The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1920-08-28
"a COLLEGE GIRLS
smoke and Chew
FOR HABIT TEST

Twenty-four girl students of the
university of Wisconsin will be paid
AO cents an hour next winter to blow
blue clouds of smoke into the labora-
lHnry of Professor M. F. O'Shea-
The same privilege is now being
Aanded right out of the humidor to
twenty-four male students and the
maaktn's are free. y
For eighteen months these students
have been the subject of an inveSti-
cation by Professor O'Shea, who is
seeking to determine what effect, if
any, tobacco has on the mental facul-
ties of the users. The test will last
another sig months.
One of the purposes of the investi-
cation is to see II tobacco has the
same effect on girls that it produces
on men Just what the test has shown
to date Professor ~O'SheaL will not
tell. He will make a, complete report
when it is finished
simultaneously, similar investiga-
ton are being made at Johns Hop
kins. University of Michigan, Leland
stamford, Harvard and Cornell. In
sahese schools however, the examina
ltions are to determine the effect of
lbobacco on the physical body and the
morals. Professor O'Shea is special
t5zing on the mental effect only.
Since chewing is also included in
Fhe test Professor O'Shea is pre-
pared to raise the pay a little as an
added inducement when he collects
Ibis class of goods.
This work is being carried on for
scientific purposes only" Professor
Eo'Shea explained in Madison. cit is
mot in the interest of any propaganda
iwhatever. Personally, we do not care
whether tobacco is harmful or not.
,AIl we want is the scientific truth
(which we will publish to the world
The students upon whom the in
yveSdgadions are being made have no
idea what the test will show. The
professor has been careful to keep
them in the dark on that subject.
The idea is this he explained, "is
no eliminate all suggestions from their
minds. If I should let them know
either frankly or by intimation what
III am learning the very knowledge
would have some suggestive influence
lon their minds which would hamper
my work. / am studying the effect of
tobacco in all forms Some of my sub
tJects smoke pipes, some cigars, others
Ecigarettes, while still another group
Chew the weed.
These. young men use tobacco only
when tell'then to do so and abstain
when 1 give the order. I spend three
,and a half hours a day with them in
1.-THE laboratory.
st pay my subjects 40 cents ar
Ihour and the university supplies the
tobacco. I have them smoke under
ell conditions. Som etimes before they
sstudy for their other classes, some
Himes afterward- Also sometimes be-
.fore meals and at other times i'm
,1nedtately afterward. Our laboratory
rs a very pleasant place, more like a
sparlor, with big easy chairs, than like
"a workshop"
One of the requirements that the
professor makes of his students i.
that they will not discuss the work
with outsiders. This also is to keeI
out suggestions.
An effort to draw out one Of the
boys brought this retort: You tel
Fem, you're a newspaper guy which
shows how much his mentality ha.
been affected.
In addition to reporting his owl
findings, Professor O'Shea will fnclud,
in his report the testimony of LOO
business men who employ smokers
Philadelphia North American.