TO SMOKERS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2242, 5 May 1881, Page 3

TO SMOKERS.

The following letter to the editor appears in a recent number of the “ Aberdeen Free Press ” : Sir, —In glancing over the columns of a copy of the “ New Zealand Herald ” of 6th December, 1860, I observed the following paragraph, which I think you would do well to insert in your paper the first opportunity :—“ On Tuesday last Mr B. H. Matthews, of Mongonui, underwent a severe operation in the District Hospital, and now lies in a very precarious condition. He was a heavy smoker, and some six or nine months ago he got the underside of his tongue poisoned by the use of a dirty pipe. Since then there had been a very nasty sore. As it continued to get worse, he came up to Auckland a week or two ago for advice on the matter. Dr. Philson was consulted, and for a week or so ho thought the sore might be checked by the use of caustic, but seeing that true cancer indications were setting in, it was decided to excise the diseased portion. As stated, the operation was performed on Tuesday last, and it will be impossible for some time to say how the patient may get on. Yesterday he was very low, but hopes are entertained of his ultimate recovery. The doctor, before the operation was made, considered that the disease would result in death in the course of throe months ; and should he recover from the effects of the operation, ho will probably enjoy many years of useful life.” No doubt many smokers will read this warning without being greatly moved by it, but the subject is one in which I take a peculiar interest. For twenty, five years I enjoyed my pips as thoroughly as any of your readers can possibly do, and those alone who have tasted of the smoker’s enjoyment will be able to realise what I gave up when I parted company with my pipe. About twenty years ago I was sitting by my fireside, in the act of filling my pipe, when an old acquaintance looked in to see me ; he noticed what I was engaged in doing, and, without any ceremony, he called me by name and said— ’“ I would advise you to drop that.” For some time previous ho had been concerned about the condition of his tongue, of which I was quite aware, and, thinking he was influenced by this at the time he spoke to me, I asked him to show me his tongue, on which he pointed out a sore of about the size of a pea on the side of it. This sore continued to trouble him so much that at last he resolved to go through to the Aberdeen Infirmary. When he went there he consulted the late Dr Keith, who took the case in at once. The doctor asked him if he was a smoker, and on receiving an answer in the affirmative, said are ruining their health by smoking tobacco.” It appears nothing could be done by way of cure for my friend. One day after, when I asked if he was improving, he said, putting his thumb to his right jaw, “There is something hard here which I don’t like.” He gradually got worse, and at last he was obliged to remain indoors. I visited him from time to time as long as he was able to speak, and amongst the last words he said to mo were—“ Are you keeping from the pipe ? If it had not been for the pipe I would not have been lying here to-day.” Sad to say, his tongue came out before ho died. This melancholy circumstance was not without its effects upon me, for I laid aside my pipe then, and for twenty years I have abstained from the use of tobacco. I took the warning then, and I ask you to insert this in the hope that some others will now bo persuaded to give up a habit fraught with such dire consequences. It is, I think, high time that something should be done to prevent young boys from ruining their constitutions by becoming early addicted to smoking tobacco. J. G. M.