A DOCTOR'S ADVICE TO SMOKERS

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 129, 1 June 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

A DOCTOR'S ADVICE TO SMOKERS

Of smoking more than of any other habit or practice it is true that no general rule can be laid down by \he physician, and no advice can be given which will iit all coses.

Of course the safe thing to say to smokers is, don't smoke. And yet there are many individuals who c.th smoke without injury and in some cases I believe the practice is benofic'ml.

In general, however, it can be said that it is dangerous to smoke more than five cigars a day, and that cigarettes should never be smoked at nil. Even the rule as to quantity, however, is by no means exact, and some mtr: can smoke inveterately or continuously without showing any ill effects. Each smoker must use his own judgment.

Smoking may be likened to the drinking habit, each one must know his capacity. No general rule can be laid down for him. Individualisation in each case is here the rule.

Inhalation of the fumes of Tobacco is the most injurious habit of smokers. This practice must be avoided at all times. The mucous membrane is an absorbent, and for this reason nicotine very easily produces its effects upon the constitution. Nicotine also acts as a corrosive,, cauterising the njembranc and inducing chronic inflammation.

No person who inherits any constitutional weaknesses of the air passages or heart should, under any consideration, adopt the habit of smoking, as the congestive conditions produced by smoking are the corner stones, so to speak, for serious lung troubles. Among thes£ tuberculosis is the most frequent.

Much, interest has been manifested^ in the so-called "smoker's tongue." Opinions on the subject vary. By the name of "smoker's tongue" is understood an altered condition of! epithelium of the upper surface of' the tongue, due to smoking. In the! most typical instances the patch upon the tongue appears about the middle of the front part of the dorsum, just where the end of the pipe or cigar rests—where the stream of smoke impinges on the surface of the tongue. The affected area is not „always limited to this region alone, but has a tendency to spread slowly until the whole upper surface becomes involved. The inside of the cheeks is liable to become similarly diseased, particularly along the line where the teeth meet. . A much more serious evil may arise for the tongue than the mere leucoma, for the tongue is often attacked by real cancer, and the leucoma is undoubtedly a strong, predisposing cause of cancer. I believe that the records of the next ten years will show a much greater proportion of cases of cancer which have been preceded by leucomas. The action of tobacco upon the heart is not, contrary to the general belief, directly the cause of death. The action of the heart is first diminished, then accelerated, and finally weakened with slowing. The above are the exaggerated physiological s}^mptoms which are observed in the "tobacco heart" of smokers, and should be considered a signal for the immediate reduction of or total abstinence from smoking. I have pointed out the danger of smoking and the warning signals smokers should watch for. In general only these rules can be laid down: Smoke moderately. Smoke the best cigars. Don't smoke cigarettes. Don't smoke at all if you are inherently disposed to consumption or any lung, throat, or nose trouble. Take advantage of the first warning that smoking is injuring you, and stop it.