Part 6 — TOBACCO AND THE CIGARETTE PART THREE—PHYSICAL EFFECT

Tobacco in any form is a deadly poison, deteriorating the bodily forces, deading to the finer sensibilities, and destructive to the finer mental and moral preceptions. But above every other evil, the effects of the Cigarette upon children and youth is the most deadly.

Testimony of Athletes and Athletic Directors

The star batter of the Philadelphia Athletics, “Home Run Baker,” says: “I don’t drink nor smoke. Never did drink nor smoke. If any youngster wants advice from one who doesn’t mean to preach, there it is. Leave cigarettes and tobacco in any form alone, and don’t touch ‘booze’ now or at any time. It’s the usual advice and doesn’t carry much weight as a rule, but coming from a ball-player perhaps it may mean a little more to the American boy. Mine is the total-abstinence platform for both liquor and tobacco.”

“The Cigarette is more harmful than whisky.”—Joseph H. Thompson, Coach of the Foot-Ball and Track Team of the University of Pittsburg.

“I believe that the Cigarette is the one thing that is keeping many young men from developing the best that is in them, not only physically, but mentally and morally.”—E. E. Bliss, Physical Director, Oakland, Calif., Y. M. C. A.

“A man’s training is given to increase his endurance; so he must leave tobacco alone; for all trainers know that the use of it will effect the use of the heart’s action.”—C. H. Price, Y. M. C. A. Physical Director, Los Angeles, Calif.

“Whenever it is desired to secure the highest possible working ability by the organism, as in athletic contests, where the maximum of effort is demanded, all motor-depressant influences are removed as far as possible, tobacco being one of the first substances forbidden.”—Jay W. Seaver, A. M., M. D., Medical Examiner of the Yale University Gymnasium.

Tobacco Dwarfs

The average American boy wants to become an athlete. He should know that tobacco will stunt the growth,—a fact that is proved by medical men and educators who have given careful attention to the subject. Here are a few statements on this point:—

“There is nothing that so stunts the growth of boys and young men, of the present day, as the use of tobacco.”—Physical Director, Denver Y. M. C. A.

“Personally, I have examined over fourteen thousand young men, and from general observation I can say that smoking has had its effect most particularly on the nervous system of the growing lad, as well as hindering his physical development.”—A. G. Studer, Acting General Secretary, Detroit Y. M. C. A.

“We have carried on a series of observations relative to smokers. We find that smoking is injurious to growing boys and youth; that the smoker does not attain and hold as high a stand in the university as the non-smoker does. His physical development is not so good, and his lung capacity is usually lower than that of the non-smoker. I have no hesitation in saying that I consider the use of nicotin harmful for a growing youth.”—W. G. Anderson, M. A., M. D., Director of Yale University Gymnasium.

“Unquestionably the most important matter in the health history of the students at this academy is that relating to the use of tobacco. I have urged upon the superintendent, as my last official utterance, the fact of the truth of which five years’ experience as a health officer of the station has satisfied me, that beyond all other things, the future health and usefulness of the lads educated at this school, require the absolute interdiction of tobacco. In this opinion I have been sustained not only by all of my colleagues, but by all other sanitarians in civil and military life whose views I have been able to learn.”—Report of Dr. Albert L. Gihon, Senior Medical Officer of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md.

“Tobacco is ruinous in our schools and colleges, dwarfing body and mind.”—Dr. Willard Parker.

“I shall not hesitate to pronounce tobacco in young men to be evil, and only evil, physically, mentally, and morally.”—Edward Hitchcock, of Amherst College.

“In recent years there has been a decided increase in the number of sudden deaths from heart failure. There is no doubt that this increase is partially due to the free use of tobacco. Nicotin strikes a direct blow at the heart. It weakens the heart’s action, and in time brings about degenerative changes in its structure and also in the walls of the blood vessels. The hypertension and arteriosclerosis indicative of degenerative changes, are usually found among users of tobacco.”—Dr. Kress.