p. 10 | TOBACCO AND THE SIGHT by Dr. J. H. Hansford

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 8, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 14.

TOBACCO AND THE SIGHT.

By Dr. J. H. Hansford

It is probable that no one cause produces so much disturbance of the sight of men, so much blurring and weakness, as the use of tobacco, immoderate or otherwise. Of thirty-seven cases of impaired sight, according to the observations of a distinguished surgeon, not long since, thirty-five were excessive users of the vile weed. This unfortunate result is not wholly caused by the direct action of the smoke on the eyes, but by a general poisoning of the system.

While the more intelligent users of tobacco, the more honest and candid, will usually admit that it is a foolish and harmful habit, it is not so easy to induce them to give up the slavish habit—which has almost a complete mastery over them—making them more abject slaves than were the colored people of the south a few years since. It is strange and lamentable that humanity can be degraded to such an extent, while it is possible, if not probable, that could such fully appreciate the extent to which tobacco can degrade mortals, they would not allow themselves to become thus under the sway of such a vile habit—they would stop while the bands are less potent.—Dr. J. H. Hansford.