The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-01-08
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THE TOBACCO ADDICTION.
DIR. Reynolds, Eminent Physician,
Delivers Strong Indictment
Against the Habit.

all forms of the tobacco habit are
offensive to society. Right conduct
of an individual must be such as to
avoid giving offense to others, either
by the indulgence of the vulgar habit
of expectoration, by the exhalation
of unpleasant odors, or by the con-
tamination of the atmosphere with
noXious vapors, as in smoking. Po-
lite society should, therefore, frown
upon the tobacco habit in all its
forms.
That the use of tobacco degrades
the individual, bunting his moral
perceptions, may be seen in nearly
every assembly of men. Ordinarily,
persons of refined intelligence would
not willingly commit a nuisance in
company. In fact, it is moral OBJ
legation resting upon every individ
ual to so conduct himself as not to
be offensive to those with whom he
associates, either from choice or by
accident. Those who use tobacco to-
tally ignore such matters, and not
only openly indulge the habit in pub
lie places, but enter private offices
with lighted cigars, or pipes, held
sometimes in the hand, with the
nauseating vapor filling the atmos-
phere, or boldly puff it in the hall
ways and doors. 1t has got to be a
common practice to walk through the
Pullman sleeper putting tobacco
smoke, on the way to the smoking
room.
Men every day seek to enter my Of
fee with lighted cigars or cigarettes
in their hands, and many of them
are offended at being denied the
privilege of bringing such things into
my hallway. There are many res
| \taurants where men deliberately
light cigars or cigarettes at the
table, while others are eating in the
same room. Recently an Episcopal
clergyman of more than local repu-
tauion got into a Fourth avenue ear,
in Louisville, and stood on the rear
platform smoking a cigar before the
public. The example of this conduct
is almost sure to be followed by
| thOughtless young persons, and so
| the habit of the few soon becomes
the habit of the many 1t seems to
me necessary for the guardians of
the public health to speak authOri-
tatively upon the evil effects of the
tobacco habit upon the individual
and upon society.
The effects of tobacco poisoning
upon the growing organisms of the
! young are far greater than upon
adults, yet it can easily be demon
strated that the tobacco habit in all
forms so seriously affects the nerve
centers as to create muscular ire
NOR, general languor, with general
depression of the nervous and cir
culatory functions. 1t enfeebles the
action of the heart, inhibits cerebral
activity, and thus limits the capacity
! for thought.
In persons long accustomed to it's
use, amaurosis, with limited color
perception, and contracted field of
vision, are commonly observed. There
can be no doubt that many of the
cases of so-called nervous break
down, attributed to overwork, are
really due to tobacco poisoning.
In boys trying to learn the tobacco
habit a degree of nervous depression,
amounting almost to general col
lapse, may be frequently observed.
They often complain of vertigo. stu
por, faintness and nausea, and in
some cases commissions.
The late John Fiske undertook, in
1867, to reply to James Parton, who,
in the year before, wrote little book
against smoking and drinking as a
habit among gentlemen. Fiske main
tanned that the habit of smoking was
preventive of pulmonary consump-
ton, and that it promoted digestion
prolonged life, and was, therefore,
in every way desirable as a habit
Fiske, poor fellow, died after a gen
eral breakdown of nervous energy,
due, no doubt, to the effects of to-
bacco. That a man capable of SO
much good should have persisted be-
fore the age of 60 is of itself strong
ly suggestive. The general prostra-
ton of the nervous system from
NilSli. IlC heiN ouhClCu IOl llloIG illdu
year before his death came from
the toxic effects of tobacco beyond
reasonable doubt.
1t is the opinion of the medical
profession and the better-informed
people of the laity that epithelioma
of the lips, mouth, and sometimes OF
the tongue, results from smoking.
most lamentable instance is that OF
the late Gen. U. S. Grant. If smok
ing ever causes cancer in any form
surely no rational person would haz
ard his life for the sake of becoming
tobacco inebriate. The most that
can be said in favor if the habit is
that it inebriates and obtunds the
sense of moral responsibility. Now
if it is desirable to suspend menta
activity, is tobacco the best agent
for that purpose? Unfortunately pc
lite stciety tolerates it, and the mar
with tobacco III his mouth struts out
boldly before the public, eXpectorat
ing right and left, or goes putting
the fumes of his pipe, cigar or Gig
arctic right into the faces of people
who are nauseated by the odor. Blu
the DOOR, unfortunate creature who