The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-07-24
Cigarette Smoking How it Hurts
the Boy.

Cigarette Smoking How it Hurts
the Boy.
Concluding Article of n Series C0nfribu-
ted TO the PittsburG, Pa, Morning
Guide, by ]. w. Herring, N. ID.
There is no article of which have any
knowledge that more powerfully depresses
the system, when fully under its influence,
than tobacco. This is due to an active
principle or alkaloid, called nicotine, which
is itself most deadly poison. | could
relate many curious cases to you, showing
the violence of this poison. "a child
burned its lip. The mother placed upon
the burn some of the oil out of pipe to
heal it. The child died in few hours with
COMMISSIONS ''Three children had their
heads rubbed with the ointment of tobacco;
were suddenly attacked with vertigo, ex-
cessive vomiting, fainting and sweating,
and for twenty-four hours staggered about
like drunken men," The same effect was
produced upon little girl, upon whose
head some snuff was used for disease of
the scalp.
An account is given of two brothers, one
of whom smoked seventeen and the other
eighteen pipes of tobacco. Death occurred
in both cases.
"a case is related of man, accustomed
to smoking, who swallowed small piece of
the hardened tobacco juice from his pipe;
he soon after fell down insensible, and
would have died if assistance had not been
rendered"
"A smuggler covered himself with to-
hacco leaf, which, being dampened by pers-
piration, almost caused his death by the
absorption of the poison through the skin. !"
ga man troubled with itch made a de-
coction or tea of tobacco, and rubbed his
body with it. Alarming symptoms imme-
diately came on, and he was with difficulty
saved from DEATH"
l could go on and give many other cases,
but these are sufficient to show the power
ful action of tobacco on the human system.
And while, with the physically mature man,
its ordinary and moderate use is not fol-
lowed by any of these alarming symptoms,
because of tolerance" which has been
established, yet, with the young, all author
tiles agree that its effects are of the most
injurious character. DR.. Richardson, one
of the very best writers, says: "Before the
full maturity of the system is attained, even
the smallest amount of smoking is hurtful."
And DIR. Hare, in prize dissertation on
the effects of the use of tobacco, says to
young people especially: Tobacco is per-
feet curse; stunning their development, in
juring irreparably their general physique
and growth, and often entirely altering their
dispositions by bringing on state of con-
slant irritability."
1t impairs the action of the whole nerv-
GUS system, and renders the brain, which
is, as told you, the great regulating organ
of the human machinery, utterly powerless
to carry on, in proper manner, its func
tons In consequence of this, the diges-
ton of the food is feeble the nutriment of
the body is necessarily imperfect, and
growth thus interrupted.
In addition to this impression upon the
brain and nervous system, the action of the
heart is seriously interfered with by the
effects of tobacco in the young. 1t is said
that one-ffth of all the boys examined at
the Washington Navy Yard Barracks are
rejected on account of heart disease, and
this condition brought on by smoking. 1t
is the testimony of the surgeons of this de-
partment, who have large opportunities for
observation, that cigarette smoking by boys
is productive of heart disease.
And it is not hard to understand this,
for any one under the influence of the toxic
effect of tobacco, sickened, as we say, by
smoking, will find the heart not only acting
much more rapidly than usual, but if the
effect is kept up for any length of time its
action becomes unsteady and irregular.
A heart embarrassed and crippled in this
way can not long proceed without damag-
ing its structure, and at the same time its
feebleness prevents it from sending out the
blood in nourishing quantities to the sys
TEN.
Then the lungs, which are the blood
purifiers, are involved in the same general
trouble; while the heart action is hurried,
the respiration is also necessarily quickened.
What the lungs lose in strength of action
they are compelled to make up in frequen-
cy. And hence, when the system is under
the influence of tobacco, there is always
quick pulse and quick breathing. Under
this condition the blood loses its richness,
becomes more and more broken down, and
finally we see the effect plainly in the face
of the boy. Previously rosy-cheeked and
robust, he is now pale and sunken; his mus
eular strength is gone, the power of his
mind is impaired, so that he cannot endure
study; everything is burden to him, sleep
does not restore hisstrength He loses his
interest in his plays and recreations, in a
word his health is broken; his young life
has been sacrificed to the cigarette
And it not only entails upon the boy
himself the miseries and disappointments
of a feeble and half-developed manhood,
but its pernicious effects will extend to his
posterity, and will be shown in the weakly
constitutions of those who come after him.
have now extended my remarks beyond
the limits of my original intention, and
must conclude.
A single parting word As boys, discard
the use of tobacco. 1t is an article too
powerful for your young and delicate con-
situations.
The cigarette may seem to you to be
simple and harmless. 1t is not so. But
upon the contrary, because it is wrapped in
the white garb of innocence, thus making
it appear to you to be simple and harmless,
makes it the most deceptive and dangerous
of all the FIRMS in which tobacco has ever
been presented to the boy. Avoid the Gig
arctic.
No woman can have soft, fine skin
who habitually uses powder. She may say
"0h, some kinds are not injurious only
Il - Il - L-.- L =. Il. La =.