Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-08-24
THE CIGARETTE EVIL.
Habit Which Destroys tho Nervous Sys
tenn OF Its Victims.

TEN OF Its Victims.
A great many people are disposed to
laugh mt the cigarette rs weak imi-
tation of u cigar, and on indulgence in
cigarette smoking as something too
trivial for sober talk. The fact Is
brought out, however, by the recent
discussion in the United States Senate,
that cigarette smoking is "a very great
and very serious evil" to quote the
words of Senator Chase, OF Rhode
Island, who presented n petition from
237 Washington physicians, praying
for the passage of the bill to prohibit
the selling or furnishing of cigarettes,
or of tobacco in any of its forms, to
any youth under sixteen years of age,
in the District OF Columbia Senator
Stewart declared that cigarettes are
destroying more youth than any other
one thing that is affecting the pros
pority of the country"
1t is fact that the cigarette habit
has been added to the causes OF death
among American youth. The newspa-
pers each week chronicle instances,
and 1t may readily be understood that
tho vast majority OF the cases never
get into the papers They are chron-
icled under the head OF "heart
trouble "nervous disease or some
thing similar, rather than as the result
of over-indulgence In cigarette smok-
ing. Not long ago the estimate OF n
number OF New York physicians was
published that there were in that city
Mt least three Thousand cases of inn
paired health, chiefly among boys and
young men, as the resu II of the cigar
etto habit. In Chicago the habit be-
came so general. among school-boys,
and girls as well, that tho teachers
petitioned for State law against the
sale, which the Legislature passed.
1t may be asked why the smoking of
cigarettes is so particularly harmful to
youth, and whether it is any worse
than the smoking Of full-sized cigars.
The testimony OF those OF the medical
profession who have made study of
the tobacco habit is that ii is par
ticularly harmful to all persons during
the period of growth. stunting their
physical development, destroying the
tone of the nervous system, and laying
the foundation OF obstinate lung and
thyoat diseases, dyspepsia, heart dis
case, &C. which do not develop until
Iser ih No, TAe cigarette Is worse
ihgn Che cigar Soe~sse the cheaper
2iyldos nIo nlnde ", ii tobacco of tho
cffhapaa quality Old cigar stumps,
loaded with nicotine and the dried
saliva OF their former smokers; and
then the whole abominable mess
doctoPed with opium or other drugs to
mask the nauseous taste and render 1t
palatablc.
Altogether, there seems to be strong
reasons why tho law should interfere
and protect the rising generation from
the physical evils which come from the
use OF cigarettes. II people wish to
smoke. let them wait until they have
reached maturity, when the harm that
can be done Is reduced to a minimum.
The sale OF cigarettes has become |
enormous. in this country |
There are 1900, 100000 made every
year at home, and $4,000, 900 more i'm
ported. which gives an average of fifty
A year to every male person In tho
Several States have already
passed laws forbidding the sale or
of tobacco In any form to
minors under sixteen years of age un-
der heavy penalty; and the general
public should be aroused to the ex-
ent of the OWL in order that the law
nay be properly inforced. --1ols
Blade,