at tobacco smoke contained no nicotin, but simply
decomposition products.

Pyridin is unquestionably present in tobacco smoke, and is a poisonous
substance, although less so than nicotin. It is not found, however, in
chewing tobacco, and as the clinical effects of chewing tobacco are
apparently identical with those of smoking tobacco, very strong and
universally accepted chemical proof of the absence of nicotin from
tobacco smoke must be awaited before accepting such a conclusion.
(See([41]), ([42]), ([43]) in bibliography.)

Cigaret smoking is a time waster; that is, it breaks up the power of
attention, as few smokers are satisfied with one cigaret and the mere
physical act of lighting a fresh cigaret disturbs the continuity of
thought and work. Dr. W. J. Mayo[49] calls attention to the fact that
according to his observations research scholars who smoke cigarets have
not done well.

[Sidenote: Insurance Experience on Tobacco Smokers]

Only one insurance company, the New England Mutual,[50] has published
any experience on tobacco users. This covered a period of 60 years and a
body of 180,000 policyholders, as follows:

RATIO OF ACTUAL TO EXPECTED MORTALITY.[M]

-------------------------------------------------------
ABSTAINERS. | RARELY USE. | TEMPERATE. | MODERATE.
--------------|-------------|------------|-------------
Tobacco, 59% | 71% | 84% | 93%
Alcohol, 57% | 72% | 84% | 125%
-------------------------------------------------------

[M] The standard here used is the American Experience Table, which is
largely an artificial table upon which premiums are based, but which
provides for a much higher mortality than the average companies sustain.
For example, the actual mortality of the New England Mutual in 1913 was
57 per cent. of the expected.

[Sidenote: Interpretation]

Fifty-nine per cent. of the expected mortality means that where,
according to the premium tables, 100 were expected to die, only 59
actually died.

The general class of risks in this company were of excellent quality, as
the figures show. Nevertheless, the abstainers exhibited a far lower
mortality than that experienced by the general class.

Dr. Edwin Wells Dwight, who presented the figures, urged caution in
their interpretation, suggesting that the low mortality among
abstainers, both from alcohol and tobacco, might well be due to a more
conservative habit of living. Furthermore,