NICOTINE AND ADOLESCENCE 143 



his teens. Nevertheless, thousands upon thousands of middle- 

 aged men are bound hand and foot by the tobacco habit. 



Fortunately, some of them are able to break the habit, as 

 did Senator Depew, president of the New York Central 

 Railroad. I give part of his story in his own words : 



" I used to smoke some twenty cigars a day, and continued 

 it till I became worn out. I did not know what was the matter 

 with me, and physicians that I applied to did not mention 

 tobacco. I used to go to bed at two o'clock in the morning 

 and wake at five or six. I had no appetite and was a dys- 

 peptic. One day I bought a cigar and was puffing it with 

 the feeling of pleasure which is only possible to the devotee. 

 I smoked on only a few moments, and then took it out of my 

 mouth and looked at it. I said to it, ' My friend and bosom 

 companion, you have always been far dearer to me than gold. 

 To you I have been ever devoted, yet you are the cause of 

 all my ills. The time has come when we must part.' I gazed 

 sadly and longingly at the cigar, then threw it into the street. 

 I had been convinced that tobacco was ruining me. I have 

 never smoked from that day to this." 



In all such care of ourselves we must not forget the bear- 

 ing of the tobacco habit on the next generation. It is true 

 that tobacco has not yet been shown to directly affect germ 

 cells, but it is perfectly clear that it harmfully affects the 

 smoker himself, especially if he begins to smoke before 

 maturity. And if a man smokes, his son is almost sure to do 

 so. In this case, therefore, the harm which passes from one 

 generation to the next travels by what is known as social in- 

 heritance, not by that which is biological. The damage of 

 such an inheritance is none the less real, however, for in 

 character and habits children are apt to become what their 

 parents have been. 



