STARTLING FACTS by J. O. Beard

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 12, 1892

STARTLING FACTS.

By J. O. Beard

BY ELDER J. O. BEARD.

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES has often pointed out to its readers the injurious effects of tobacco upon the human system. These evil effects are well known, and publicly declared by many of the ablest physicians of the land. Scientists have again and again pointed out the shattered nerves, the flabby muscles, the palpitating heart, the unsteady hand, the dulled ear, the faded eye from the use of the weed. Many newspapers, preachers, teachers, and public lecturers cry aloud in warning against its insidious effects upon the delicate machinery of the human body. Parents object to their sons learning to use it. Most churches object to their members using it, and at least one church entirely prohibits its use. Many colleges and academies prohibit its use by their students; and the United States Government will not receive into either its military or its naval school those who use the weed, or are diseased by a previous use of it. Yet, notwithstanding all this outcry and warning, its use not only continues, but increases at a truly startling rate. As an evidence that such is the case look at the following table, which is taken from the books of the Internal Revenue Collector for the St. Louis district:—

1878..........................................5,890,801 lbs. 1879..........................................8,670,466 “ 1880..........................................12,889,784 “ 1881..........................................17,234,869 “ 1882..........................................17,170,190 “ 1883..........................................23,835,729 “ 1884..........................................22,631,104 “ 1885..........................................28,517,401 “ 1886..........................................32,448,936 “ 1887..........................................40,284,675 “ 1888..........................................40,009,303 “ 1889..........................................44,964,667 “ 1890..........................................52,452,852 “

These figures are furnished by a firm that is perhaps the largest manufacturer of tobacco in St. Louis. No doubt the Louisville district and others would show a like increase.

The population of the United States increases at the rate of about two and five-tenths per cent. per annum. But this table shows an increase for the time specified in the table thirty times greater than that of the population. And the circular above referred to says that the sales in 1891, and for the present year, will show about the same increase. These facts are indeed startling; and if the wheels of time should continue to roll, when would the limit be reached, and what would that limit be?