SMOKING AND FOOTBALL MEN 



343 



Seaver at Yale University, 2 where it was shown that the non-smokers 

 were three pounds heavier than the smokers. The excess weight of the 

 smokers is readily accounted for when it is remembered that in the 

 " try outs " only one third of the smokers were successful, against two 

 thirds of the non-smokers. In football, where the factor of weight plays 

 an important part, it is quite apparent that the larger men are more 

 likely to be selected than the smaller ones. If, however, in the "try 

 outs " an equal percentage of the smokers and non-smokers were chosen 

 the results would in all probability not be out of harmony with those 

 of Dr. Seaver. 



In the following the scholastic standing is shown. 



No. of Men 



Smokers 81 



Non-smokers 101 



Twelve institutions reporting. 



It will be observed that the smokers average 4.9 per cent, below the 

 non-smokers. This average alone, however, is not wholly reliable, as 

 the standards of marking in the various schools are by no means uni- 

 form — an individual in one institution might be ranked at 75 per 

 cent., while in another institution this same student might be ranked 

 at 90. From the following table, however, it will be observed that the 

 smoker is inferior in each of the twelve institutions reporting, a fact, 

 of course, which strongly corroborates the above averages. 



In each of the twelve institutions reporting scholastic standing the 

 highest and the lowest marks were tabulated for the smokers and non- 

 smokers. The results follow : 



No. of Men Highest Marks Lowest Mark 



Smokers 81 4 12 



Non-smokers 101 11 6 



Based on equal numbers of men the results would be as follows : 



Highest Marks Lowest Marks 



101 non-smokers furnish 11 6 



101 smokers would furnish 5 15 



1 See Arena, for February, 1897. 



