NARCOTICS.

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 238, 19 April 1915, Page 26

NARCOTICS.

Again I have the pleasure of reporting some work done among the young. Ncrln-East Valley. Several members have attended juvenile meetings and classes, and given shoTt addresses on the great evils of cigarette -moking. and also the u-e of tobacco as a poison. Leaflets and papers have been distributed in the homes in the district, and also in the backblock-., Territorial Camps, Hiblc ('lasses, and Rechabite Lodges. The following literature has been distributed: “Doe- the Drug Habit Lead to Health or to Disease?” bv M/s Martha M. Allen, Superintendent of the Department of Medical Temperance; “Wh\ Headache Remedies are Dangerous,” by Harvey W . Wiley, M l).; “Dr. Harvey W. Wiley on Alcohol and Drugs”; “Opinions on Coca-Cola by Medical Experts,” also on Caffeine, the drug used in making coca-cola; “What Burbink. the ‘Plant Wizard.’ says on Alcohol and Tobacco.” Union Reports.—New Plymouth and Pahiatua Cnions report that thov have been unable to do any work. Ngaeie Cnion state they have an Anti Gambling and Smoking League, but have nothing fre-h to report. Invercargill Union reports having distributed literature. y 1 would like to sav a word about the rau-e of malignant disease of the mouth. Sarcoma of the round pr spindle cell tvpe, is apparently congenital in origin, though long latent,

and may best be cut out. Even so grave a case as 1 have shown you to night of tonsil, pharyngeal and cervical tissues has remained 111 perfect health for five years with no recurrence after incision. But carcinoma, is always the result of irritation, either by a tooth, a dental plate, tartar, a pipe stem, or tobacco. Jhe charge against nicotine is the most serious in the calendar. It is extremely rare to question a patient with advanced cancer of the mouth and not find that he has been a heavy smoker or has chewed tobacco. Jf the question is answered evasively, or if he admits only light use of tobacco, his wife will usually come to your rescue and say that he either puts in a little chewing tobacco when he ri-es and takes a little out when he goes to bed, or that he smokes pipes or cigars habitually. This close relation with nicotine was emphasised by Buttin, and has been widely believed in. 1 find complete corroboration in my own experience, and have come to regard excessive and continuous u-e of nicotine as a great ri-k to susceptible tissues. It is usually after twenty or thirty years that the beginning of epithelioma shows and advanc es. Most often it starts either at the contact points of the pile, or streams of hot smoke on the ton”tie. or in the gutters where the liquid lies in the mouth, or where the quid re-.tr- between cheek and gums. “Smoked tongue” is a legitimate name for this ill starred malady. One of the most threatening epitheliomas of the guin which I was fortunate enough to cure by radium was in a young lady who for year- had been an inveterate smoker of cigarettes. Cocaine is possibly the most in-idi-ous of all drugs vet known. Few of those who become enslaved to it ever arc* able to lay it aside. It leads to hallucinations of sight and he iring. Sucpicious characters will appear to be watching an oj portunity to do harm, and voices will be heard plotting injury. Some time ago, upon the death of a prominent woman, the new--paper-reported that she had thought before dving that she was poUoned by enemies. Her friend- and the cauthorities evidently considered that -he w ia victim of hallucinations, for no investigation was ever published. It seemd clearly a rax* of drug taking. Manv persons have become en-lived to cocaine unwittingly through it- u-e in catarrh snuffs, asthma “cures,” and other proprietary preparations, the composition of w hich was -ec ret. Should there not also be* a demand loud and imperious for still greater * feguards of law fre m the destruction cf drugs? \\hv talk of “race -uicide” while no child is safe from thex* alcoholic and narcotic dangers? Th® Cigarette H?.blL—The report of the Director of Medical Service, is incorporated with General Godley’s (savs the Dunedin “Evening Star”), contains interesting references to the health of the Territorials. The general public will learn with gratification that the physical condition of the

men has been nun h improved with the training. Ihe instruction which has been given as to the care of the nouth has yielded most beneficial results. In enumerating th<* causes of physical degeneration, tin- Medical Superintendent pillories for spec ial condemnation the cigarette. Among the causes of partial rejection, excepting - the physically disabled, caused by accident of a temporary nature and the disorders of the lungs and digestive system, al?o of a temporary nature, disordered action of the heart still accounts for a great number in practically all cases. This is due to cigarette smoking. Some means should be taken to bring before the youth of the Dominion the dire results caused by the habitual use of cigarettes. Gambling and cigarette smoking are both strictly prohibited, and the Treasury notes have proved an unsuspected check against indulgence in the former. A record is kept of each note issued, and there was some trepidation among the original owners of five notes which were all presented by a member of the crew. On that ship there has been a sudden end of gambling. AXXIE WRIGHT.