Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-09

ASTHMA. INDIGESTION. AND VARIOUS NERVOUS
TROUBLES AMONG THE YOUNG LAID TO TgEIE
CHARGE-PROHIBITORY LEGISLATION.
From the New York Sun
There IL no engine of destruction known to
humanity to-day doing more damage than the
popular little cigarettee said Mr.. ]. NJ Latin.
the athlete, to San reporter. Thereporter there
upon questioned Mr.. Lafin and he talked
something as follows:
Fifteen years ago, in this city, Frcnchman
named Bedervisan manufactured the first
American cigarette. He began with only six
women assistants. An American cigarette was
a novelty. and attracted considerable attention.
But Bedervsian lacked capital, and his cigar
cite mandatory soon ceased to exist.
Two years later, In 1871, Francis s. Kinney
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, large proportion of
them being women. They are paid by piece
work, and while few can earn over 81 week
many earn only from $3.50 to 50 week.
Alfred Ozanne was for while rival of
Kinney. but he soon disappeared. and OF late
years the cigarette business has been prac-
tically in the hands of only three firms-the
Kinney Brothers of New York, T. F. Allen 4
Co. of Richmond. and VIM S. kimball g. Co. of
Rochester.
Some idea of the magnitude of the business
can be formed from the fact that in 1882 nearly
GOO, 0OO.OO cigarettes We're manufactured In
this country. OF which New York city furnished
Al ,092, SGT.
One hundred and eighty-two different brands
Of cigarettes have been manufactured i'm fifteen
years. OF these seyenty-One have had their day.
The nomenclature has exercised great deal of
ingenuity, but there is more variety i'm the
names than in the tobacco. One sort of tobacco
has been known to supply the material for six
teen different brands.
There have been comparatively few novelties
or improvements introduced in the manufacture
of cigarettes. The original American cigarettes
had mOuthpIeces. in imitation of the European
article. Moutllpieces have been made of glass
cork. and husks but the vast majority of cigar
cites have NO mOuthpeces. Cigarettes with
mOuthpleces sold originally for twenty cents
package. Now, without mouthpicces they re-
tail at ten cents package.
1t Is asserted that the tobacco used in the
manufacturing of the cheapest known cigars is
of better grade than that used I'm the manu-
facture OF the most popular cigarettes. The to-
baccO used In cigarettes is adulterated with
saltpetre. to prevent the tobacco from mould
ing. The effect of the Introduction of saltpetrc
into the human system Is said by medical men
to be highly injurious to the vital functions
The oil of the paper used for cigarette wrappers
has been pronounced to be more perniciOus in
itself than even the oil of tobacco The paper
wrappers, contrary to the usual rule with burn
ing 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 IL years. Young
clerks, messenger boys. students In schools and
colleges. and the like Since the Introduction
Of the American cigarette the number of smOk-
ers has enormously increased and the increase
has been chiefly in the younger portion of the
community.
In regard to the results Of cigarette smoking,
physicians say it affects seriously the functions
OF the stomach. especially in the young. 1t has
tendency to increase the action of the heart,
causing palpitatiOn. 1t is a fruitful source of
indigestion. 1t has decided tendency to pro-
dnce catarrh in the head. This. it is said, arises
from the fact that cigarette, being much
shorter than cigar. more of the smoke finds it's
way into the mouth and nasal organs. q very
much larger per centage of smoke being inhaled
by the smoker from O cigarette than from q
cigar. Cigarette smoking. it is ayerred. has also
decided tendency to produce asthma. and rem
ders 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 di-
rectly and indirectly. 1t destroys healthy APP
petite for solid food. and by the constant eX-
pectoratiOn it produces leads to morbid
craving for drink. Injury or destruction of the
nerves OF the eyes it is alleged. has BEEN in
hundreds OF instances, produced by cigarette
S1hOhIUG.
The following letter from a prominent physi-
clan OF Brooklyn sums up some of the views
that doctors take of cigarette smoking:
III one could select fine. healthy boy OF from
tWelve TO fifteen years OF age, we'll known for
his fine physique. even disposition and great
strength, and start him in his cigarette
smoker under the ODSerVant eye OF the public, what
results might not accrue from such example as the
panorama was unfOljed to them?
Inc decay OF physical power. emaciatiOn the
irritable temper. the sallow complexion. the drawn
ana anxious look, the unSteadneSS OF the hands,
the dyspepsia, tine caprciOuS appetite the aversion
TO parental and other advice the tendency to seek
lower companonship, could hardly fail to leave its
Impress upon such all audience
More especially IN the nervous diathesis does this
rapid decay make Itself apparent, and in varying
degrees according to the amount OF indulgence
Physicians daily watch this process with pain and
anxiety for those tntrusted to their Indeed,
guide could declare the evil OF cigarette smoking
TO be even greater than that of alcohol.
S. HOPKINS KEEP.
Girls are also becoming smokers of cigarettes.
There are two shop girls in Grand street near
the East river who between them purchase and
puff ten packages of cigarettes week. girl
In shop in Division street is said to have boast
ed that she can Outsmoke any cigarette smoker
of the east side.
Mr.. Latin says he has for some wears past had
his attention strongly directed to this subject as
professor of athletic training. He has noted
the havoc produced i'm the physical constitutions
OF youth by the smoking of cigarettes and has
endeayored to get law passed by the New
York legislature similar to the New Jersey law
passed last year, which prohibits the sale of
cigarettes or OF tobacco to minors under 16 years
Of age.