The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-09-18
LEIGH AND ADMIRAL DRAKE

LEIGH AND ADMIRAL DRAKE
 Sir Walter introduced tobacco to civilization and Sir Francis did not permit the approach of the Spanish armada to interfere with his bowling. If they haven't pipes and my favorite pipe tobacco. and first class bowling greens in hea- ven, don't want to go there. But I know they have such things in heaven, because I've been there now for several years. Come up and bowl me a game sometime.
 In spiel published sometime ago I described the more import ant i'll effects of excessive smok- ing. But I did manage to close the sad recital with avowal of my firm belief in the beneficient influence of tobacco when it is used properly, moderately. temperately, by full grown adult.
 Today beg to particularize con- corning the healthful effects of to- bacco used temperately. These notes may interest people who have the tobacco habit but will not de- tain weak characters who are all ready enslaved. There is world of difference in more than one re- sspect between having the tobacco habit and the tobacco habit having you. If you have the habit it is no hardship and you don't get "ner- vous' or jittery when you refrain from indulging for an hour or a day. If the habit has you, such self control is impossible, for you are too weak in the knees. too wishy-washy. You're miserable and intolerable until you can in dulge your craving. Only a dimwit needs argument to convince her that such abiect crapulence is ruin ous to health. The habitual toba C. co chewer is preferable in the en- vironment to the weakling in the grip of the cigarette habit. whether it purports to be masculine or feminine.
 There is considerable experi- mental evidence of the effects of nicotine, but little of the effects of tobacco. As we don't know whe- ther the nicotine, pyridine com pounds, carbon monoxide or ann monium compounds in tobacco smoke are chiefly responsible for the effects, the experimental evil dence is of little value.
 It has been observed. however, that immediately after an individ- ual smokes the blood sugar in- creases as much as 50 per cent over the normal proportion. This effect lasts scarcely half an hour. It explains why the smoker often resorts to a drag when he feels ''let down.. and gets temporary relief. Especially the thin, impatient, in- considerate, selfish, neurotic type individual. The healthy, natural thing to relieve such "let down" is of course food, especially sweets, sugar, candy, ice cream, a sweet ened beverage such as chocolate tea, Or one of the popular fountain drinks. Obviously, to take a drug when the demand is for fuel is a foolish attempt to trick the organ ism. and the only outcome of such living is the weakness popularly called nervousness.
 Now, then, here are my own be- liefs about the good effects of tenn perate smoking, but merely beliefs, for can't prove them. I think temperate smoking releases many physiological inhibitions or softens them. Inhibitions arising from the
 vexations or little shocks or unna- tural stimuli of artificial existence.
 Thus I believe moderate smoking by the full grown adult promotes good digestion when there is ten- dency toward hypochlorhydria and lack of tone, and also promotes better intestinal mobility. I believe temperate smoking tends to pre- vent excessive vascular tension or 1 high blood pressure, though I be-
 lieve that excessive smoking is a
 factor of arteriosclerosis and of so- called essential hypertension.