Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-05-08
cIaARErrEs AND INSANITY.
AN EXTREMELY CLOSE CONNECTION
Exists BETWEEN THEM.

CiRatoltes have fairly earned th'
name OF "oofin taoks," by virtue o.
their hoalth.destroying powers. IL now
,esms. according to tho statement Of 8
we'll known physician Of the West, Dr.
BENJAMIN Blackiord, that they may Dc
even wore things than cause death
After careful examination Of a greal
number Of patients at a lunstic asylum
ami a thorough investigation into the
iiamlly history0 Of each care, II wa
found that the majority Of the younger
patients had been addicted to the ust
Of cigarette.
This In itself was strongly Suggestive
Of the fleet Of cigarette smoking on
the sy,lsm-of the close connection be-
tween this habit and the condition OF
the neryea-but DIR. Blackford DID not
aton there. lie performed n number Of
experiments, calculated 10 show just
what influence cigarette smoke inhal.
alton exeroises on the throat and the
delicate tltsues, blood vessels Aud
nerves Of the lungs and bronchial
tubes, The result OF his inyestlgatl0ne
was rather alarming.
oTo n greater or less extent" he
says, "this Increase Of Insanity may be
attributed TO the perniclous cigarette
smoking habit, now 20 long prevalent
among and undermining the moral,
physical and mental health OF the
youth Of our county during the period
Of youth aud development, when the
brain IA tender ana plastic and easily
affected by the noxi0uA Limitations H.
suing through anu around the nerve
csntsfsO
Cigarette smoking and cigar amok.
ing, II IL further pointed out, are two
entirely different things. Ono may
smoke cigars ~ excess, and
though he wOuli, OF coufse sui.
fer III CONSEQUENCES, there would
be very little chance OF his he-
coming insane from this cause. But
cigarettes seem TO have q pecunar
power Of affecting the nerves. Perhaps
this IA due 10 the inhalation OF the
smoke, for surely the smoke OF n cigar.
etlo IL not stronger In Itself than that
Of n cigar. Drinkers are well aware u
the soothing narcotic and at the same
time stimulating influence OF cigar
cite. Ii Ia very oitsn the case thaI
when n man IL "lhpefing Oh" from n
spree and Graves n soothing dfaught oil
spirits he will DO aAtitfied with = few
uufis OF q cigarette. In fact, not a few
physicians have pointed nut that drink
ing and the cigarette habit are very
closely allied. The smoking OF cigar
cites brings on an appetite ior drink.
A comparison OF the analysla OF al
ooholism ana "oigarettv'smokef's
heart" would probably show similat
results. Alcohol used In excess Ia n
poison. IL gives a sensation OF stimu'
latlon, followed by depression, The
alcohol habit, when persisted In, causes
insanity. Exactly the same may be
said OF cigarette smoking. The inhsl'
ing OF the smoke slightly inhames the
tender mucua lining OF the bronchial
tubes and lungs, end the sensation
thus caused Ia very like the slimu.A'
ton produced by alcohol But Ia
every draught OF cigarette smoke there
must be a small quantity OF nicotine,
which IL very destructive pOitoh.
Dspressioa, therefore, follows the In.
fiammation. As tbs natural RESULT OF
tuis depression the unfortunate subject
islmoved 10 take more atimulants IN the
firm Of cigarettes or alcohol.
This Ia an unnatural state OF affairs,
and must lead eventually 10 some die.
ease. No constitution Ia strong enough
TO Withstand constant attacks OF this
sort. There probably never was n more
healthy, sound and perfect man than
John L.. Sullivan, yet today his constl'
tuition IL wrecked m the result OF eN'
Gees, Fortunately, however, Mi. Sui l.
van has not gone 40 far n some other
who have 90 grossly abused alcohol ~
to incur an affection Of tue mind.
Cigarette smoking In especially harm.
full 10 the young. And, ouEiouuly
enough, II 10 the young who appear Il
DO particularly devoted 10 the habit.
When lad nae reached the age o
l2 OF IL years his constitution ~ SUB
lected 10 an unusual strain. IL IN tn,
period between boyhUod ana manhood
and there should be on hand a plentl'
full reserve force OF blood anu nerve
for IL will DO needed, But whist nap
pens " the system IL constantly NJ
tackled by the dyAuly cigarette pOitoni
oils nervous organization" say
DIR. BlackiOid, sis apt 10 become mort
shattered by this cigarette habit than !
he were addicted 10 alcoholic stimu
lants during that period, and vii
surely be- the fret TO give way, anu o
course tho flrst 10 suffer, especially
during tue period Of puberty, with ~
strain on the neryoussyslem.
'rrhe youth nj college VINO burma tn,
midnight oil In 10 DO commended 10
his Industry, but too often no turn
out his brain at the came time with hi
accompanying cigarette. Tho process
Of waste aud injury TO tho neIvOu
system may DO greater than tho repair
and mental bankruptcy - tho result.
Instances Of insanity caused bl
cigarette smoking are by no mean
rare. The insanity takes sIfEngei,
different forms. Sometimes the vi,
tim IN violent and has to DO atrsppe
20 hls bed 10 that he may not comm
suicide OF iniure his attendants; som,
tunes he IL Selected by n zeal for rel
gion anu will fall down In tho stree
and pray; sometimes his reason nj
peats to be absolutely stolen away an