p. 13 | Burbank on Alcohol and Tobacco by Luther Burbank

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 28, 1907

Burbank on Alcohol and Tobacco

By Luther Burbank

If I answered your question simply by saying that I never use tobacco and alcohol in any form, and rarely coffee or tea, you might say that was a personal preference and proved nothing. But I can prove to you most conclusively that even the mild use of stimulants is incompatible with work requiring accurate attention and definite concentration.

To assist me in my work of budding — work that is as accurate and exacting as watch making — I have a force of twenty men. I have to discharge men from this force, if incompetent. Some time ago my foreman asked me if I took pains to inquire into the personal habits of my men. On being answered in the negative, he surprised me by saying that the men I found unable to do the delicate work of budding, invariably turned out to be smokers or drinkers. These men, while able to do the rough work of farming, call budding and other delicate work “puttering,” and have to give it up, owing to an inability to concentrate their nerve force.

Even men who smoke one cigar a day can not be trusted with some of my most delicate work.

Cigarettes are even more damaging than cigars, and their use by young boys is little short of criminal, and will produce in them the same results that sand placed in a watch will produce—destruction.

I think that no one can possibly bring up a favorable argument for the use of cigarettes by boys. Several of my young acquaintances are in their graves who gave promise of making happy and useful citizens; and there is no question whatever that cigarettes alone were the cause of their destruction. No boy living would begin the use of cigarettes if he knew what a useless, soulless, worthless thing they would make of him.

— Luther Burbank.