SMOKING AND COLLEGE STUDENTS 177 
ers; their measurements should be larger on that account. That the 
smokers are not appreciably heavier, taller and stronger than the non- 
smokers may be due to the depressing influence of nicotine on the cir- 
culation and the consequent interference with normal growth. 
3. The scholarship standing of smokers is distinctly lower than that 
of non-smokers. The intimate connection existing between the smoking 
habit and participation in the social and athletic activities of college 
life makes it impossible to determine how much, if any direct influence 
the smoking habit exerts upon scholarship, but the results of this study 
and the similar results obtained at Clark College indicate very clearly 
that the smoking habit is closely associated with idleness and lack of 
ambition for scholarly achievement. 
Conclusions—The writer has no desire to defend the use of tobacco. 
The motive in making this study was to ascertain the facts concerning 
the effects of tobacco upon college men. ‘The teaching of hygiene is 
making rapid progress; quantities of new books are being published in 
which the large volume of new scientific facts on nutrition, muscular 
exercise, and the effects of alcohol take the place of the dogmatic state- 
ments and easy moral of the old books; a similar change is desired in 
the treatment of the problem of the effects of tobacco. 
A study of the literature on the effects of smoking, years of medical 
examinations of boys and men, experience in teaching hygiene and the 
results of this study have led the writer to the following conclusions: 
1. All scientists are agreed that the use of tobacco by adolescents 
is injurious; parents, teachers and physicians should strive earnestly to 
warn youths against its use. 
2. There is no scientific evidence that the moderate use of tobacco 
by healthy mature men produces any beneficial or injurious physical 
effects that can be measured. 
3. There is an abundance of evidence that tobacco produces injurious 
effects on (a) certain individuals suffering from various nervous affec- 
tions; (b) persons with an idiosyncrasy against tobacco; (c) all persons 
who use it excessively. 
4. It has been shown conclusively in this study and also by Mr. 
Clarke that the use of tobacco by college students is closely associated 
with idleness, lack of ambition, lack of application, and low scholarship. 
