The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-13
WHERE TOBACCO Is A BARRIER.
A Police Surgeons Views Upon tho
ImmOderate Use of the Weed.
PhiladeIphia TELEGRAM

PnlIaQelpnla Telegraph.
One of the chief causes for I. lection
of applicants for positions in the ce and
fire departments in this city in re years
has been the physical effects of imnloderate
use OF tobacco. Police Surgeon Thomas H.
Andrews, who has charge of the examina-
lions of candidates for the departments
named, has this to say:
about fifty applicants for the police and
fire departments are examined by me each
week. l find that of the total number Of
reflections of those not up to the standard
required by the rules of the department of
Public Safety fully ,1o per cent: are men
who are addicted to the excessive use of
tobacco. The abuse of the weed renders
: them broken in health; they have func-
tional Irregularities of the heart-tobacco
heart weak eyeSight, an impairment of the
organs of nutrition, and q shattered ner-
VOuS system. Aside from the effects of tor.
bdcco upon their systems, they are up 60
the mark and would pass creditable exam
nations. | find that 50 per cent Of those
who appear for examination either smoke
or chew tobacco or both. Not one in a dozen
men who use tobacco do not indulge in in
tOxicating liquors. On the other hand, we
have many men who are addicted to the
use of liquor and yet do not use tobacco
Cases of cigarette smoking are rare among
the applicants.
us the percentage of reflections for weak
nesses due to the excessive use of tobacco
greater than that of airy other single
cause?' DR.. Andrews was asked.
Il arr not prepared to say positively that
it is. for the causes of rejection are many.
Men frequently appear fer examination
trouble. Some are over the age limit, others
are lacking in requisite height. and many
are found wanting for various physical inn
projections.
MY experience in the many years / have
been conducting these examinations is that
the men who seek positions upon the police
force are men of great moral courage.
Frequently 1 have told rejected APP
plicant that the only thing against him
was physical imperfectiOn. due directly TO
the excessive use of tobacco / have adj
vised them TO either quit the weed entirely
to be more moderate in its use Hun
dredS of men have followed the advice and
in a month or so have again come before
ms for another examination and passed in
splendid form. Some men find 1t impos-
Sible to smoke or chew at all TX not to e&-
cess. An applicant whom / warned to use
tobacco with moderation replied: The mod
crate use of tobacco, doctor, Is absurd. a
man either has to smoke to excess or not
smoke at ALL His views, however, cannot
be accepted as conclusive. for ] know Of
many men who can smoke with modera-
ton and do not undermine their health.
The excessive use OF tobacco IS respon-
sble for more broken constitutions than
ception of liquor. My experience in ex-
aiming thousands of men, nine-tenths of
whom use tobacco in some form. confirms
these views. There Is decidedly less tobacco
poisoning in England than there is in this
country. The British people are a pipe
smoking race, and chewing tobacco IS COM
paratively unknown. ! remember on the oc-
caSion Of visit to London few years ago
meeting AT one of the prominent hotels an
American physician who WAS addicted 10 the
habit of chewing tobacco. His experience
was amusing To his CONSERVATION he could
not find in the hotel not even in the smok-
ing room q cuspldore. The hotel clerk was
appealed to- and informed the doctor that
such adjuncts OF American civilization We're
not in use in England. And he told the
truth for in my travels about London and
Ia my visits TO the places OF interest that
are usually thronged there was pleasing
absence OF euspsd0fes. The experience Of
ms friend the physician Is. no doubt COM
mon. and causes me TO be less severe IN my