The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-30
HYarrrE ROE sr4oKERs.
A Scientific Man Tells How to Minimize the
Evils of the Habit.
CHICAGO Inter ocean.

Evils of the Habit.
Chicago Inter Ocean.
In the journal d Hygiene Dr. Felix Fremont
discusses some laws of health in their special APP
plication to smokers He says caustically to
begin with that he is not talking to schoolboys
who puff cigarettes, nor to children who try to
play the man by taking up one of his faults, but
addresses himself to sure-enough smokers; the
number of whom he has no particular care to IN
crease. The prime rule of hygiene in the code IS
radical enough, to be sure, and would very
speedily, if consistently followed, do away with
all the ills of smoking. 1t is the simple advice
not to smoke at all, an injunction that seems to
negative the learned Doctors preface that he is
| not aiming his remarks at children, We will
take his word for it that hardly an old smoker
but would avow it had been better for him had
heneyer touched pipe or cigar; but popular sci
| ence does not really comprehend a discussion Of
abstract morals, aud it is the practical phase Of
the Doctors article rather than its aesthetic that
we wish to consider The evils Of smoking may
be granted off-hand, but since men will smoke
the thing to be considered is how to diminish the
bad effects Of the practice
Happily M. Fremont is not fanatic, and scorns
not to point out means by which the delicious
vice may best be INDUCED at least expense to
the system. Impriinis the cigar smoker should
use holder. BY that means less nicotine is alb
sorbed, and the necessity for splitting is not SO
urgent Long holders are better than short, be-
cause they better cool the smoke, and cheap ones
are better than expensive ones because they will
oftener be renewed. There is, besides, gain in
point of cleanliness in the use of holder. Too
many hands touch the tobacco in its manufac-
ture for it to escape soil, and sometimes it carries
with 1T filth and diseased germs as we'll Havana
cigars are recommended as by all odds the best,
though the difficulty of getting the genuine
ticie is painfully recognized. There is
very great imposition IN the matter of Havana
cigars. Very cheap and inferior goods are made
in various parts of Europe and the United
States, shipped to HAVANA for packing and re-
turned thence with the brand and label of genu-
inc Havana cigars. At Hamburg, indeed, cigars
are made from eabbage-leaf tobacco and right
there done up as Havanas, without the trouble
some formality of shipping to Cuba We sus-
pect the same thing is done in markets nearer
home. Those cigars are run through the custom
house with no greater bother to the manufact-
urers than taking them out TO meet an incoming
vessel, upon which they are dumped for this
purpose. This simple act augments their
value tenfold.
It is recommended as good hygienic precau-
ton to select dry cigars for smoking as they are
free from nicotine. Slow smoking is another
excellent specific against the too great ABSORB
ton of the toxic principles of tobacco The fast
smoker of wet cigars who does not spit during
the process dangerously satuRates his nevous
system with poison. To such a person pipe is
altogether insipid. The more thoroughly the
matter is medically considered the more posi-
tive becomes the Judgment that cigarette smok-
ing is the most pernieious use Of tobacco, and is
one Of the most frequent causes Of disease of the
neart. This is not, perhaps due to the wrapper
as much as to the habit cigar smokers have of
inhaling the smoke, and to the further fact that
cigarette tobacco is usually more moist than
others, thatit may be easily rolled.
The pipe is, after all, the nearest approach to
hygienic excellence the smoker may attain. But
there are pipes and pipes The best are the
most porous, whatever the material. They are
good in proportion to their absorption of the
nicotine, and cease to be good after they have
become seasoned. A seasoned meerschaum, for
example, is no better than metallic pine, and
should, for health's sake, at whatever sacrifice of
nut-brown beauty, be boiled into its original
usefulness as an absorbent The bowl being
well chosen. the stem shOnld be long. With
such precautions. ard the use of dry, pure to-
bacco, the smoker has the highest form of ny
most delightful to the sense, soothing without
supplying exhilarating without exciting the
nerves. Short-stemned pipes have been very
properly termed sscoreh- throats,n and are
most pernicious in their effects Not
only do they admit to the
mouth all the poisons of the tobacco, but
send in a smoke hot enough to burn any tongue
that has not been injuriously toughened by long
abuse The thiekening of the epithelial layer is
one effect of the use of these pipes which the
French have named brule gneule
Liberal ventilation Of apartments in which
smoking is INDUCED should be observed. The
inhalation of foul smoke is sure means of Civ
ing delicate membranes an Injurious coating of
nicotine. Cleanliness is strongly urged, not
only for the benefit of the smoker, but for the
sake of those who may be brought in contact
with him. The odor and effect of tobacco ex
hailed from the smoker are not pleasant even to
smokers, and there cannot be too much care
given to the cleansing of the mouth. The teeth
should be well brushed, night and morning, and
the valuable hint is given that gargle of
aromatized water is better to neutralize the
Odor of tobacco than the best scented pellets.