Morris tribune., 1909-01-09
THE CIGARETTE.sMoKi BOY.


THE CIGARETTE-sMOKiNG BOY.
In the careful study to eliminate insidious
pests from plant life and depicting disease from
animals under their care many are losing sight
of the enervating habits which gaining a
strong hold on the youth of the country Of
what benefit the knowledge of plant and animal
life, the secrets of growth and the open sesame
to success if all must descend to male children
debiltated in body, nearly imbecle and whose
moral perceptions are perverted and distorted
by the habit of cigarette smoking contracted in
youth.
Prof. William McLeever, of the Kansas
A gricu1tural College, who has investigated this
subject thoroly and tested by accurately adjust
ed Instruments the heart action of $500 cigar
cite smoking school boys gives the result in
bulletin which will be sent to any one sending
postage. In describing boys addicted to the
habit the adjective sallow, sore-eyed, puny,
sqneakv voiced sickly, short-winded and ex-
tremely nervous graphically describe their
physical condition. Out of % college students
who had commenced smoking average at
thirteen years of age, Fl had short wiud; pain
in the heart; 10 stomach trouble; pain in the
chest; 4 sore throat and 10 weak eyes. Charts
prepared after testing the heart action showed
that the normal action of an inveterate smoker
is weak and irregular, during the excitement
produced by the drug the action strengthens
spasmodcally, this being followed in 10 or 20
minutes by a condition of such pronounced de-
preston that the chart resembled the record
taxed of the heart action of young woman on
the verge of nervous Drostration
Out of 1886 school boys who smoked, only
were reported bri ght students, 10 average, and
the rest worthless, some almost mbeciles. In
view of the fact that nine out of ten boys at
some time during the growing period take up
this habit, generally clandestnely and often in
imitation of their elders the enornity of the
evil may be appreciated.
The physical and mental effects tho grave
are nothing compared to the moral degen-
eracy that inevitably
The partial brain paralysis and semi-n-
toxication of the senses leaves the mind inclin-
ed to all merely sensual pleasures, and the
optimism of the smoker releases him from any
gloomy forebodings as to the effect of neglected
studies, delinquent obligations, suffering
friends or uuearned preferment. Wrapped in
supreme SSlt-COnUQeHCe OuT1ug the DleaSuTaDtc
stimulus he is plunged by the after effects into
as causeless apathy Being at no time one of
fortunes favortes except when under this in
huence, the youth resorts to it more and more
frequently,
Parents are warned of the almost universal
practice of this habit among school boys and
the rarity of it's dscontinuance if once contract
ed. Prevention is the cure, and from the time
boys are old enough to be sent to school all the
effects of this habit should be kept before them.
It should be taught side by side with the evils
of liquor for while tobacco does not entail as
great misery adults liquor it is a greater
menace to young people being more accessible
to them and of as great detriment to their de-
velopment
One of the greatest stunt bling blocks in
the way of successful fight against smoking
is the fact that boys have the example of many
of their respected elders and early imbibe the
idea that it is a manly thing to do Tho the
evil effects are minimized in some degree with
adults it becomes NOTED question if setting
an example that is menace to youth is not in
itself lpable-Farm, Stock & Home.