The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-08
TOBACCO AS A GERMICIDE.
Interesting Facts Concerning Those
Who Handle the Weed.
London Chronicle.

LONDON CnrOnlCle.
Anti-smokers who doubt recent state
ments in this column as to the good health
enjoyed by employees of the tobacco trade
are requested TO visit a tobacco factory.
In being shown the various processes of the
preparation Of the weed the visitor Is
struck by the number of workers of sixty
or seventy years of age whose service has
been lifelong Their hale and hearty APP
pearance after decades of work in an at
mosphere and the handling of the alleged
poisonous herb gives the lie to the libel,
while the cigarette girls and women pick
ers and ''strippers" are the neatest ana
brightest of female workers. The longevity
of their employees constitutes, indeed, an
asset of the manufacturers. There are
veterans in the service of Bristol houses
whose knowledge of and experience In
blending the leaf is simply invaluable; their
death retirement means a heavy trade
loss to the firm.
Attention was called in 1886 to the i'm
munity of tobacco manufacturers from cpl
denies. In that year NJ. Maurice Ruef, of
Strasburg, published a paper pointing out
that those engaged in the manufacture of
tobacco escaped pulmonary consumption,
while the development of the germ was
less rapid in some consumptives who en-
tered the trade. In 1S43 NJ. Simeon reported
to the French government, which at that
time had a monopoly in tobacco manufac-
ture, that the thousands of men employed
had enjoyed a remarkable exemption from
the then prevailing epidemics At Lyons.
for instance. none suffered from the ty-
phoid then raging, and like freedom was
experienced at Toulouse from the influenza.
In New Orleans in 1S49 it found that
persons engaged in the tobacco trade were,
exempt from the fearful epidemics decl-
mating the place
In 1855 the question of the immunity from
prevailing epidemics of those engaged in
the manufacture of tobacco was raised in
this country Mr.. w. II. Wills, of Bristol,
wrote in reply TO inquirers that for years
he had noticed the freedom of his work
people from epidemic attacks There were
at that time more than 500 persons in Bris-
toll engaged in the trade. many of whom,
he said, lived in some Of the worst localities
from a sanitary point Of view, yet during
the severe visitation of the cholera in 1S49
and 1852 only one OF the number was at
tackled. That the trade was an exceedingly
healthy one Mr.. Wills proved by stating
that a number of persons had been in his
employ for terms from twenty-five to fifty
years. From his and others experience
Mr.. Wills was of opinion that the business
was a protection against pulmonary dis
ease.
The virtues OF tobacco as a disinfectant
not only in the greenhouse, but a pre-
ventiYe against infectious diSease-are not
a recent discovery, for II is recorded that
at the time of the great plague every child
had to take a pipe and tobacco to school,
and at an interval in the lessons master
and scholars lit UP. A correspondent of a
trade journal writes saying that he has
held positions in various cigar and tobacco
manufactures in London and Liverpool
since 1874, and has never known a single
death of cigar maker or tobacco cutter
from cholera or smallpox. If persons do
not smoke, he says, they should burn a
little tobacco every morning before leav-
ing home. The advice comes from a source
not strictly impartial but il is without
a moment from its pursuit OF germs to
give authoritative decision on the point.