in London recently. 1t differed
in no other respect from either concerts
cxrcv: the privilege Of smoking. I'll.
Prince nf N::tS was present AMI TIC
Duke OF Edinburgh was ri his post ~
first viulin" Parent; smoke ami thus
encourage their sons to smoke hy THEN
.la;!v example Thus the curse is per
petuatc'', and the nuisance has hcc"m.
| intoicr,b,c. FROM wi,"iI:'e il to como
the rrwer ~ stay this ext! and alutt
this nuisance. Opium. smoking. which
is l"culninG alarE:n"'H ;"rv;;:,nt III
| America. i, NO more to im dreaded than
the smoking ~ tU:,::cco. and both >houiJ
hc prohibited ny law Tor common safety
and common ccil,i,rt.--l'*:'n XnW'
./"'|r"'.