The sun., 1919-10-29


from their point of view, that the
question must be examined without
prejudice, and that the truth must be
told in the interests of the public.
Smoking among the youth OF both
sexes is one Of the abuses which all
lovers OF tobacco are ready 10 con-
denim. Such a practice is Injurious to
health, but its prevalence hardly justi-
iies the nOu-use of the weed by adults.
Yet in the most recent discussion of
the whole question. he fact that smok-
ing has been observed too frequently
in the case Of the growing population
is made the ground for plea for total
prohibition. A veritable war on to-
bacco has been declared as conse.
quence, and an anti-tobacco league has
been formed with the avowed pur-
pose of supprcssing the use Of tobacco
altogether.
The basis of the anti-tobacco league
Is the proposition that tobacco Is a
poison" 1t is also stated that the
nervous system. especially of the
young, is the most susceptible to this
influence. How do medical men view
this question? Its different aspects
were fully set forth in a debate
which recently took place in Paris.
In an address to the Society of
Hygiene on Tobacco and the Child
an eminent authority. DR. GRANJUx,
said
There is no doubt that the physi-
clan regards tobacco as a poison,
but since its action upon the organ
ism is neither dramatic nor specific
like that OF alcohol the poisonous
effect is freely denied by smokers,
who always find another cause for
the symptoms of which they COM
plain. and generally declare that for
them the prlvation of tobacco would
be impossible. One may count the
number of nlcotlnized individuals who
have sufficient energy to give up
tHeT pdSsiOn. III any case IL 10 III
contestable that the noxious action OF
tobacco is the more pronounced ac-
cording TO the youth OF the body.
Now. at this moment, II children
work like men. so too do they drink
and smoke like men. The first OF
these acts Is often conditioned by the
-
vantage for hygiene IL the measures
taken to prohibit the use of alcohol
were extended to tobacco. and that
1t were forbidden to sell it to children
under IS.
Since, on the other hand, tobacco
has become very scarce, so that the
Government finds it difficult TO oh
tain the necessary quantities for the
poilus. the supply would be facili-
tated by the restriction proposed.
move therefore that the society adopt
the following measure:
THE Society OF Hygiene. being o.
opinion that tobacco is a dangerous
poison. especially for incompletely de
veloped bodies. request that it's de-
livery TO children under IS be for
bidden.'"
In this judgment is found The main
reason for the disadvantage in popu
larity and FEASIBILITY of the argu
ments Of anti-tobacco crusaders. The
Society of Hygiene was not in a vein
for crusading with Dr. GRANJUx, as
appears from the following dialogue ::
M. KoHN-ABREsr-The communi-
cation OF d. GRANJUx raises ques-
lions at once chemical and medical
From the point of view OF chemistry.
many facts are alleged In favor OF
the toxiclty OF tobacco, but these
facts are not sufficiently detached
from error and fallacy. There should
be a careful study made, and dis
cussion might be opened with advan-
tage. IN order to bring this question
Of the poisonous nature OF tobacco to
the point.
The Presdent--lt seems TO me-
indeed. that It would be well to post
pone the discussion until the ques-
ton can be removed from errors OF
the kind indicated by NJ KoHN-
ARREST"
a noteworthy fact here is that ne
one dreamed of denying tobacco t.
men. To the soldier in particular II
Is at once the means of gratifying 6
harmless inclination and Of relievin:
a supposed or real sense Of fatigu,
and danger. In fact, no nation ex
cept our own has ever thought OF
total prohibition. In Buenos Ayree
for example, there Is a hourlshini
anti-tobacco league, which has the
countenance Of the medical societie,
and the Government. But II merely
forbids the sale of tobacco to ju
venileS. AS La Ndcion observes
Smoking is very general and very
Injurious among Juveniles" The re
suit of this agitation was the law re
Gently passed forbidding children un
der II to smoke in public.
Unfortunately, America does no
show this discrimination The atti
tude of our antl-tobacco gospellers !,
clearly illustrated by writer in thu
Rdillcdy Surgical Journal who says
I H.,