Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-01-02
The Boy and this Cigarette.
Chicago Inter Ocean.

Cn!CagO Inter ocean.
Daring the past few weeks the newsps-
pers have had TO chronicle the death OF
several young boys as the result of an ex-
cessiye indulgence il cigarette smoking
One of these casee occurred in Philadel-
phis and another in HammoutoD, n j
There was NO doubt in the minds OF the
attending physicians as to the
cause of these deaths, rs there
is none in the opinion Of
New York physicians that there
are now at lesst 5000 cases OF impaired
health in that city resulting from smok-
ing cigarettes, q considerable number Of
which are of boys. Physicians have well
defined views concerning the harm done
60 youths from ga indulgence in the use
of tobacco. One of the nios6 eminent
practitioners ia New York city Cl.ims
that it stunts their growth and sOwe the
seeds OF diseases which develop in later
years, such ss throat diseases, lung trou-
bles and dyspepsia.
1t is probable that few parents OF forty
yesrs Of age and upwards realize WHIST q
revolution In the smoking hsbit has been
brought about by the Introduction CT the
cigarette. It can DE purchased CheapIy.
is quickly used and CON be easily conceal
ed from prying pSrental eyes. At most
OF the small groceries they con be bought
two for cent. and 6 large number of
boys, seven years Old and upwards, who
formerly spent their pocket change
in candies and toys now invest it in
cigarettes. AS If TO place every possible
temptation in the wsy Of the young
smoker, some school stores even, where
slates, encils, books ard stationery are
kept, now have cigarettes and tobacco as
G part OF their stock in trade. Il is no
unusual sight 10 see q crowd of boys On
their way to or returning from school
every enc OF whom is putting eWgy at Z
cigarette.
There is no law, we believe, in this
state forbidding the sale Of tobacco to
boys OF sny age, and the only preventive
is the watchfuiness OF parents and guar
dians or the distaste Of the youths them
selves. Illinois has q lew which makes IL
an offense, punishable by fine Of 500
for every violation, TO ''sel, buy for, OF
furnish any cigar or cigarette or tobacco
in sny Of its forms to any minor under six
teen yeas Of age, unless upon the written
order CT parent or guardian" This
measure WAS enacted largely through the
schools who found it impossible in any
other way to stop the sm0kinG habit of
young boys and even girls IN the school
buildings and yards. II is discourag-
ing fact that many parents, especially In
Ch!cago, instead OF giving tdeir earnest
support to this law have thrown their ID
huence against it's enforcement. With
parental prejudices to overcome, 1t is not
strange that little progress has been made
thus far towards checking the cigarette
habit.
According to the reports OF the revenue
department of the government, there
were manufactured last year 1 200, 000,-
GOO cigarettes, and as an equal number
probably were made by the smokers them
selves, there were at least 2,400, 0c0. 600
cigarettes consumed, snd even this total
does not include the 100000 or more
imported from foreign countries. This
would give about 100 cigarettes to every
male. and as the larger part OF them are
smoked by youths under fifteen years Of
age, the total for each smoker is largely
increased. These figures may possibly
impress parents with the enormity OF 81
evil which has already done q vSst amount
of harm and is destined to do much more
unless promptly checked.