MY LADY NICOTINE.

Northern Advocate, 14 March 1911, Page 3

MY LADY NICOTINE.

WHEN TO SMOKE,

Whilst few habitual smokers, whether of cigars or pipe, or the occasional cigarette, would admit that the habit does them any real harm, few would care to deny that there are times when tobacco is better left alone. In this connection a recent communication to the "Lancet" is worthy of attention. The act of smoking includes the introduction into the mouth of pungent products of combustion, and the action of these is to increase the flow of saliva. Salivation being the first of a series of digestive actions, once the process is started the whole apparatus follows suit. The sight of food or the introduction of bitters into the mouth has the like effect, for either of them will stimulate the salivary glands and cause the secretion of very active gastric juice. This action of tobacco, therefore, not. only robs the after-meal pipe of any injurious effect, but is likely to make it beneficial to those who own what is often called a sluggish liver. The only exception to the role is in cases of acid dyspepsia, and in such cases smoking should either be postponed until the process of digestion is far advanced, or should be given up altogether. The heartier the meal the less the inconvenience. The desire for tobacco after a hearty meal, perhaps out hitherto analysed by most of us, is due to its stimulating influence on gastric secretion, and the comfort that follows indulgence is, in part, due to the extra fillip given to digestion. Smoking before meals, on the other band, is bad, because the products contained in tobacco smoke dull the appetite—they deprive us of appetite juice, so to speak. It also prevents.or retards the due action of saliva on starchy foods. Equally bad in its effect, is smoking just before going to bed. Unless the latter operation follows close on the heels of a meal, it >s very liable to produce insomnia, because t.hi stomach then contains much i. nneutralised juice, which induces irritation and gives a disturbing sense of hunger. To those smokers who habitually or frequently suffer from insomnia this last item of advice is worth attention.