Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1903-03-21
W. c. 7. U.
Why is the Cisaret More Harmful Than
Tobacco Used in Other Ways?

TBy Chas. L. Hamilton, M. d.
It has been known for years
that the use of the cagaret pro-
duces mental torpidy and physical
weakness that leads to moral de-
generacy. Until recent years this
evil effect was thought to be due to
drugs contained In the tobacco and
cigaret papers, A careful study OF
the question, however, shows that
the prime cause of the many troub'
les due to cigaret using Is inhala-
ton of the tobacco smoke. This
smoke besides other less harmful
ingredients, contains nicotine,
pyrldin, empyreumatic oil and GER
tain poisonous gases.
When the smoke Is not inhaled,
the nicotine Is absorbed only by
the mucous membrane of the
mouth. In smoking "the alkaloid
Is volatilized by the heat of the
combustion and, according to
Lcewen,hal, so to % per cent Of
that contained In the tobacco passes
into the smoke" If this be true,
persons smoking tobacco In the
ordinary way would get compare
lively little of the nicotine con-
tanned In the smoke, while those
who inhale, would get a much
larger percentage.
The cigaret user almost invaribly
inhales the smoke, and there Is,
therefore, absorption not only from
the mucous membrane of the
mouth, but also from that of the
nose, throat and bronchial tubes.
This large area of absorption
makes a direct channel to the blood
which Is charged thereby with the
above named poisons, aud the SEN
sitive nerve cells either In the
brain or In the spinal cord, instead
of being fed, as In health, with
blood containing the elem nts for
proper nutrition, are fed by blood
which also contains these poisons.
The constant irritation of the mem.
branes by the inh lit d smoke causes
various catarrhal troubles, and the
vitjated blood brings about great
irritability of the nerve cells and
mal-nutrltion.
It's this irritable condlti on of
nervous system that causes the
restlessuess. inability to concen =
trate thought, tremar, etc, which
Is so apt to cause the cigaret addict
to seek relief sooner or later,
through the quieting. soothing In
fuence of liquor, morphine or
other drugs. He is almost In
capacitated for mental labor trough
inability to concentrate thought
and finding that one drink of liquor
partially, at least, antidotes the
nicotine and quiets and soothes the
restlessness and irritabiiity, he IS
g aduslly led into the double ad-
dlctton-liquor and cigarets.
OCCASIONALLY, interested manu-
fac,urers have articles published in
n w>papers over the names of
pn, sicians, stating that tobacco
used In the form OF cigarets Is the
least harmful way In which 1t can
be used. A certain prominent
specialist few years ago read
such paper before we'll known
medical society.
Investigation showed that he
was himself a c'garet user and
such authority has no more weight
than articles written on harmless
ness of alcohol by persons who are
addicted to Its use. Our expert.
ence here at Dwight where many
hundreds of cigaret cases have been
treated Is that persons applying for
treatment for both liquor and Gig.
arets, dread giving up their cigarets
more than they do liquor.
Moreover those who return to
the use of cigarettes In after life.
are almost certain to. resume the
use of liquor to allay the irritability
OF the nervous system produced by
the tobacco smoke inhalation.
Dwight, III.
Cigarettes.
The representative of large
southern tobacco house who