Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-29
THE DEADLY CIGARETTE.

The Legislature Of New Jersey has passed
an act entitled, "An act prohibiting the sale
OF cigarettes, or tobacco in any Of its forms,
to minors" The act has been approved by
Gov. Ludlow, and is Dow the law. This act
created considerable debate, IN which it was
shown that tobacco was more fatal to the
human family than war, pestilence aud fam
inc. We predio. that the law will never be
enforced, because the American people be-
lisVe that they have certain inalieDabIe
rights, which no Law should disturb. The New
Jersey Law usurps all parental law, and pro-
poses to requisite hsbits aud customs, which
should be left 10 parents and guardians. If
the New jersey Legislature can regulate
smoking by law, it will next define what the
youth Of the State may eat and drink.
cannot and should not undertake. to
control, the boys and young men of the
country should be warned against the
evil effects OF narcotics Cigarettes, no
doubt, waste the vital forces. Their con.
slant use blunts the faculties, unstrings the
nerves, debilitstes the muscles, disturbs the
natural functions Of the heart, disorg anizss
the digestive organs and demoralizes the
entire mental and physical economy. AL
though the entire process Of manufacturing
cigarettes fron cigar stubs picked out OF the
mire Of the streets, and adultersted with
poisonous drugs and filthy things, has been
exposed by the press, still the vice Of smoking
the deadly cigarettes seems TO be growing
among the young; even ladies are contract
ing the habit of using them. Baneful as the
indulgence is at best, it would not be so bad
were the cigarettes manufactured from pure
tobacco; but II has been demonstrated that
pure tobacco is rarely if ever used in the
manufacture of cigarettes in this country. A
physician ia recent article in the Popular
Science Monthly says that his attention was
called to a patient Frustrated by excessive
smoking. The patient smoked cigarettes
and swallowed the smoke, thus making the
whole quantity of smoke pass through the
lungs. Evidently tho opportunities given
for the absorption OF smoke and nicotine in
this case were colossal in comparison with
those which would exist in person smoking
ten times az much, but in an open place and
without swallowing the smoke. Another
circumstanse aFgravatiug the affection wss
that the patient smoked his cigarettes di-
rectly, without the Intervention OF holder,
go that the smoke reached his mouth hot,
without any opportunity having been given
for the condensation OF any of any Of the vol
atile products. His mouth was moreover in
constant contact with the tobacco leaves,
50 that the liability Of absorption by the
buccul membrane was greatly increased.
The case suggests number OF precautions to
persons who smoke, among which are never
to swallow or inhals the smoke; to avoid
smoking il an inclosed place, or at least 10
have the room as large aud well ventilated
as possible; and 10 keep st considerable q
distance IS is practicable between the light
and the mouth, always using for this purpose
lopg-stemmed pipes or cigarette-holders. The
drieet tobacco and that which is weakest in
nicotine is to be preferred. The slaves of
this filthy habit should at least take these
precautions, if they have any regard for the
preservation Of their lives. The use OF TO-
bacco in any form is Nc doubt injurious, but
it cannot be prohibited by Legislative enact