Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-12-03

A Talk with Dr.. Purvis What He has
+ Observed as TO the Effects of Tobacco
on Boys-Precocious Dyspeptics.
Washington Star.
''The use of cigarettes by boys
has assumed such proportions as an
evil that our legislators ought to
adopt such measures as will restrict
the sale il not prohibit the manufac-
ture entirely" The speaker was DR..
Pnrvis, the surgeon 10 charge Of the
nFrcedmen's hospital. The subject
was introduced into the conversation
by the Star reporter because of the
resolution which the doctor, who is q
member of the school board, had Of
fered at the lat meeting, calling up
on Congress to pass a law to make
the sale of cigarettes and liquor to
minors punishable offence.
"You have seen these boys in the
street, continued the doctor, walk
ing along putting cigarette or step
up to some gentleman and ask for
light from his cigar. They feel them
selves to be men, because they are
initiating men. have found during
my connection with the hospital that
the large class of inebriates and men
afflicted with vicious diseases con-
tracted the habit when they were
young and continued in course
which they never would have taken
up later in life. In this way the i'm
portance of protecting and saving
the young from the beginning Of
vicious. habits has been impressed
upon my mind"
1t is pot necessary for me" went
on the doctor "to speak Of the in
furious effects of tfe use Of tobacco
upon the human system, especially
In q young child. Itchecks the growth
OF the cells, stunts the physical life and
retards and permanently prevents the
growth of the brain. But all this is
evident to any observer. You see
children in the street small for their
age with contracted narrow chests,
and il you were q physician in
practice you would have knowledge
Of diseases which are abnormal in the
life OF children Think for instance of
child having dyspepsia, and yet it
is now very leommop. You find
children with their digestive organs
not only ont of order, but with their,
nervous system deranged. The boys
is stunted by the use of tobacco his
system is affected. and his menta;
aud moral growth retarded Insanity
very frequently ensues as Doctor
Campbell, of Philadelphia, has said.
There is no use in such discussion
to follow. this line of argument, as it
must be selfevident. The evil effects
of the use Of tobacco by young
children is everywhere acknowledged,
and the CRUSADE, if it may 50 be
termed, which has begun in other
cities, is q practical evidence of this
fact. / do not know what the board
may do in this matter. IL may do
nothing. But if Lean in this way
arouse the attention of parents and
those who came in contact with
children to the importance of this
utdtJcI, Do tu0t Jucy uloCUuIhBC luCiE
children id such habits. / feel that /
will accomplish . great deal. Since
the meeting of the board, when the
subject was first brought up, | have
received q great many letters from
people ia all parts Of the city express
ing their hearty sympathy with me
in this matter / have been stopped
in the street by prominent citizens,
who have commended the object Of
the resolution, and feel that have
the support of all who have given
the subject the slightest attention or
are disposed to do so. 1t seems to
me to self-eVident that there Is no
room for argument, and 4 do not so
look upon the resolution now before
the board. The only question, II seems
20 me, that can be raised is whether
ibis is the best method of trying 70
c0rrect > great and increasing evil. !"