The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1902-08-21
CIGARETTE SMOKING.
REASONS FOB OPPOSING THE
PRACTICE BY BOYS.
Given BY Charles q. Stowell, N. D.,
Treasurer and General Manager
Of the ]. 6. Aver Co. Lowell
Massachusetts,.

OF the ]. g. Aver Go. Lowell
Massachusetts,.
A rational consideratin of the ef-
fects OF smoking cigarettes on boys and
young men. By Chas. III. Stowell, M.
D., Treasurer and General Manager OF
the ]. G. Aver Co., Lowell Mass.
/ would give the following reasons
for opposing the smoking OF cigarettes
by boys under 81 years OF age:
l. 1t Lessons the Natural Appetite
for Food and Injuries Djgestion.-Any
close observer will know at once how
true is this statement. The boy who
smokes has bad digestion and poor
appetite. Because OF this interference
with appetite and digestion, the food
is not properly digested and assimi-
lated, cellular activity is checked, and
the growth ana development of the
body seriously interferred with by this
early poisoning.
2. It Seriously Affects the Nervous
System.-We often hear about the "to-
bacco heart" OF the adult. If tobacco
is strong enough to affect the beating
of the adult heart, how much stronger
must be it's effect on the heart of a
young person, long before tissues have
become fixed. The rush of blood to
the head, the dizziness, the unsteady
beating OF the heart, the distressing
dreams-all show how seriously is the
nervous system affected.
But more serious charge can be
brought against it under this heading.
This effect on the nervous system is
sufficient to produce the most marked
changes in the GENITAL activity. Re
cent statements from the University
Of Michigan, Northwestern University,
Yale College, Union College, together
with scores of other institutions and
hundreds of the most eminent teachers
of the country, all testify to the fact
that cigarette smoking interferes with
scholarship. If it interferes with
of young man over twenty
one years OF age, how much more Sc
riously must it interfere with the men,
tai activities of those under this age!
8. 1t Lowers the mora! Tone.-An-
other most serious charge against the
cigarette is thatit lowers the moral
tore. Boys who would not tell a lie
on any other matter, not for a fortune,
our best and noblest boys, do not seem
to hesitate moment to tell any kind
Of falsehocd in order to keep from
their parents the fact that they are
cigarettes. They hide the
cigarettes. They smoke them away
from hcm0. They try in every way TO
conceal the truth. Indeed, they will
do all manner of things in order to
deceive those who are near est and dear
est to them.
4. 1t Creates a Craving for Strong
Drink.-There has been a great deal
Of discussion on this point, but am
that the statement is logi-
cally true. The hot smoke from the
cigarette tends to make the mouth |
and throat dry and create peculiar
sinking sensation In the stomach.
Water may temporarily relieve this
dryress and may temporarily check the
sinking sensation. But with the NOR
al tone lowered aud the mental power
weakened, the desire to yield to the
FIRST temptation is strengthened, be-
cause of the Shiny excuse that the boy
must have something to wet his throat.
And so it goes, from bad to worse. In
other words, the boy who smokes more
easily accepts an invitation to a treat
than one who does not smoke.
5. It is Filthy and Offensive Hab-
lt.-No matter how stealthy the boy
may do his work, sooner or later his
clothing becomes saturated with the
odor of tobacco. And let me add right |
mere, of the most inexplicable things
in this world IS that a well dressed,
highly accomplished young lady win
sit by the side Of a young man in al
carriage or street car, or will walk by
his eide In the street, or will submit to
Inhaling this most offensive odor-bad |
at all times, but of course increased 4
thousand fold when the smoking ma
chine is in full operation.
6. It is Expensiye.-Boys should
not betaught how to uselessly expend
money. Parents, friends, and teachers
should give directly the opposite
advice.
Z. Il is Unlawful In nearly every
State in tie Unlon there are most
stringent laws forbidding the furnish
ing OF cigarettes or tobacco to minors
j