New Britain herald., 1927-02-08
Your Health How to Keep It.
 Causes of Illness

Editors Note: This is the second ! Of a series of four articles by Dr, Norris Fishbein, one of Americas foremost medical authorities, on the | effect of tobacco on the smoker, This article discusses tobaccos ner- vous and mental effects; the next article will treat of the much talk ! cd-of poison" in tobacco. ! BY DIR. MORRIS TlSHBEIN
 Editor Journal of the American
 Medical Association and of Fly | gcia, the Health Magazine
 Everyone recognizes that many of 1 the effects of tobacco smoking are i psychologist rather than physical. | Sir Robert Armstrong; ones, well 1 known British specialist in nervous and mental diseases, gives special attention to these effects, at the samo time considering any possibility of physical changes that may occur | from either moderate or excessive smoking.
 He accepts the consensus of opinion among medical men that smoking tobacco is harmful to a growing boy, He does not con- . meet it with any mental defect or criminality, but is inclined 10 be- lieve that persons with mental de- fects and a tendency to criminal ity are more likely 10 take up to- bacco smoking carly.
 Dr. Armstrong; Jones realizes. that the effects of tobacco are soothing. relieving psychic tension, tranquiliz- ing emotion, and fostering repose. He credits it's wide use to the fact that most human beings are under constant emotiona, stress and that the use of tobacco acts largely to relieve thls strain.
 Among the conclusions presented by this physician, after studying most of the available scientific ma terial on the subject. are the follow- ing:
 "1. Tobacco Is sedatiye with pronounced physical effects sup plemcnted by the arousal of the csthctic emotions when smoked.
 "2. Speaking generally, tobacco smoking in moderation Is not in- furious to grown-up people: in- deed, on the contrary, it exercises a soothing influence when the system Is irritable. With somo persons it contributes to calm though and continuous mental eNertion.
 "3. Tobacco when smoked should always be of the best with a pleasant aroma and pleasing to look at; and not the hard, coarse, commoner varieties.
 "l. Of the various forms, again in moderation, cigaret smoking is the most wholesome, or, perhaps, it should be stated, the least harmful, preferably also without a holder.
 "5. Pipe smoking Is the con- monest form of smoking. and the bowl should be shallow to allow more air, and more frequent re- filling. A large, dirty, capacious bowl is unwho!esome.
 "6. Pipe smoking to be enjoy able presupposes sound teeth, and demands the use of the tooth brush at least twice a day, other wise pyorrhea, with long train of ailments, may result.
 "7. Cigar smoking Is believed to be better, cleaner, and less toxic than a pipe, but is more expensive. A short cigar is better than a long one.
 IS. Tobacco smoking Is injuri- ous to growing youth in any form, and in them is not infrequently associated with the craving for al- cohol, and must be avoided"
 The American reader will recog- nize. of course, that the conclu- sions reached are distinctly British in their point of view. It is doubt- full that pipe smoking is more com- mon in America than is the use of cigarets.