Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-07-30
TOBACCO vs.. CONSUMPTION.

IOllAOOO we NONoNt1A AAOe'
by Theodore Grimm, NJ H.. Kansas CITY
| Mo -(lirud before the Jackson Co. tMO),
Medical Society,"
From time immem0rial mankind
has sought solace aud comfort, slim
illus aud ISOLATION In the smoke at To-
bacco. Nervous sensibility Is blunted
I'm its seductive sensations, and we
temporarily lose sight aud feeling at
the disagreeable environments OF lie
and float, MS it were, In dreamy at
mospherc above and away from earth
" cares. The Chinamsn has from an
cient DAYS enjoycd this boon. From
the North American Indian tobacco
came to the European and now the
smoke of lis burning, like that OF the
bot,omlcss pit, goes up forever from
almost every hrarlhs,One under the
blue vault OF heaven. It's mission Is
certainly divine. In this last half OF
the nineteenth century tobacco must
not be classcq among the luxurirs OF
life. AS its use has become indispchs--
able TO the comfort, happiness aud
health of millions of people.
The tobacco habit is fastened secure
" upon the people and 1t will never
he shaken OIL. On the contrary, II Is
more secure in its hold day by day.
We believe that ere long tobacco will
he regarded as a valuable therapeutic
agent. Atpresent il occupies no place
in the busy prcscribcr's armamenlarl'
um.
A plant which produces such mark
ed disturbance Of physiological func-
lions when used ia excess, is likely To
possess valuable therapeutic properties.
which We will endcavor 10 find IN It's
smoke. 1t has been demonstrated that
IL is destructive to certain germs. DIR.
V. Lassinari, assistant at the hy-
qienic institute of the University of
Pisa. pu b!ishes some interesting cXper-
iments with tobacco smoke on various
pathosenic and non-pathogenc organ
isms. The duration of the fnmiga,ions
varied from thirty to thirty-tive mill
utcs. aud the quantity of tobacco con
sumcd amounted TO from 3ia 10 I's
grammes. II was shown that tobacco
smoke possesses the property of relard-
ing the development OF some palhoge-
mic bacteria and preventing the growth
of others. Thus The smoke from a
large Virginia cigar retarded the de-
yelopment of the bacierium prodiel-
osus for seventy-two hours, OF the
staphylococcus aureus for seventy
three hours, aud of the anthrax bacil-
lus for nincly-sevcn hours.
No development of colonies of the
spirillp OF Asiatic cholera, anthrax and
of the bacilli Of typhus ieverand pneu-
mOnia was observed after from nun
dred and tweniy.eight TO hundred
and sixtv-eight hours. The author
regards these results as due TO the
chemical action Of the ingredients OF
tobacco smoke.
For years dentists have recognized
the fact that tobacco is an active germ
icide aud state that tobacco users have
the best preserved teeth. For twenty
wears have been engaged in the gen.
keral practice of medicine, and during
that time have treated many cases OF
pulmonary tuberculosis. lido not re-
member that one OF my consumptlve
cases was a habilual smoker OF to-
bacco. My reflections on this subject
lead me to suggest that tobacco smoke
as inhaled daily and almost hourly by
the habitual smoker,r etards or prevents
the development of the bacillus tuber-
culosis in the larnyX and lungs OF the
smoker as it has been demonstrated to
prevent the development of the bacilli
of typhus fever and pneumonia. LOOK
back upon your cases of consumption
and recall to mind any. among them
who were habitual smokers of tobacco.
AS far as can recall to mind tobacco
smokers have good lungs. will here
state briefly an interesting case, be-
cause it proves-as far as it has any
value-,hc truth of my theory.
Mr.. Lobh, a brick mason, aged
about thiriy-five years, about four
years ago developed all the symptoms
of pulmonary tuberculosis, with hem
orrhages from the lungs. His physi-
clan diagnosed pulmonary tuberculo-
sis. Two years after the development
of the first symptoms a physician di-
rected him to smoke and inhale the
smoke of five cigarettes daily, and not
to exceed that number. He directed
him to take no other medication. The
patient soon began 10 improve, cough
and hemmorrhagcs finally ceased and
he is now healthy, active man, above
the average in intelligence. lie did
not restrict himself to five cigarettes
daily, hut he gradually increased the
number until at present he smokes at
least one hundre daily. MIR. Lobb Is
now ont of the city. l will hereafter
give you detailed statement OF his
case.
| Oc