Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-04-22


professor of pathology in Cambridge
University, cigarette smoking in the
case of boys partly paralyzes the
nerve cells at the base of the BRAIN
and thus interferes with the breath.
ing and heart action. And yet, all
this debility and more is brought up
on thousands of boys who innocently
initiate the example of their ell
ders. | am not quite ready to deny
any mature man the right to smoke,
but 1 am unwilling to concede him
the right to permit his youthful son
to take up the practice before ma
turity is reached
The injurious effect upon the boys
mental activities are very marked. OF
the many hundreds of tabulate1
cases in my possession, several of
the very youthful ones have been
reduced almost to the condition of
imbeciles.
The ordinary cigarette-smoking
student often has very peculiar
experience in his efforts to prepare
his daily lessons, about as follows:
He goes to his room in the evening
with the full intention of studying
and opens his textbook, but a GER
tain feeling of nervous uneasiness
soon leads his hands automatical y
to roll and light cigarette. He in
dulges the habit few minutes, when
presto, the lesson task which a while
ago looked serious and urgent now
appears trivial and unnecessary, and
he accordingly neglects it. He is
now affable and companionable, but
the higher moral judgments have
lost value to him, and he is most
ready to yield to the evil suggestions
of others. The partial brain paraL
ysis, resulting from the smoking
makes the victim regard with indif-
ference the most sacred promise lie
has ever made to anyone, and he
is likely to violate it upon the slight
est provocation.
The more worked with these con-
firmed cases Of cigarette smokers
the more l am convinced of the
futility Of attempting complete per-
manent cure. No ordinary youth
confirmed in the habit can break it
off without the help of some very
strong outside influence. and then
the struggle will be a desperate one.
Prevention is the only practical
solution of this cigarette or boy
smoking question. Boys take up the
practice in innocence, ''just for fun -
and are usually it's victims before
the matter is detected by their par
ents. Any normal, healthy boy will
learn to smoke if thrown among
smokers without any caution or re-
straints from those in authority over
him. After the parent discovers the
fault there is often pathetic
struggle, perhaps attended by many
maternal tears, and then a compro-
mise. T hat is, the boy tries in vain
to quit and finally agrees to compro-
mise on pipe. But he will likely
violate every rule of good conduct
ever taught him by his parents be-
fore he will give up the habit entire
ly. All his best mental attitudes AMI
dispositions now come to him as a
result of the smoking, and the con-
verse is true when ever he attempts
to quit.
But parent must learn more about
the nature of this insidious habit
and prevent it's being taken up. The
following methods of prevention have
been reported effective: % Be-
gin to talk to the boy as early as
his sixth year about the matter and
make a strong appeal to his sense
of honor. Do not be too insistent
and threaten to inflict punishment
but indicate rather that you think
him too worthy to take up such a
practice. (2) Offer to set aside
some material or pecuniary reward to
be paid when he becomes of age, pro
vided he continues his total absti-
hence, and add to this the senti-
ment that he may then do as he
pleases. Never ask a boy to pledge
away in advance the years Of his
manhood. 60 Remind the boy in
every possible way how much CON
Germ you have for his well-being, and
how much you are willing to sacri-
flee for him, and how anxious you
are to be true to him and to help
him. He will then likely never break
faith with you. ca Keep in touch
with the boy and know at all times
his joys and hopes and aspirations.
Be his companion and adviser and
true friend, and he will respect your
wishes in regard to him.
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