New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-15
WHAT SCIENCE SHOWS.
AMERICAN CIGARETTES CONTAIN NO
POISONS WHATEVER
ANALYSES ny EMINENT OFFICIAL CHEMISTS
PROVE THIS THE TOBACCO MILD
AND THE PAPER PURE.


AND THE PAPER PURE.
That cigarettes contain chemical posons has been
said often that the statement has come TO be be-
lieved BY certain part OF the public Howevs;'
this is one OF the many cases in which a wide
spread notion Is based on untruths. as was clearly
proved In paper entitled "a Brief for the
Cigarette" read before the MedicoLeGal Society az
It's last meeting. The current issue OF The Medlco-
Legal Journal gives the full text OF this paper ana
1t may fairly be regarded opening Of the dis
cussion against the present popular prejudlHe
against the cigarette Such an issue should be dis
cussed without prejudice. and it is Interesting 10
note that the highest scientific authorities are quot
ed in support OF Mr. Garrsons paper.
This myth about the injurious qualities OF cigar
cites crops up IN legislative circles az times ana
leads TO proposals for all kinds Of drastic measures
The evidence. however. submitted in Mr GARRISON
paper is overwhelming that poisonous substances
are wholly lacking in American cigarettes Of
course, It Will be conteuded BY no one that TOBACCO
is never Injurious. But the Investigations Oh
official chemists. operating independently
in different parts OF the country. have shown aoso
lutely that the American cigarettes contain hotn'ns
but mild tobacco and pure paper
There Is this further 70 be said: The cigarette y
far and away the least harmful way IN whioh
tobacco can be used For one thing. rs purify can
be chemically proved. this cannot be saic OF al
chewing and pipe tohaccos and OF cigars Again
the American cigarettes are made from prlsht VII
GINA tobacco which Is stored FOR three years before
Il Is used: II only 10 Il, per cent OF Moo
tine whereas certain grades OF cigars show NJ per
cenr. Still further. and most obviously OF ALL the
amount OF tobacco IN cigarette IS so rifing tna'
II takes many Of them 10 equal r. weight cigar
Thus pound OF tobacco Will make no less man
,Is Cigarette while pound OF paper Will make
wrappers FOR 1900 cigarettes The user Of cigar
cites must be assiduous indeed 70 equal the con-
sumption OF veteran cigar or pipe smoker
The production OF cigarettes in this country last
year was about four billion, 80 tina; II Is OF I'M
portance that they should be entirely free from the
posors which have in Idle rumor become associated
with then On this point however. the evidence Is
oyerwhelnlng being based not the analyses OF
private chemists IN the pay o. corporations, but on
those u public officials OF high standing WIN no
personal aims serve. In England also similar
tests have been made by the highest authorities
OF especial weight TO New-Yorkers should be the
testimony OF Professor Willis @ Tucker. OF the
Albany Medical College analyst OF the New-fork
State Board o. Health. In his ninth annual report
10 the secretary OF the State Board OF Health ne
saws: cigarettes are generally made from ooacco
| ~ eood quality" Sensational statements that
! thew are prepared from the hlthest tobacco and
dirtiest refuse are worthy o, credence. and can
be easily refuted." The tobacco used in the manu-
acture Of cigarettes IS much less frequently havorea
and otherwise artihciallv treated than is ordinary
chewing or smoking tobacco and that employed IN
| the manufacture OF ClEilS
Cass / Kennicott Cty Chemist. and y. r. BIS
bee Assistant city Chemist. OF Chicago have also
conducted series o. tests Of cigarettes bought IN
| the open market. and found no afuiieratonS IN
| them \ similar conclusion was reached ~ fro,
| fesso- H. W Wiley. chief chemist OF the United
| States Department 0: Agriculture whose WORDS
-,... ..-.
oTS 20 a N en2ey I rom trace q asenc
| or OF opium or OF any OF its active principles
| Ffrtbe- confirmation OF tnis statement Il any
were needed. may he had from reports Of D., g r
| Pavne State Chemis, Of Georgia Professors Kooerl
| and Alfred VI Peter. Of Lexington; Ky; Professors
James Dewar VI A. ?. r. 5 Jask29n,an professor
| Of cambridge University. England. William Oding
n 4. F. r s professor Of chemistry, Universt,,y
| n oxford. England C.. Meymoti Tidy, VI. A, NJ B.
professor OF chemistry and ~ forensI, medlcine a.
| me London HOSPITAL ani Professor James r ia D.
| rock at various times state Assayer Of Massa,
| chuset;s state Assayer OF Liquors, professor o.
cbe--stry in the Massachusetts, College or Phar'
racv and professor Of chemistry In Boston IniVer
| si.v Professor Babcock in a report 70 the Massa
] chiisetts State Committee on Public Health said
.'T-1e filings IN every Of the specimens (pur
| cbasAd by the analyst In the open markeo were
| found 10 consist o: tobacco and nothing else
| a-alI,sls % the paper wrappers demonstrated tnt
,sorce ~ any race OF arsenic white lead or Other
| noison The papers were al o. excellent quality
| (rice)"