Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-02-29
WAR AGAINST CIGARETTES.
From, the New York Sun

|
to humanity to-day doing more damage
than the popular little 'cgarettee,' ," said
J. N. Latin, the athlete, TO SIN reporter.
The reporter thereupon questioned Mr.. LAT
lin, and he talked something as follows:
Fifteen years ago, in this city, French
man named Bedervisian manufactured the
first American cigarette. He began with
only six women assistants. Al American
cigarette was novelty, and attracted con-
siderable attention. But BcderviSian lacked
capital, and his cigarette mandatory sooh
ceased TO exist
Two years later, III 1871 Francis ). Kin
ney began the manufacture OF cigarettes.
Having ample capital he entered into the
field to stay, and the Kinney Brothers to-day
employ nearly = thousand operatives, Il
large proportion Of them being women.
They are paid by piece work, aud while
| few can earn over 81 week many earn
Only from 81. so TO - a week.
Alfred Ozannc was for q while Il rival Of
Kinney, but he soon disappeared, and of
late years the ci9arrttee business has been
practically in the hands of only three firms
| the Kinney Brothers Of New York, T. +.
| Allen & Co. Of Richmond, and VIM. S. Kim
| ball & Co. Of Rochester.
Some idea Of the magnitude Of the bus
| ness can be formed from the fact that in
1857 nearly G00,O0O,O00 cigarettes were
manufactured in this country, OF which New
York city furnished 444 ,092 ,S67.
One hundred aud cighty-two different
brands G! cigarettes have been manufacture
cd ia fifteen years. OF these seventy one
have had their day. The nomenclature has
exercised !. great deal OF ingenuity, but
there is more variety in the names than in
the tobacco. One sort Of tobacco has been
known 10 supply the material 'or sixteen
different brands.
There have been comparatively few
novelties or improvemeutsintrod in the
manufacture of cigarettes. The original
Amcrcnu cigarettes had nouthpieces, in
imitation Of the European article Mouth
pieces have heen made of glass, cork aud
| husks, but the vast majority of cigarettes
have no mouth pieces. Cigarettes With
mouth pieces sold originally for twenty
cents IL package. Now, without mouth
pieces, they retail at ten cents Il package.
1t is asserted that the tobacco used in the
manufacturing OF the cheapest known
cigars is Ola better grade than tn"t used
in the manufacture Of The la0&t popular
cigarettes The tobacco used in cigag
cites is adulterated with saitpetrc,
to prevent the tobacco from mould
ing The effect Of the introduction OF salt
pegra into Tie human system is said hy med
ical men 10 be highly injurious t" the vital
functions The oil Of the paper used for
cigarette wrapDeGs las been pronounced 10
hc acre peincious in itself than even the
oil OF tobacco. The paper wrappers, con
,yagy 10 tic iiStal rule with burning paper,
burn white This is caused by their being
previously subjected to the action Of acids
and chemical agents.
The vast majority Of cigarette smokers
are boys from the ages Of TO is years.
| Ioun. clerks, messenger boys. students in
schools and colleges, and the like. Since
Che introduction OF The Acknowledgements
the number OF smokers has enormously in
creased, and the increase has been chiefly
in the younger portion Of the community.
In regard TO the results OF cigarette smok-
ing, physicians say it affects seriously the
functions ui the stomach, especially i'll the
young. 1t has = tendency TO increase the
action OF the heart, causing palpitatlon. II
is fruitful source of indigestion. II has Il
decided tendency TO produce catarrh in the
head. This il is said, arises from the fact
that cigarette, being much shorter than q
cigar more Of the smoke finds its way into
the mouth and nasal organs, Il very much
larger percentage Of smoke being inhaled by
the smoker from Il cigarette than from a
cigar. Cigarette smoking, it is averrcd has
also decided tendency to produce asthma,
and renders the system more liable to the
attacks OF pneumonia and bronchitis. In
its effects upon the nervous system cigarette
: smoking is said TO be in the highest degree
pernicious, both directly and indirectly. 1t
DESTROYS healthy appetite for solid food, and
: by the constant cXpectoration It produces
leads to a morbid craving for drink. Injury
or destruction Of the nerves of the eyes, 1t ls
r alleged, has been, in hundred Of instances
produced by cigarette smoking.
The following letter from prominen
physician of Brooklyn sums up some Of the
c views that doctors take of cigarette smok
. ing:
If one could select fine healthy boy of from twelve
10 fifteen wears ofge well known for his fine physique
even disposition and great strength and start HIM IL
, his career cigarette smo oker under the observan
eve of the public what results might not accrue from
s;,ch example us the panorama unfoded 10 them
The decay of physical power emaciation. the irrl
: hc temper the saow conlplexion the drawn and anx
: ions look the uustcadiness of the hands, the dyspep
si the caprcios appetite the to parental am
other advice. the tendency to seek lower companion
ship could iisrol! in 10 a:''e us ipless upon ' "
More especially in the nervous diahess does this rap
III decay make itself apparent and III varying degree
: ccordinr to the amount Of indulgence. Physician
oiI, watch this process with pain and anxiety for hos
i,r;,sted to their care Indeed, if my professions
rnor;emce We're to be my guide could declare Il,
IN Of c;eorettc smoking be greater than that
alcohol. = ' 49, t''-''
:, Girls are also becoming smokers of cigar
!. cites. There are two shop girls in Crane
street, near the East river, who betwee
them purchase and puiften packages OF cis
4 arettes week. A girl in . shop, IN DlVis
ion street is said to have boasted that SD
can outsmoke any cigarette smoker OF IN
- east side.
~ Mr.. Latin saws he has for some yea!