Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-07
MoRELL MACKENZIE ON TOBACCO,
1t ID Not Only Injurious to Smokers,
But to Those Who Breathe the Smoke.

~ Ii NOT Oniy injurious 60 smokers,
But to Those Who Breathe the Smoke.
The speaking voice does not generally be-
come seriously affected as the result Of smok-
ing except in the case Of those who have to
make professional use Of the voice. have no.
ticed such effects occasionally in the case Of
military men. and more rarely among the
clergy. who have generally the good sense to
give up smoking when they find il injurious,
writes Sir Morell Mackenzie in the Nesc Recie,e.
They are certainly, however, most common
among actors. In members Of the dramatic
profession there is often great strain on both
the throat and nervous system, especially in
rehearsing and learning new parts, and il is at
such times that actors often exceed the bounds
course to as q sedative to their overtaxed cere-
bral and nervous energies. 1t is easy to drift
into excess under such circumstances all
the more that the throat is then in
what may be called "a condition Of least resist
ance." The result is that most Of the leading
actors in London suffer from q relaxed condi-
ton Of the upper part of the throat brought
on entirely, believe, by smoking. As q high
standard OF excellence can only be maintained
in the dramatic profession under sparing use
OF alcohol. tobacco must be looked upon as the
sole cause of the evil. I may add moreover,
that while actors suffer very much from con-
gestion and relaxation Of the pharynx actresses
are very rarely afflicted in that way. But il
the present craze of women for aping men.
even In their weaknesses, continues it cannot
be expected that they will escape the conse-
quences The fair creatures whom have seen
smoke, however, did not seem likely 70 do
themselves much harm. for they either toyed
with the cigarette in platonic sort Of way or
smoked with their hps-''puffing out innocu-
GUS blasts Of dry smoke" to use the words Of
Charles Lamb-but taking care that very little
passed inward beyond the "barrier OF the
teeth" cannot imagine, however that any
lady who cares about her voice would expose IL
even to that slight risk.
Unfortunately it is not necessary to smoke to
be victim of tobacco. Even seasoned vessels
md their neighbors' pipes or cigars very try
ing, and, Tor person with a delicate throat
exposure to an atmosphere laden with the
DR.. Ramon de la Sofa, Spanish physician who
has given much attention to the subject, states
that he ia very frequently called upon to treat
Spanish ladies who do not themselves smoke
for irritation Of the throat caused. according to
him, by the malignant habits of their male rel
atives, who do not deny themselves the cigar
either at table or in the drawing room or even
in the bed room" The same gentleman has
seen some OF the worst effects of tobacco in the
throats OF women (non-smokers) employed in
the large cigar factory at Seville. Smoking
concerts" should be anathema marautha to the
vocalist who has proper regard for his instru-
ment. He should also scrupulously avoid
smoking carriages on the underground railway
especially at the time of the evening exodus
from the city, and all other places where
OF over-smoking on the throat, when the habit
has not been too long INDUCED in, can as a
rule be easily cured by the simple remedy of
disseminating the practice which engenders
them. In considering the evils produced BY
smoking it should be borne in mind that there
nnnfa nn1 So he f,,,x.
OF tobacco. The one is the poisonous nicotine
and the other is the high temperature of the
burning tobacco. The oriental hookan, in
which the smoke is cooled by being passed
through water before reaching the mouth, is
probably the least harmful form Of indulgence
In tobacco, and the cigarette, which is 80 much
In vogue nowadays, is most certainly the worst
1t owes this bad eminencc" to the very mild
ness OF its action, people being tempted to
smoke all day long and easily accustoming
themselves to inhale the fumes into their lungs
and thus saturating their blood with the poi
son.
To sum up, believe that most people can
smoke In moderation without injury and that
to many tobacco acts as a useful nerve soda
tive. On the other hand if INDUCED in TO ex-
cess the habit is always injurious and am sure
that great many persons either can not see, or
willingly shut their eyes to the scientific from
tier which separates moderation from abuse
1t must also be borne in mind that the condi
raj health, varies greatly at different times and
that an amount of smoking which at one time
would be attended with no bad effect might at
another produce serious harm. Every smoker
knows that when the stomach is out of order
the pipe or cigar loses its charm. but it is not
so generally known that at such times the
tongue (Which to the experienced eye
Is mirror of the invisible stomach)
and the throat are more vulnerable
than usual to tobacco. II natures
warnings on these points are disregarded, az
they generally are, the smoker will bring on
himself much unnecessary discomfort and even
sunerlng. In connection with the variation in
susceptibility just referred to it may be men
toned that persons leading an outdoor life
can. as rule, smoke with much greater impu-
nifty than those who spend most Of their time
indoors 1t is further worthy Of mark that the
Inhabitants of warm clmatet suffer less than
the jewellers in what is probably on non
lucendo principle, called the temperate climate
OF England. This is doubtless due to the
greater resisting power of threats less harassed
by foggs and east winds and partly, perhaps,
to the use OF milder tobacco
To conclude with little practical advice,
would say to anyone who finds total abstinence
too heroic a stretch of virtue let him smoke only
after substantial meal and if he be singer or
speaker let him do after and never before
using mis- voice. Let him smoke mild Havana
or long stemmed pipe charged with some cool
smoking tobacco. If the charms of the
cigarette are irresistible let it be smoked
through mouthpiece which is kept clean with
ultra Mohammedan strictness Let him re-
FRAN from smoking pipe, cigar or cigarette to
the bitter. and it may be added, rank and oily
end. Your Turk, who is very choice in his
smoking and thoroughly understands the art.
always throws away the near half of his
cigarette.