INHALING TOBACCO SMOKE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXIX, Issue 12111, 4 July 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

INHALING TOBACCO SMOKE.

.On the labels of some -boxes of cigarettes at present being sold to the public is a statement to the effect that the cigarettes are made of the purest tobacco and paper obtainable, and that, therefore, tb« »*« from them may be inhaled safely and without irritating the respiratory passages. We do not hesitate to say that such a statement is highly mischievous and that the practice of inhaling smoke into tie lungs is attended with considerable risk to the health of the smoker, says the London "Lancet."

It is to be feared that the cigarette is responsible largely for- the prevalence of the objectionable habit of inhaling tobacco smoke; the pipe or cigar-smoker is, as a rule, not addicted b it, because, probably, the smoko is too strong or too irritating. But the fact that the smoke of a cigarette may be unirritating does not minimise the evil effect of drawing the smote into the lungs, for by this method the absorption of the poisonous constituents of tobacco smoke (and all tobacco smoke- is more or

less poisonous) is very rapid, these entering quickly into the circulatory system by wj l °f the pulmonary capillaries. * Even in the mouth and nasal passages there is some amount of absorption, but this is trifling compared with that which takes place in the lungs. The practice of inhaling tobacco smoke is, therefore, strongly to be discountenanced, and vendors of cigarettes' should refrain from printing on the boxes mischievous statements, such as that to which we have allude*.

There is no reason for believing that smoking tobacco in a rational way is productive of harm; on tie contrary, it is the common experience that when moderately indulged in it serves to allay restlessness' and irritability, but the sequel to the habit of inhalation may indeed be dire, the heart and nervous system being chiefly affected.