Cigarette Smoking.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 359, 26 March 1903, Page 5

Cigarette Smoking.

EVILS OF INHALING It is no exaggeration to say that this new habit of inhaling the smoke of cigarettes—a habit which has only come into vogue in this country during the last few years, and which in the next few will inevitably tell a great tale upon the mental and bodily capacity of the nation—more quickly obtains a strong hold upon those who give away to it than any other habit which has for its object the gratification of the senses in one way or another.

Of some hundreds of men whom I have known to have contracted the habit of cigarette smoke inhaling, I have only heard of two who have been successful in shaking it off. Inhaling consists simply in drawing a volume of smoke from the cigarette into the mouth, and then taking a deep breath, in the act of which the smoke is carried from the mouth down into the lungs. The nicotine fumes in their passage come into contact with the nervous system, and the result is an instantaneos communication to the brain, which takes the form of a momentary semi-paralysis—when a man is new to the habit, that is. I remember very well the experience of a youngster of eighteen on his being taught to inhale the smoke of a cigarette for the first time. One afternoon some friends persuaded him to make 1 the attempt, and he did so. Almost upon the instant he fell full length ' upon the floor in a dead faint; his features became pallid, his pulse faint and irregular; and those about him were for a time in a great fright. He came round, of course. A day or two later he tried to inhale again, with a result not quite so bad; and he went on tiying till now he is a veritable slave to the habit. The overpowering feeling of faintness is experienced on almost every occasion a first attempt at inhaling is made, showing how strong the effect is upon the nerves which have never been put to such a trial before. From this the deduction is inevitable that there must be serious permanent inlury. When the fever for inhaling is upon a man the ordinary enjoyment of life is ruined.

Every meal is an irritation after the. fist few moments, because smoking is prevented . thereby. The Parisians lately introduced a dinner novelty, which is to a certain extent " caught on." Right in the middle of the dinner they serve a Russian cigarette, just big enough to aff .rd half a dozen detp inha'ins breaths and satisfy that longing which at this stage is becoming acute. This curious custom was invented entirely in the interest of the victims of whom I am speaking 1 . In the majority of cases the results of such exces- are pitiable in the extreme, mentally and physically. In the first place, a constant and severe nervousness hangs over the victim. He is in a continual state of lethargy which he cannot overcome. His mental powers are very considprably dulled, and his capacity for work is great'y reduced. The pulse becomes irregular, the heart is weakened, the appetite is greatly diminished, and the hollow cheek and sunken eyes are palable indications that something is wrong. This description of the physical effect is not mine ; it is given by one of the most eminent physicians of the day. The victim, moreover, be comes very susceptible to lung trouble of all sorts. —Exchange.