SMOKING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18898, 13 January 1927, Page 13

SMOKING.

* MEDICAL OPINIONS. WHEN DOCTORS DIFFER. [THE PRESS Special Service.] .. AUCKLAND, January 12. '' Smoking is a very bad habit, and is even worse for the nation than alcohol," declared a leading Auckland doctor to-day when commenting upon Sir Eobort Armstrong Jones's article in the "Medical Journal," London. Sir Roberts contends that cigarette smoking, especially without a holder, is the most wholesome form of smoking, contrary to the prevalent opinion that pipe smoking is the least harmful. Tho Auckland doctor said that pipes were filthy things, and he agreed with Sir Robert Armstrong Jones that cigars were preferable to pipes. AH smoking was bad, he said, but ho added that sometimes he smoked as many as 100 cigarettes a day, although at present he was not- smoking at all. Another prominent medical man who specialises in diseases of the eyes, ears, nose, and throat, said he was of the opinion that both cigarette and pipe smoking were good in moderation, but indulging in smoking to excess, like other excesses, was harmful. Pipes must be kept clean, however, and not allowed to become foul,-iu which state they were most insanitary and a harbour of germs. "Cases of smoking being harmful to the eyes which are so commonly spoken of are quite rare," said tho doctor '•ln fact, eases of blindness or partial blindness due to smoking are very infrequently seen, even by very busy ophthalmic practitioners. One does not see half a dozen cases in a year. Another specialist in eye, nose, and throat treatment said: "Tobacco is a potent factor in predisposing to catarrhal affections of the air passages by reducing the resisting powers of tho membranes. /J'iie average man who had indulged in tobacco and alcohol for 10 to 20 years has a chronic catarrhal throat, and the appearance of the throat nf the, average woman who has not so indulged provides a striking contrast. Whether tobacco is used as cigarette or cigar, or is smoked in a pipe or chewed, makes but little difference. Possibly the cigarette is more harmful to the air passages, as it is always inhaled more or less into the lungs."