The sun., 1916-09-20
EFFECT OF TOBACCO ON THE HEALTH
OF SMOKERS.
Scientific Investigation Of Conditions In Manufacturing Establishments r..
vesls Facts Useful to Unprejudkced lnquhers.


health has always been a favorite topic
with smokers and non.smokers, and
in their different ways no men are
letter qualified to deal with II. Then
there are the teetotarers upon whom
the question Is always present In az
gravated form. There Is also a whSfe-
some middle party that should be en-.
couraged, very much to the welfare OF
society at large. The existence OF peo-
pie who can see and think for them
selves Ia doubly fortunate. The prob
now, and vii. "a solved most salts
f~actorily by those who approach the
study not as reformers or partisans
but as inquirers. Some primary ques-
tons are not yet scttled-whcther
nicotine or some other ingredient OF
tobacco smoke like pyridine or COLI
dine Is the poisonous element, whether
tobacco deprived of its nicotine In or
IL not n more wholesome way OF talk
ing the weed. The latest experiments,
so ably conducted by .Garginale. DEM
onstrated beyond doubt that "denic-
otinized' tobacco produces effects in
animals that are similar TO those of
ordinary tobacco. His xac words are
NO difference is observable between
the action of ordinary cigars and
cigars which have been deprived of
their nicotine" In both cases, he adds,
no injury to the organs Of the body
could be discovered. II appears, how
ever. that excessive smoking has a
deletcrious effect ON the blood. pro-
ducing anamia. but here again no diff
ference between the two kinds of to-
bacco could he established.
Putting aside forebodings as to the
future OF the race. II Is quite evident
that some clear thinking Is required.
4 wave Of real abstinence In alcohol Is
passing over the world. but II does not
need much economic insight to realize
hat thu force expended is transitory
and Is likely to he succeeded by a Sc
vcre reaction. From n sanitary point
Of view the prohibition Of alcohol has
promoted the legitimate consumption
Of tobacco. This fact is tine more i'm
pressive because governments and
manufacturers have found that the
drawbacks to the plant can h. largely
obviated by a good tobacco and n good
environment for workers. A similar
conclusion will probably be formed by
those who study the manufacture OF
cigars and cigarettes. To one curious
I o understand later developments In
the science OF nicotine no work could
be more instructive than the study OF
the health of tobacco workers. for 1t Il
a study " tobacco from start to finish.
of tobacco in its green and dry state.
a series of professional experiences.
the most real Of all. from the lives OF
a huge body OF men and women work.
ers ~variously sensitive to the effects OF
the plant in its natural and manu-
featured stages. In short. such a study
consists OF a sequence Uf facts not
resting upon far reaching theories
with regard to the future Of humanity
satisfactorily settled except by greater
knowledge than we now possess. The
effect of tobacco upon workers Is a
matter of which all governments must
take cognizance. when tobacco is being
consumed on an unexampled scale and
when the lives OF workers are the life
of a nation.
The inquiry resolves itself into three
divisions: % the number Of workers.
,e) the factory conditions Affecting the
health, and t3) the measures. in addi-
ton to the maintenance OF Il flourish
ing industry. by which the quality OF
tobacco can bo secured and the dam
gers of nicotine avoided. Under the
first head are included such questions
as the age and sex Of workers, the
kind OF employment. cutting. sorting.
handling, rolling. &C.. and the proper
ton OF workers, for II Ia often
asserted that the health Of women is
moro affected by tobacco than Is the
health Of men. According To Kobcr.
the Federal authority. the numbe OF
tobacco workers in the United states
in 1905 was l59.40S. of whom 51.l1+ or
42.3 per cent, were women. and 5.2A
or SO per cent. were children under 16
years OF age: 13O.31S, or S. per cent.
OF the workers. We're engaged in the
manufacture OF cigars and cigarettes.
23,N44 In the manufacture Of chewing
and smoking tobacco. and aiS in the
manufacture Of snufY. In France the
proportion OF employed Is much
higher. In tho Government factory
at Issy, out Of 1900 workers 1000
were mo Dr.. Bowling. an Ameri-
can physician. has described the OK
ccllcnt health Of these women. which
he contrasts with the anemic appear
ance Of so many American workers.