JUVENILE SMOKING.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 363, 10 September 1874, Page 2

JUVENILE SMOKING.

As the iiibject of juvenile smoking (says a correspondent to an English paper) is one of very gieal importance, and now engaging the attention of your readeis, permit me to say a few words (us a 6tudent) on the physiological action of the fumes of tobacco on the young subject. Most of your readers probably ki>ow that there exists in tobacco a poisonous and acti\e principle called Nicotina (C, H, N), or Nicotine, a principle contained to a large extent in inferior or mal-culti-vated tobacco, which generally find its way into the hands of joung smokers, whether in the form of tobacco or cigars. To the agency of this principle are to be attributed the very deleterious effects only too frequently observed in the appearanoo of the novitiates in smoking. Firstly, then, what is its action? We all know that the susceptibility of some persons to its influence is much greater than it is with others, a " dose " which might prove extremely depressing to one scarcely influencing another person. And how is. this to be accounted for ? Only, 1 would say, by the peculiar constitution or idiosyncrasy of the individual. But to its action. Taken into the system by the lungs in the form of vapor, as in vmoking, the narcotic and irritant rather than the sedative action of tobacco is exhibited, for it acts upon the brain, causing giddiness, inclination to vomit, faintness, and depression, varyiug in intensity according to the general stamina of the individual. Wo are told by a distinguished London physician that the amount of nicotine, as derived fiom »moking tobacco (if excessive) paralyzes (in a measure) the br.iin, and diminishes voluntary movement, even producing tetanus in extreme cases, ceitauily muscular impairment nnd debility, with loss of nerve power. Thu«, then, If such be its action on adults, what but more powerful are the eilects to be expected on the unde\ eloped constitutions of youth ? How doei it effect them, then ? To nee a youngster after his fiist "weed" or pipe) in the majority of cases), you will obsoive a cachectic appearauce, a sallow skin, swimming eyes (with dilated pupils), diffused intellect, and a general look of inertia and malaise alike troublesome to the beh >lder as distressing to the smoker. Furthermore, t here will generally co-exist, and especially after I sundry weeds, disorder and irritation of the digestive organs, headache, accompanied with, depression of spirits and exlivma nervous irritibility — symptoms early developed in melancholic temperaments, and often causing in the minds ofpaients great concern, and lometimes even to the iumnwnmg of a medical man. Other ill effects I might enumerate ; cancer of the tongue, and certainly lip, has been traced again nnd agnin to the indulgence of a " short clay" in the young ; discolouration of teeth and a foul tongue are common sequel* ; and nDr G-reen, an American, affirms that " follicular disease of the throat" mainly, if not solely, results from Ihe u^e of tobacco at an "exciting" cause, certainly t&nding a priori to develop that disease. Again, laryngeal and bronchial affections have resulted from its use, to suy nothing of loss of iippetito, disordered digestion, chronic djspepsia, and n rrMlessnrss both of mind and body. Thu» far have I dilated on the ill effects of tobacco smoking, and would now sny a fow words m its favour. There are some persons with whom the effects are not developed, and who seem to derive a peculiar restorative influence from its use, experiencing, especially under conditions of exhaustion or irritability, a mixture of stimulating and sedative action described as peculiarly giateful. To say little of its cheering effects on the tiir's labour and the Turkman's rest, it is certain that much benefit, has been derived from its use by the officers and soldiors during the late Ashantee expedition ; but then it was used as a disinfectant against the malnrious effects of the climate, and in a s.mitary point of view. Probably many of>our reocJers will be prejudiced ngamst my remarks, but only through being, I iear, lovers of the weed or inveterate <mokei » I thoroughly agree with the example that '• A Lo\ er of Ozone" has set to her son of tho promise of a reward for abst mence until the age of twenty-one, and am fully convinced that only socially and through, the intervention of parents, school masters, and Sunday-school tencherj, can tho matter be set on foot and good effected ; for the evil of juvenile imoLing is increasing daily.