TOBACCO AND THE TOBACCO HABIT. 6y 7 



active as the vapors is diffused around. Operatives who work in 

 this atmosphere are in the situation of smokers, and become ha- 

 bituated to it after having suffered the same disorders in the 

 beginning. Those who work in smaller and insufficiently venti- 

 lated rooms are often more seriously affected ; but, as a rule, these 

 workmen enjoy good health. Opinions as to the particular effect 

 of this employment on women differ ; but the prevalent result of 

 the discussion appears to be that tobacco does not provoke abor- 

 tion, and has no mischievous influence' on the health of women 

 operatives. Abortion is not more frequent among them than 

 among other working- women ; and the weakness and mortality 

 of their children are easily explained by the fact of their being 

 left at home while their mothers are at the shop. 



Among the maladies to which hardened smokers are exposed 

 is nicotinic amblyopia, which Sichel noticed first, and which has 

 been well studied by modern ophthalmologists. It is a peculiar 

 weakening of the sight, and is distinguished from other affections 

 of the kind by the readiness with which it passes away when the 

 patient gives up tobacco, and the promptitude with which it ap- 

 pears again when he resumes the practice. It is very rare. So 

 is a paralysis which has been observed in Germany. Delirium 

 tremens, convulsions, epilepsy, hallucinations, dementia, preco- 

 cious senility, and melancholia have been mentioned as among 

 the evils brought on by tobacco. No doubt smokers have them, 

 and many other diseases. Tobacco will not save them from any 

 of the ills with which mankind is afflicted. 



Of all the accusations that have been made against tobacco, 

 that of blunting the intellect is the most cruel to smokers. But 

 the evidence in favor of it is not formidable. That most fre- 

 quently encountered is obtained from statistics that show that in 

 institutions for public instruction smokers stand lower in their 

 classes than other pupils. Decaisne has shown this for the French 

 lycees ; MM. Bartillon, G. Dore*, and Elie Joubert, for the pupils 

 of the Polytechnic School ; and Dr. Coustan, for the Normal and 

 Naval Schools and the School of Bridges and Roads. The demon- 

 stration is hardly satisfactory. It seems reasonable to assume 

 that the smoking pupils do not succeed so well as the others be- 

 cause they are idle and find in tobacco an auxiliary to their indo- 

 lence and a relief from its consequent ennui. Probably, if the 

 investigation had been pushed further, it would have been found 

 that the same pupils are those whose general conduct leaves most 

 to be desired, and who are most frequently punished. Discussion 

 of this charge brings up an international comparison that is not 

 favorable to its validity. There is a people north of the Rhine, 

 whom I have already mentioned, and with whom the use of to- 

 bacco has almost become an institution. They consume a half 



