JUVENILE SMOKING.

Evening Star, Issue 3659, 13 November 1874, Page 3

JUVENILE SMOKING.

A ■ correspondent (a surgeon) writes to the Melbourne ‘ Telegraph ’ the following remarks, which will apply with equal force to Dunedin :

One of the growing evils of the day, and one of which neither the profession nor public has taken much notice, is that of juvenile tobacco smokiiur. You cannot walk through any of the"public thoroughfares where the rising male generation most do congregate without meeting hoys of from twelve to sixteen smoking short clay pipes, tilled with, as 3 on may tell from the odor, uncommonly strong and coarse, tobacco. The self-satisfied look which most of them assume, as much as to say, “ Don’t yon think I look a man V’ is most amusing, only that the unpleasant reflection rises in your mind that the very means tiiey take to ape the full-grown man will gradually deprive them of that viiilo function which specially belongs to manhood. As for the pleasure of the opera tion, it must be more imaginative than real, for of all narcotic poisons the effect of nicotine is most distressing to those unaccustomed to it. The first plcasumiblo symptoms of smoke inhaling are vorv transient, for in a short time nausea, sickness, and giddiness supervene, accompanied by a feeble pulse, cold, clammy perspiration, and utter prostration of strength. Of course, •while under the influence of these combined disagreeables, mental vows are made “ n °t 1:0 do so anymore,” but the natural force of mimicry in human nature is so strong, and the desire in hoys so S 1 eat to act like men, that they persevere until they become accustomed to the nicotine poison. Rut the evils of juvenile smoking do not end even here, for should it be persevered iu the tone of the stomach becomes affected, digestion is rendered painful and difficult, and the finale in some cases is confirmed dyspepsia and obstinate constipation; in others, the heart becomes affected, palpitation and general nervous derangement ensue, often terminating in pericarditis or valvular disease. In all cases the effect is to check both

the physical growth of the body and the nervous development of the brain, the power of thought and memory, and especially those nervous functions usually understood to lie peiformed bv the cerebellum. I must not be understood, however, as writing against the general use of tobacco by grown-up men who have acquired the habit of smoking and find it b3nofici.nl; for the balance of scientific testimony is far more in favor of its advantages than its drawbacks. We must accept the fact that the habit of smok - ing tobacco is almost universal, and consequently that men enjoy it, and believe, from experience, that it is a necessary more than a luxury. Also to tne underfed, hard-worked laboring I classes, whether soldiers, sailors, or avtizans, it relieves the cravings of hunger, and reduces to a minimum the feeling of lassitude from overwork. Having said so much in its favor during adult life, 1 am sorry I cannot find any beneficial oll'ect it produces on the immature and still growing youth. The only result which can be expected is a stunted growth, a dull mind, with little, muscular strength or nervous vigor. It is much easier to call attention to the evils resulting from a social practice than to suggest any efficient re me tty. Legislative notion would be utterly useless, and it is only by the force of public opinion that any amelioration can be hoped for. It might perhaps, j through the influence and teaching of the masters of the State schools, be instilled into the hoy’s minds than what is good for the man is prejudicial to the hoy ; and that by persevering in the use of a noxious poison, onforn the systi’iu is able to support the eilbets, it must prevent their obtaining the objects of a boy’s ambition—the size, itrength, and brains of a man, plus I lie beard and moustache, and lie may look forward instead of becoming an undersized, feeble, smooihtaciA animal, who, according to the Darwinian theory, will neither bo an | object of admiral ion to the softer sox, or be able to hold his own in the struggle for existence with his fellow creatures of the masculine gender.