SMOKING AND HEALTH.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19155, 11 November 1927, Page 12

SMOKING AND HEALTH.

TO IHB MOTOR Of TH? PBESS. Sir, —In this morning's issue of your good paper I not© that "Margaret" advises the public to stop smoking cigarettes and pipes, as this she contends is the cause of the spreading of influenza. Perhaps "Margaret" would be surprised to learn that during the 1918 epidemio in England and Scotland notices were posted in picture theatres and suchlike places advising people to smoke as a precaution against the influenza. I fail to see how we can go against the advice of leading doctors of the world.—Tours, etc., COMMON SENSE. November 10th, 1927.

TO THJ BDITOm OV THI rftlSl. Sir, —The effusions in your correspondence column under the nom-de-plume of "Margaret" are the limit in crankiness. It is unnecessary to dwell on the scientific side of the matter, because every sensible person knows that tobacco smoke, like whisky, kills germs. My practical experience, however, may interest "Margaret." [n the last five years I have travelled over 100,000 miles by tram and train, chiefly in smoking compartments, but sometimes in non-smoking compartments. Nearly always the train windows are shut, and the compartment stuffy, but though I always smoke both pipe and cigarettes, I have never yet caught a cold on the train. Moreover, during the whole of that time, I have met only two persons on the train who objected to others smoking. In parts of West Africa there is a village official called the "Leader Out.'' On dark nights he leads out into the forest those people who are a nuisance in the village, and they do not return. While I do not advocate the permanent appointment of such an official in Christchurch, I think we could do with the loan of one for a time. I wonder if "Margaret" thinks so, too? Yours, etc., TRAVELLER. November 10th, 1927.