The Effect of Tobacco on Children.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1800, 19 January 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Effect of Tobacco on Children.

Dr. G. Decaisne has submitted to the Society of Public Medicine the results of some interesting observations concerning the effects due to the use o£ tobacco among boys. Thirty-eight youths were placed in his charge, whohe ages vaiied from nine to fifteen, and who were in the habit of smoking, though the abuse of tobacco varied in each case. The effects of course also varied, but weio very emphatic with twenty -seven out of the thirtyseven boys. With twenty-two patients, there was a distinct disturbance of the circulation, bruit at the eaiotids, palpitation of tbc heart, deficiencies of digestion, sluggishness of the intellect, and a craving, more or les<i pronounced, for alcoholic stimulants. In thirteen instances there was an infceimittent pulse. Analysis of the blood showed in eight case'! a notable falling off in the normal number of xed corpuscles. Twelve boys suffered frequently from blooding of the nose. Ten complained of agitated sleep and constint nightmaie. Four boya had ulcerated mouths, ard one of the children became the victim of pulmonary phthisis, a fact which Dr. Decarne attributed to the gieat deterioration of the blood produced by prolonged and excessive use of tobacco. As these children were all more or les3 lymphatic, it was not possible to establish a comparison according to temperament; but of couise the younger the child the more marked wore the symptons, and the better-fed children were thote that sufiered le&bt. Eight of the childien in question weie aged fiom nine to twelve years. Eleven had smoked for hix months, eight for one year, and sixteen for more than two yoais. Out of eleven bojs who were induced to cease smoking, six wore completely restored to normal health after tix months, while the otheis continued to suffer slightly for a year. Ticatment with iron and quinine gave no satisfactory result, and it seems tolerably evident that the most effective, if not the only cure, is <o at ouco forswear tho habit, which to chikliui in any case is undoubtedly pernicious. — Lmici't.