The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1908-10-10
HE SMOKED $4,000
COFFIN NAILS"
ST. LOUIS BOY IS SET BACK TEN
YEARS MENTALLY.

st. Louis, Mo-. Oct. s.-The habit
ual consumption of cigarettes in largt
quantities has turned back the hands
of time ten years in the mental litc
of Max Zillman, according to cit!
hospital physicians who are observ:ns
the case.
Max is the 17-year- boy who was
sent to the hospital observation waru
by his father, Ike Zillman, of 1905
Carr street.
He is suffering from a species of in
sanity due wholly or in part to cigar
ette smoking. For four years he has
exhibited a weak mind and for three
weeks he has been palpably unoal-
anced mentally.
His ailment is diagnosed as juvenile
dementia, in medical parlance.
Though IL years old, almost grown,
physically, the boys mentality has
been reduced to that of a child 6 OF
years old.
Max, according to his own state
ment, has smoked cigarettes for abou
five years. When he was sent to the
hospital his parents said nothing aboul
his smoking. DIR. Rodney H. Bunch.
assistant superintendent, who has
charge of the observation cases,
the boys fingers. Max at first denied
being a smoker, but later admitted it
Smoked Forty a Day. D.,
Il never kept track OF the cigarettes
l smoked" Max told DR.. Bunch, but
smoked for four or five years, and !
smoked cigarettes that come in pack
| ages of 20. / usually smoked two
packs day"
On this basis, the lad consumed pos
sibly $4,000 cigarettes and certainly
smoked not less than $4,000.
"It is not certainty that cigarettes
are wholly to blame for Zillman's
present mental condition" said DIR.
Bunch to a reporter yesterday, but
| it is certain that smoking has not
helped him any. believe that cigar
cites are the cause, but will not say so
positively.
"The boy was probably never strong
| mentally, and he is now like a 6year-
old child. He wants things to play
with, and talks about childish things.
"Habitual smoking could bring
about such a mental condition as his.
Cigarettes may cause almost any men
tai or physical aiIment. Smoking af-
fects the nerve centers. The nerve
centers control the organs, health and
sanity. If the nerve centers are af-
| fected, everything may be affected.
Nerve centers Affected.
| "Zillman smoked cigarettes until the
nerve centers governing his brain
were weakened and now he has no
mental capacity " - s
"It is probable that he will never be
any better physically, but if he should
i stop smoking he might possibly re-
cover his mentality That is, his mind
might become strong again, but he
would have to be educated again just
| like a small boy"
| For a week before he was sent to
the hospital Max was deprived of his
clothes to keep him from running at
large through the streets.
Three weeks ago." his mother said
yesterday, che began TO leave the
house without his clothing, and we
had to restrain him. He was not vio-
| lent, but we could never tell what he
was going to do.
Refused to Smoke a Pipe.
"It was not until few days before
he was taken to the hospital that the
parents of Zillman knew that he
smoked cigarettes. Then, on sugges-
ton Of neighbor they gave the boy
pipe, but he did not like the pipe and
refused to smoke it. He gave it to
his mother and asked her to smoke IL"
| Four years ago. at the age of 13,
Max began to show a weak mind and
was taken out Of school. Since that
time he has held various positions as
IN errand boy, but did not stay long at
any place. He also sold papers on the
/ streets
Since being placed In the hospital he
retains his aversion TO clothes and his
| hospital raiment has been sewed on
| him to keen him from removing it.