The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-21
THE CIGARETTE ISSUE.
A Review of Arguments For and Against
Favors the Cigarettes Enemies.

Last week the Maryland Public Health Asso.
citation devoted itself to the consideration OF
an essay which severely attacked the cigarette
and implored the assistance OF physicians in
behalf Of an effort to discourage its use. par
~ticularly among young men and boys. In the
attack II was set forth that the constant
use OF cigarettes by youths dulls the eyes and
makes the person lazy. irritable and unam-
bilious that it retards physical growth. dwarfs
the mind and deforms the body that It Injuries
the heart. causes throat troubles and is fire.
quently a stepping-stone to the habitual use OF
alcoholic drinks. The cigarette. 1t was charged.
antagoniZes the best efforts OF the mother for
the welfare OF her boy.
In expressing their views upon the subject
the physicians present failed to agree with the
conclusions OF Mrs. Z. A. Robinson. author OF
the paper. DR.. John S. Fulton. Secretary OF
the State Board Of Health. said that. in his
opinion. the smoking OF cigarettes Is "the
least Injurious OF any form OF tobacco using"
Experience and investigation prove. he de-
clared. that the complaints usually made
against 1t are absurd. He regretted the use OF
cigarettes by boys. but believed that the latter
might smoke them in moderation and suffer
none OF the frightful effects commonly do
scribed. He did not believe that cigarette
smoking dwarfed the growth.
In TeSU6Ct Ot III ldSt StdIeIHeut, DT. II luton 3
view was not supported by DR.. Edward NJ.
Schaeffer. DR.. Schaeffer held that tobacco
does interfere with the proper growth and de-
velopment Of the body. and he recommended
that particular emphasis be given to that fact
when attempting to dissuade boys from smok-
ing. He averred that when tobacco furnishes
Of persons oyerworfed or fretful. its use is
beneficial. He did not believe that cigarette
smoking solely was ever responsible for in
DR.. samuel ]. Fort reported that in every
case Of serious illness among boy smokers that
to be caused by cigarettes. some mental or
physical unsoundness produced by other
es1sss was at tfe bottom OF the trouble; He
moderation in the use Of tobacco much more
satisfactory results would follow than could be
obtained by seeking TO horrity smokers with
gross Misrepresentation OF the real effect OF
About a year and a half ago the coffin nail, -
as It is termed BY some. was earnestly dis
guessed BY the MediG9:LsgSl Society Of New
in children it paved the way TO all sorts Of ner-
vous d~iseases. led to the use q cigars and
struction. AS regards insanity as a result Of
cigarette smoking. a prominent doctor from
he had never seen such a case. and did not be.
lieye that the cigarette habit alone ever made
In the fall OF 1897 a spirited agitation against
careful analysis by that .oity's Health Depart
pent OF the brands OF the article sold there.
Fourteen different makes were examined by
the departments ~e1perts. and IT was .reporte
that the cigarettes were found to be =" entirely
belladonna. atroplne. hyoscyamus. or. other
substances foreign to pure tobacco. and there
II was said that the tobacco In tho specimens
examined contained not more than one-auar-
ter as much nicotine-the poison generally
complained of-as tho average cigars. and less
than most. Of the smokin ing, tobacco sold in the
city. In short. 1t vas declared that there was
any smoker to be afraid OF.
The doctors have had their say and the
cigarettes enemies have had theirs. and. con.
siderinG the evidence. the burden OF proof
seems to lie with tho latter. Nobody denies
that many persons who smoke the paper.
wrapped weed suffer from ailments OF which
they were not coRnizant before they com.
menced to do so. But can cigarette smoking
condition? That's tho question which con
frontedthe doctors. and they reply. mol