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THE TOBACCO QUESTION.—IS SMOKING INJURIOUS?
practice which are not injured by being carried from the ward where they are placed to an operating theatre, and returned to the wards afterwards, yet this is by no means always the case, and perhaps happens less frequently amongst diseases peculiar to women than in general medical and surgical cases. I would ask any man who knows his profession, whether, after having operated upon a lacerated perinæum, he would like the patient to be carried a hundred yards across a square, ap a long staircase, and removed to a bed ?Any one would undoubtedly expect a failure, and shrink from it in private practice ; therefore why should it be done in an hospital ? Again, take a case of ovarian dropsy which requires tapping, (especially if done per vaginam,) and indeed in almost every case where an operation is required in these wards, humanity and duty will cry out against such an unnecessary risk. Further, supposing these operations were performed in a theatre, how many could see? Why, not so many as in the ward; thus it would be making an uncalled-for exposure, as nothing could be
gained by it. Mr. Cooper
appears to fear he will not be able to learn but he may take the word of an old Bartholomew student, that if he makes use of half the opportunities he has cast in his way in that noble institution, he will find no day long enough to acquire a correct knowledge of what he sees and hears, and I am sure he will find no hospital in the world
enough;
offering greater opportunities for.gaining a thorough knowledge
i
manufacture, and sale. If smoking tobacco produces paralysis, insanity, &c., even in its purest state, no consideration of profit should prevent the profession from crying out with one voice against this growing custom, and warning the ignorant public of their danger ; but if the evil arises from adulteration, the authorities should take the matter into their hands, and protect the smoking public, as they do those who use pepper, eoffee, and other articles of commerce. Neither in this letter, nor in my former note, -have I advoI think the question of do with the subject than many imagine. I also think there is considerable difference between the moderate use and the abuse of tobacco, as well as in the constitutions of smokers. In reply to the statement that the Turks never use cigars, I beg to say that they use cigarettes, or paper cigars, as often, if not more frequently, than pipes; and this is the form in which it is chiefly used in Spain, where "longevity is to be found" more frequently than in this country, according to the population. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, J. A. M’DONAGH, M.R.C.S. Albert-street, Regent’s-park, Jaii. 3rd, 1856,
the practice cated adulteration has a
of smoking, but great deal more to
To the Editor of THE LANCET. read have with interest the letters in your journal SIR,-I on the subject of tobacco, and lest its opponents should construe silence on the part of its advocates into defeat, permit me to offer a few remarks de-re. Fact, Sir, is more potent than theory, and a large number of facts go much farther to establish a general rule than a few isolated ones admitting of considerable doubt. As regards the immoderate use of tobacco, I grant that it cannot be otherwise than injurious, as the very form of the expression implies. The immorderate use of anything, one would think, cannot be very beneficial. But Mr. Neil attacks smoking in toto, and in doing
of his profession than the one he has so unnecessarily attacked. I have purposely refrained from making any observations respecting Dr. West, who has been grossly insulted for pursuing a fair and correct line of duty. Whilst I was at St. Bartholomew’s I acted as clinical clerk, and afterwards as assistant to Dr. West. I therefore had a good opportunity of becoming acquainted with that gentleman’s feelings towards his pupils. I have seen his willingness to give information upon any cases or subjects to all, and have heard him often express his regret that students did not avail themselves of the many opportu- so makes a personal attack upon me in particular; indeed, nities they had of obtaining a correct knowledge of the diseases accuses me of suicide, and tells me that for the last forty years of women, and I am sure he will always be the first to afford I have been committing a series of murderous attempts upon own existence, and determinedly endeavouring to put an any information and effect any l’ea8onable reform which may my end to it by calling in the assistance of cancer, jaundice, and be beneficial to his pupils.-I am, Sir, yours obediently, and the rest. Now, if Mr. Neil will pardon me for saying so, F. RUSSELL HALL. Cambridge, January, 1857. I must confess that, in my opinion, his attack is as illogieal as Since the foregoing letter was in type, we have received it is uncharitable. He finds a good number of smokers who a long communication on the same subject from Mr. Samuel drink, and he therefore assumes that drunkenness is the offor cigar; but let Mr. Neil remember that the Cooper. As the discussion has already exceeded the usual spring of the pipe of the community-and these are not a few, by part smoking continue the we cannot a If there is sublimits, controversy. the produce a far greater number of smokers who do stantial and remedial grievance, it is the duty of the lecturer not way-can drink at all, or, at any rate, only do so in the same moderate to redress it.—SUB-ED. L. way as many gentlemen who do not or cannot smoke. Mr. Neil, as well as Mr. Solly, appears to me to look at the few, and not at the mass; he finds an odd case here, and another THE TOBACCO QUESTION.—IS SMOKING there-one of paralysis, a second of typhus, &c., and because the patients happen to be smokers, he suspects that tobacco is INJURIOUS ? the cause of the malady. Thus, Sir, these gentlemen, from a To the Editor of THE LANCET. hasty induction, founded in this way on one or two isolated SIR,-I am glad to perceive, by your journal of the 3rd inst., facts, deduct a general principle; but let them take a hundred that my letter of the 27th ult. has had the effect of drawing smokers, and, without prejudice, let them examine them, and forth letters from three medical gentlemen, who all agree with I flatter myself that your correspondents will find the ninetynine free from jaundice, paralysis, and the like. me in the importance of the question, "Is smoking injurious?" I am glad to have afforded Mr. Fenn an opportunity of stating Why, Sir, if smoking, even but rarely, were so terrible in his experience of the evil effects of the use of tobacco in typhoid its effects, can we for one moment suppose that such numbers fever; but I think I have some reason to complain that the other of eminent and learned men would cultivate the habit ! I gentlemen have either read my note incorrectly, or have mis- know personally at least twenty old men, averaging each about understood its object, which was twofold: first, to obtain the sixty-five years, who tell me that they have been smokers for years, and some of them more, and that, too, without the opinions of the profession upon a custom which is so prevalent, forty and which by the public generally is considered harmless when least evil result; and I have no hesitation in saying that there not carried to excess, and in some cases believed to be of posi- are thousands of old men who look upon tobacco as a comfort, tive good. What medical man in practice has not been told and not as an evil. Take the mass of smokers, and Mr. Neil’s by an overwhelming by some of his patients of the relief they obtained by smoking theory will be clearly seen to be subverted of facts proving the opposite to be true. in pyrosis, asthma, chronic bronchitis, gastralgia, constipation, number " Haud inexpertus loquar."" I am a smoker, and hope to be and several forms of neuralgia ? In the hands of medical men, tobacco has been found a useful medicine; but neither this nor able to vindicate myself whenever attacked upon the point. I its effects upon horses and sheep has anything to do with the hate narrow views, and I equally dislike hasty conclusions; practice of smoking. I will pass to my second object, which hence, so long as £8,000,000 sterling per annum is spent upon was to obtain the opinions of others upon the adulteration of paralysis, jaundice, cardialgia, and their allies, by tobaccotobacco. If it is an admitted fact that smoking is a pernicious ’i smokers, so long shall I, in Mr. Neil’s estimation, continue to Your very obedient servant, practice, whether used moderately or immoderately, the next be, SEDENTARY SUICIDE. Jan. 1857. evil effects would those tobacco Are be, question produced by in its purest form, or are they caused or aggravated by its P.S.-The fact of smoking being almost universal appears alone sufficient to indicate that there can be no very great adulteration ? These are questions of great importance, not only to the harm resulting from it; and so long as thousands and thousmoking public, but to almost evervone, when we consider the sands, by their act and its results, prove to me that smoking is enormous revenue derived from the tax on this plant, and not injurious, so long shall I despise all theories and statements number of people who obtain their livelihood by its cultivation, to the contrary. Fact before theory.-S. S.
78
the
gained by it. Mr. Cooper
appears to fear he will not be able to learn but he may take the word of an old Bartholomew student, that if he makes use of half the opportunities he has cast in his way in that noble institution, he will find no day long enough to acquire a correct knowledge of what he sees and hears, and I am sure he will find no hospital in the world
enough;
offering greater opportunities for.gaining a thorough knowledge
i
manufacture, and sale. If smoking tobacco produces paralysis, insanity, &c., even in its purest state, no consideration of profit should prevent the profession from crying out with one voice against this growing custom, and warning the ignorant public of their danger ; but if the evil arises from adulteration, the authorities should take the matter into their hands, and protect the smoking public, as they do those who use pepper, eoffee, and other articles of commerce. Neither in this letter, nor in my former note, -have I advoI think the question of do with the subject than many imagine. I also think there is considerable difference between the moderate use and the abuse of tobacco, as well as in the constitutions of smokers. In reply to the statement that the Turks never use cigars, I beg to say that they use cigarettes, or paper cigars, as often, if not more frequently, than pipes; and this is the form in which it is chiefly used in Spain, where "longevity is to be found" more frequently than in this country, according to the population. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, J. A. M’DONAGH, M.R.C.S. Albert-street, Regent’s-park, Jaii. 3rd, 1856,
the practice cated adulteration has a
of smoking, but great deal more to
To the Editor of THE LANCET. read have with interest the letters in your journal SIR,-I on the subject of tobacco, and lest its opponents should construe silence on the part of its advocates into defeat, permit me to offer a few remarks de-re. Fact, Sir, is more potent than theory, and a large number of facts go much farther to establish a general rule than a few isolated ones admitting of considerable doubt. As regards the immoderate use of tobacco, I grant that it cannot be otherwise than injurious, as the very form of the expression implies. The immorderate use of anything, one would think, cannot be very beneficial. But Mr. Neil attacks smoking in toto, and in doing
of his profession than the one he has so unnecessarily attacked. I have purposely refrained from making any observations respecting Dr. West, who has been grossly insulted for pursuing a fair and correct line of duty. Whilst I was at St. Bartholomew’s I acted as clinical clerk, and afterwards as assistant to Dr. West. I therefore had a good opportunity of becoming acquainted with that gentleman’s feelings towards his pupils. I have seen his willingness to give information upon any cases or subjects to all, and have heard him often express his regret that students did not avail themselves of the many opportu- so makes a personal attack upon me in particular; indeed, nities they had of obtaining a correct knowledge of the diseases accuses me of suicide, and tells me that for the last forty years of women, and I am sure he will always be the first to afford I have been committing a series of murderous attempts upon own existence, and determinedly endeavouring to put an any information and effect any l’ea8onable reform which may my end to it by calling in the assistance of cancer, jaundice, and be beneficial to his pupils.-I am, Sir, yours obediently, and the rest. Now, if Mr. Neil will pardon me for saying so, F. RUSSELL HALL. Cambridge, January, 1857. I must confess that, in my opinion, his attack is as illogieal as Since the foregoing letter was in type, we have received it is uncharitable. He finds a good number of smokers who a long communication on the same subject from Mr. Samuel drink, and he therefore assumes that drunkenness is the offor cigar; but let Mr. Neil remember that the Cooper. As the discussion has already exceeded the usual spring of the pipe of the community-and these are not a few, by part smoking continue the we cannot a If there is sublimits, controversy. the produce a far greater number of smokers who do stantial and remedial grievance, it is the duty of the lecturer not way-can drink at all, or, at any rate, only do so in the same moderate to redress it.—SUB-ED. L. way as many gentlemen who do not or cannot smoke. Mr. Neil, as well as Mr. Solly, appears to me to look at the few, and not at the mass; he finds an odd case here, and another THE TOBACCO QUESTION.—IS SMOKING there-one of paralysis, a second of typhus, &c., and because the patients happen to be smokers, he suspects that tobacco is INJURIOUS ? the cause of the malady. Thus, Sir, these gentlemen, from a To the Editor of THE LANCET. hasty induction, founded in this way on one or two isolated SIR,-I am glad to perceive, by your journal of the 3rd inst., facts, deduct a general principle; but let them take a hundred that my letter of the 27th ult. has had the effect of drawing smokers, and, without prejudice, let them examine them, and forth letters from three medical gentlemen, who all agree with I flatter myself that your correspondents will find the ninetynine free from jaundice, paralysis, and the like. me in the importance of the question, "Is smoking injurious?" I am glad to have afforded Mr. Fenn an opportunity of stating Why, Sir, if smoking, even but rarely, were so terrible in his experience of the evil effects of the use of tobacco in typhoid its effects, can we for one moment suppose that such numbers fever; but I think I have some reason to complain that the other of eminent and learned men would cultivate the habit ! I gentlemen have either read my note incorrectly, or have mis- know personally at least twenty old men, averaging each about understood its object, which was twofold: first, to obtain the sixty-five years, who tell me that they have been smokers for years, and some of them more, and that, too, without the opinions of the profession upon a custom which is so prevalent, forty and which by the public generally is considered harmless when least evil result; and I have no hesitation in saying that there not carried to excess, and in some cases believed to be of posi- are thousands of old men who look upon tobacco as a comfort, tive good. What medical man in practice has not been told and not as an evil. Take the mass of smokers, and Mr. Neil’s by an overwhelming by some of his patients of the relief they obtained by smoking theory will be clearly seen to be subverted of facts proving the opposite to be true. in pyrosis, asthma, chronic bronchitis, gastralgia, constipation, number " Haud inexpertus loquar."" I am a smoker, and hope to be and several forms of neuralgia ? In the hands of medical men, tobacco has been found a useful medicine; but neither this nor able to vindicate myself whenever attacked upon the point. I its effects upon horses and sheep has anything to do with the hate narrow views, and I equally dislike hasty conclusions; practice of smoking. I will pass to my second object, which hence, so long as £8,000,000 sterling per annum is spent upon was to obtain the opinions of others upon the adulteration of paralysis, jaundice, cardialgia, and their allies, by tobaccotobacco. If it is an admitted fact that smoking is a pernicious ’i smokers, so long shall I, in Mr. Neil’s estimation, continue to Your very obedient servant, practice, whether used moderately or immoderately, the next be, SEDENTARY SUICIDE. Jan. 1857. evil effects would those tobacco Are be, question produced by in its purest form, or are they caused or aggravated by its P.S.-The fact of smoking being almost universal appears alone sufficient to indicate that there can be no very great adulteration ? These are questions of great importance, not only to the harm resulting from it; and so long as thousands and thousmoking public, but to almost evervone, when we consider the sands, by their act and its results, prove to me that smoking is enormous revenue derived from the tax on this plant, and not injurious, so long shall I despise all theories and statements number of people who obtain their livelihood by its cultivation, to the contrary. Fact before theory.-S. S.
78
the