SMOKING AMONG SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 287, 23 August 1918, Page 4

SMOKING AMONG SOLDIERS

1 SIR JAMES ALLEN'S VIEWS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, August 22. Referring to-day to smoking among soldiers, Sir Janies Allen said that as regards tho troops at the front his advisers stated that under heavy physical and mental strain tho smoking of a, cigarette or a pipe was a great relaxation and comfort; but the question had been raised of tho danger of issuing an unlimited number of cigarettes to men in hospital and those returning as patients. Sir James Allen remarked that lie was afraid this was undoubtedly true, and it had been suggested that patients with lung or cardiac troubles should receivo only a limited number. He was not a medical man, but lie thought there wan a great deal too much cigarette smoking amongst New Zealand soldiers, and particularly those in homes or hospitals, and he was afraid in. soma instances it was retarding their recovery. In Iho interests of themselves tho generosity of the public might, therefore, be checked a little in this direction, for there was amplo evidence from soldiers that as many as fifty or sixty cigarettes were smoked in n day. Ho dill not want to stop smoking, but he would lio glad to sec excessive smoking checked. The will-power of the men to stop it themselves might well bo assisted in their own interests.