Evening star., 1923-12-16
BY GEORGE III. DACY.

"HREE men, G. W. Jones, W. p.
Yant and l. Il. Berger of
the national bureau of mines,
u recently INDUCED in a sci
entific smoking spree, the like Of
which was never before attempted
since the discovery Of King Nicotine.
No. these government. experts did
not try to smoke each other sick
nor did they attempt to establish a
marathon cigar-smoking record for
the United States, but they did as
certain the exact amounts of carbon
monoXide-that obnoxious gas which
annually kills many motorists in
closed garages who leave their en-
gines running as they repair their
cars. and lose their lives through
their negligence-that are produced
when different kinds Of tobacco. are
smoked.
With Christmas approaching, and
those untold thousands of gift boxes
of cigars which Washingtonians will
present to one another about to be
bought, most everybody in the Ma
tional Capital will be interested to
learn about all the secrets Of to-
to find out whether or not it will be
safe to light those cigars which
came as gifts from his wife or
mother-in-law. whether or not the
poisonous fumes are liable TO kill
him. whether the gases and smoke
will, perchance. MAIN or permanent
ly cripple him in one way or an
other.
In order to solve the secrets Of to-
bacco smoking, which never before
have been investigated, three federal
scientists recently shut themselves
UP in a closed. non-ventiiated room
of 1000 cubic feet capacity for con-
tinuous periods Of one and nehalf
to two hours each, during which the
trio smoked as rapidly and as much
as possible. Tests were made with
cigar. cigarette, stogie and pipe to-
bacco smoke.
Samples of the room atmosphere
were taken at frequent intervals dur
ing the test and subsequently were
analysed to determine their carbon
monoxide, carbon dioxide and oxygen
content. Blood samples of each of
the three smokers were taken at the
the percentage of saturation of car
bon monoxide which had wormed It's
way into the lifeblood channels of
the experimental tobacco users.
Maybe you may think that this is
a very extraordinary investigation
for such a national agency as the
bureau of mines to undertake. Hence
a few words Of explanation are in
order
The bureau of mines is interested
In the general question of carbon
monoxide hazards from tobacco
smoke, mainly as this problem re-
lates to mine ventilation. In nom
gaseous mines. especially metal
mines, the scientific question logic
ally arises. whether, II groups of
miners are permitted to smoke while
working deep down In the very
bowels of the earth where efficient
ventilation is impossible, the accu-
mutation Of tobacco smoke in these
places would create any additional
hazards due to carbon monoxide
poisoning.
Furthermore. the results of these
smoking tests are of general interest
TO all or us In connection with the
ventilation of buildings and inclosed
places where people assemble and
smoking is permitted.
n u
A NY burning carbonaceous mate
"A rial, unless supplied with enough
oxygen for complete combustion. will
liberate carbon monoxide. Hence
carbon neutrality-suspicious. though
IT be-is liberated when all forms of
tobacco, which essentially consist of
carbonoceous material, are burned or
smoked. =
In experimental research inyesti-
cations. Uncle Sam has determined
that the undiluted smoke from cigars
sometimes contains as much as s
per cent of carbon monoxide. the
amount OF the poisonous gas being
dependent on the size and closeness
of packing Of the tobacco during
manufacture and on their rate of
burning. Where, cigarettes were
smoked in similar tests, the amount