TOBACCO SMOKE NOT HARMFUL ACCORDING TO MINE TEST (Mar, 1924)
Filed under: Sign of the Times — @ 12:15 am
Source: Popular Mechanics ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Mar, 1924
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Source: Popular Mechanics ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Mar, 1924
| Buy on Ebay
TOBACCO SMOKE NOT HARMFUL ACCORDING TO MINE TEST
To test the effect of tobacco fumes, three men were confined in a closed chamber where the air was so smoky that it was impossible to see across the room. The atmosphere was so irritating to the eyes that it was necessary to wear goggles. After an hour and a half, samples of the air and the blood of the smokers were taken for analysis. The experiment was made by the bureau of mines, and, as a result, it was decided that the harm from smoking indoors, or in mines, is negligible.
Well, that settles it, then.
Comment by Chris L — December 15, 2007 @ 1:01 am
I’m sure everyone is greatful that Phillip-Morris was willing to spend their hard earned money to sponser this important test.
Comment by Mike Brisendine — December 15, 2007 @ 6:17 am
Why would anyone imagine that a single blood test would tell whether something is harmful?
Also, in the “Duh!” category, if these people had to wear goggles, doesn’t that *prove* the fumes were harmful?
I smell tobacco-industry money here. Even in the 1920s, German scientists were starting to raise questions about the health implications of smoking.
Comment by MC — December 15, 2007 @ 9:29 am
I like the concept of smoking in mines, where methane is present. The resulting mine explosion proves smoking can kill you.
Comment by Rick Auricchio — December 15, 2007 @ 6:22 pm
HAHAHA
Comment by ....... — April 27, 2009 @ 9:11 pm
i disagree with this. this is not true. smoking is harmful and there are many studies to prove this.
Smoking tobacco is dangerous to your health. People should be informed by the issues about smoking.
Comment by notobaccocampaign — June 4, 2009 @ 6:32 am
Well, I don’t know, it’s been 85 years since this test, and I’ve yet to see anyone repeat it with different results. I think these OTHER studies are conducted with money from the antismoking lobby, you KNOW that will be biased.
As for them thinking that a single blood test would mean anything, remember this is 1924, can’t expect they were thinking too hard about long term effects and repeated exposure yet. If you told them going in the sun on a regular basis was going to cause skin cancer, would even the doctors have taken you seriously?
People were probably anxious to believe this. Just like they were anxious to believe it was okay to invade Iraq. To believe that you could grow corn and sugar to turn into all the fuel we’d need. To believe that fuel should get the same mileage that gasoline gets. To believe that Barack Obama would try to balance the budget.
No point in scoffing at what people were ready to believe back then. Future generations will laugh at plenty from us.
Comment by -DOUG- — June 4, 2009 @ 4:04 pm