The Western news., 1907-11-13
aARM IN SMOKING.
English Physician Says Greatest
Danger Lies in OverinduIgence.

English Physician Says Greatest
Danger Lies in Overindulgence.
Smokers are frequently tempted to
Increase their consumption of tobacco,
In proportion to the extension of leis-
ure at command, says Pearson's Week
ly. Smoking exerts a special fascina-
tion when 1t may be INDUCED every
moment throughout the day. The
temptation has always been found diff
fcult to resist, when it besets man
who is on holiday bent. The mere abb
sence of restrictions tends to induce
pleasure seekers to be more free than
they otherwise would.
The two grounds upon which smok-
ing is condemned, which appear
worthy of serious consideration, are
the poisonous action of the nicotine
and the useless expenditure entailed.
Let us take the latter objection first.
That tobacco Is a necessity for
health or happiness no sane person
would ever contend. All that it's most
devoted friends can claim is that smok-
Ing is an inexpensive luxury. A lux
ury in fact, that affords an amount
of enjoyment out of all proportion to
Its trtiing cost.
More serious harm results from lack
Of Self-control with regard to dietary
than Is ever likely to follow from even
an excessive use of tobacco. Indeed,
there Is not n single thing we enjoy,
| ,;,I,t
full in itself, that Is not equally open
to some similar objection.
Perhaps the strongest argument sup
posed to tell against the smoker Is
based upon the poisonous action of mic
otine when it has entered the circula-
tory system. This intoxication has
never been disputed for 1t inevitably
follows a too eXtravagant consumption
of tobacco. Yet 1t is only when the
smoking Is excessive that any baneful
influence Is exerted on the healthy
body.
Exactly the same kind of toxic prop
critics that nonSmokerS ascribe to to-
bacco attach to other vegetable growths
in common and daily use.
Now. what are the conditions so fire.
quenty described as the direct out
come of excessive smoking? They are
but two in number. l. An altered
rhythm in the beating of the heart;
and 2, an Impairment of vision, which
reduces the power Of distinguishing
colors.
These conditions are never brought
about unless the smoking has been car
ried to unwarrantable excess. When
either Of them is detected, whether by
the physician or the smoker himself,
there is ample warning to put man
on his guard. If he is prompted to
reduce his consumption of tobacco, or
to abandon smoking altogether, the
trouble soon clears up, and no perma-
nent injury Is the least likely to en-
sue.
The late Prof. Huxley once wrote !:
There Is no more harm in pipe than
there Is in cup Of tea. You may
poison yourself by drinking too much
tea or kill yourself by eating too many
beaksteaks."
DR.. Lancaster said: II dare not as
psychologist or statist tell you that
there exists any proof of an Injurious
influence (of tobacco) when used In
moderation. The first symptoms Of
giddiness, palpitation, Incidence, or any
rneasness while smoking should in-
duce you to lay it aside"
OF course, whether at home or on
holiday, if a man stubbornly persists in
smoking after 1t shows signs of dis
agreement, he must expect to have to
pay for 1t. If man who ordinarily
smokes, say, two ounces a week dou-
blcs or trebles this quantity as a holi-
day pleasure, then his smoking lays
him open to serious risks.