Ellis's Primary Physiology; Or, Good Health for Boys and GirlsEllis, Edward Sylvester
General
Ellis's Primary Physiology; Or, Good Health for Boys and Girls
Ellis, Edward Sylvester
Hygiene -- Juvenile literature; Physiology -- Juvenile literature
Most of you have fathers, mothers, and perhaps brothers and sisters. You
love them more than all the world. What would you think if I should tell
you I can make you hate your mother, strike your father, lie, cheat,
steal, do everything vile, and at last send you, disgraced and despised,
to a wretched death?
You are shocked and cannot believe it; but, if you will walk the path I
mark out, you will do just what I have said and reach the dreadful
end—that is, if you live long enough.
SMOKING CREATES A MORBID THIRST.
The first step is cigarette smoking. It will give you catarrh, weaken
the lungs, cause heart disease, destroy the health, and create a morbid
thirst which will lead you to the second step,—the drinking of cider,
beer, and malt liquors. Soon you will crave stronger fluids, and will
swallow gin, wine, brandy, whiskey, rum, and all sorts of seductive
drinks made from alcohol.
SMOKING DEGRADES THE TASTES.
By this time, you will be far along the road to ruin. You will begin to
look upon your father and mother as slow, and will love the company of
the wicked, and hate that of the good. Then will follow misery, woe, and
eternal ruin.
BAD EFFECTS SHOWN IN TIME.
You know plenty of boys who smoke cigarettes, and you cannot see that
they suffer any harm on that account. But, as in many other instances,
the harm comes after a time; and often when too late to be cured. A
great many boys die every year from cigarette smoking, and thousands
upon thousands are stricken by disease from that cause alone.
QUALITY OF CIGARETTE TOBACCO.
In 1883, about three quarters of a billion of cigarettes were smoked in
this country, of which more than one half were made in the city of New
York. The tobacco used is the worst that can be found anywhere.
Saltpetre is mixed with it to prevent moulding. Physicians will tell you
that saltpetre, when thus taken into the system, is very hurtful.
The Havana cigarette is made of fair tobacco, but is rolled in thick,
vile paper and soaked with creosote, which is very hurtful. But those
cigarettes which pretend to be made of Cuban tobacco are imitations that
are as bad as they can be.
CIGARETTE PAPER.
The oil of tobacco is highly poisonous; but the oil of the paper used
for cigarette wrappers is worse than that. It burns white, because of
the acids and chemicals in it.
HURTFUL TO THE YOUNG.
Smoking is specially harmful to the young. It weakens the stomach,
causes indigestion, hastens the action of the heart, thus producing
palpitation.
PRODUCES CATARRH.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account