The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-21
TObmcco-Its Effects.

Editor Morning News: Superficial think
ing or teaching is one of The evils of the
day, and because no direct and positive
injury results from certain habits in a
very short time. it is said there is no evil
in it, and because a habit becomes general,
a custom, a characteristics, it is thought
there can be really no harm in it, The
above reflections are forced upon your
writer by reading the reports of medical
examiners when examining or testing men
for military duty. Many, who imagine
they are physically all right nothing the
matter with them, are told 10 their sur
prise that they have the tobacco hear"
weak heart or lungs, or are lacking of
vitality. That eyes are weak or have
some ailment they did not dream Of and
when told that their want Of physical
vitality results from cigarette smoking, or
too free use of Tobacco, they are aston
ished.
1t is one of those results in life, where
we are told: And be sure your sin will
find you out" il can with truth be said,
and be sure your habits will tell against
you Tobacco, which has nicotine in it,
and stimulant for that reason, is a slow
poison taken in by smoking and chewing.
Nicotine is concrete or solid oil obtained
from tobacco. 1t smells like tobacco
smoke, tastes bitterish and slightly aro-
matte and is eminently poisonous. Yet, our
boys and young men are daily poisoning
their systems, and do not know they are
cultivating a weak heart, poor lungs, a
low vitality, weak eyes and other physical
infirmites.
The medical examination, which have
been a great surprise to many, are tracing
cause and effect to the right source How
long will fathers and mothers be indiffer-
ent or blind to the habits of their sons ?
How long viii men and women be ifiif-
ferent TO a real sound physical makeup?
More than two-thirds Of the children to-
day are abnormal in their physical make
up. Bad teeth, and bad eye-sight can
easily be traced to our habits. No effect
without a cause.
The old Spartans were remarkably care
full about their women, how they lived and
what they ate. No woman was allowed to
drink, and intemperance among the men
We're not permitted. Physical health was
everything with the Spartan. Take the
Jewish code as to the laws of health and
see how particular the Jew was in what
he ate and drank. None but intelligent
Psychologists and physicians could have
written such a sensible code. And no
wonder the Jews, who kept their laws.
were the healthiest and most long-iived of
any people. 1t was only when they got
away from their wise laws they became
corrupt and weak.
But when we come 10 take in drink. with
tobacco thrown In, what can be expected
of the physical makeup of a man given
to two such devitaliZing habits? II he
happens TO be a father. what can be ex-
pected of his children, who come into the
world cursed with deranged nervous sys-
tenn? No wonder our insane asyIums are
being filled daily.
When will our lawmakers have the
common sense and nerve to legislate for
the health of this people? Remove the
temptation and thus remove the evil. If
il is all important to educate our children
it is of equal, if not of greater Importance
TO see that they have sound bodies, for the
old Latin proverb is true in every par
ticular Mems sana in corpore sano." I'm
press that truth upon thoughtless or in
different fathers and mothers and then
we will have in time sound bodies and
sound minds in close copartnership. Not.
as now, weak hearts, weak lungs, low vi
tally, weak eyes, weak stomachs, poor
livers, bad kidneys and bad habits
r. M. o.