DOCTOR DISPUTES LINK BETWEEN SMOKING, CANCER (Nov, 1957)
DOCTOR DISPUTES LINK BETWEEN SMOKING, CANCER
The case against tobacco is derived mostly from statistical associations and some experimental work with animals, says Dr. Harry S. N. Greene, chairman of the department of pathology, Yale University Medical School. There is yet no sound proof that cigarette smoking is a cause of human lung cancer.
In a book, Science Looks at Smoking, by Eric Northrup, published by Coward-McCann, Inc., New York, Dr. Greene says this about his own smoking pleasures:
“The evidence (both statistical and experimental) does not appear sufficiently significant to me to warrant forsaking the pleasure of smoking. As a matter of fact, if the investigations had been pointed toward some material I thoroughly dislike, such as parsnips, I still would not feel that evidence of the type presented constituted a reasonable excuse for eliminating the things from my diet. I will still continue to smoke, and if the tobacco companies cease manufacture, I will revert to sweet fern and grape leaves.”
Reminds me of some research I saw that showed that smokers, on the average lived longer than non-smokers. Or, more recently, that smokers health care cost is lower than non-smokers, because they die younger.
Comment by Bob — January 2, 2008 @ 5:41 am
The book was distributed by R.J. Reynolds but that’s probably just a coincidence, right?
Comment by Stannous — January 2, 2008 @ 7:33 pm
The origins of the Medic-Alert bracelet *and* the cardiac catheter!
Comment by Blurgle — January 2, 2008 @ 9:44 pm