Neighbor
My Dear Dr. Rabe:.
This is not a bejeweled cigarette case seen in a window and made for a woman to use, but a gem of a case in flesh and blood and making one woman nearly useless!.
I have studied this case as well as a near neighbor and intimate friend can for over four years, and feel free to write about it: friends do not always read the same literature!.
The case, a man of forty-six years, did not begin to smoke until he was in his early thirties – began with cigarettes in moderation. He was a big, easy-going, dominating-looking male, with a protruding chin – straight, thin-lipped mouth and direct blue eyes – singing, whistling, happy sort of man – always in demand among men and for dinners. He sang very well, played baseball, was a good swimmer, and a real live out-of-door man.
His smoking has developed to the extent he rarely has a cigarette out of his hand-or mouth. From a man of determination and resolution he has become undecided and irresolute, is full of fears and forebodings, smokes all the evening when home and often after he goes to bed. (Smoke makes his wife feel ill, but that does not stop him.)
Mornings he has no appetite; drinks one or two cups of coffee, eats a slice or so of toast, and perhaps some apple; has nothing to say, is depressed, discouraged and apprehensive; is silent, but makes a terrible atmosphere of gloom; face looks grayish white, with deep bruised-looking blue shadows under eyes.
Nights I hear he insists on open window; wants the one beside the bed open so the air will blow on him, and whenever wind blows on his shoulders he has a cold next day-feels chilly and wants to be cuddled and coddled – but always thinks he wants few clothes over him when he goes to bed; wakes cold in the night; has a constant little cough, which gets worse with each cold; says it is nothing; asks for aconite quite often after going to bed; says he has a chill; wants sweet chocolate and chocolate candy every evening; is too fat, and hates to make any exertion, other than lighting a cigarette.
A few years ago he had a flourishing business (for he is a very able man), but now it is hard for him to make decision (and he is unwilling for others to decide anything in his business) and is not equal to overseeing everything, so much goes wrong, and his tremendous “selling” power is dwindling; he is supersensitive, touchy and unhappy most of the time; says, “No one understands me or realizes what I am working for.” He has high ideals, but never does brilliant work now unless under tremendous pressure, and is sick in bed after every tight hole he pulls his business through; will take no advice from anyone!.
Smoking, he says, “Quiets his nerves.” As a matter of fact, the nervous reaction and depression is far greater now than the hours of dopey calm, when his mind works slowly, and the big original ideas are seldom found.
Its easier to endure than a work for a cure.
It seems to me we can analyze the cigarettes by the symptoms they cause. The same brand is always smoked; between three and five thousand a month, I believe.
Must have fresh air at night; catches cold from slightest exposure; if bed clothes get off his shoulders his wife says he has a cold next day! Wants few bed clothes; goes out without rubbers and overcoat unbuttoned in winter weather.
Oversensitive; has feelings hurt constantly; is “misunderstood”; will not take advice; has to have tremendous pressure to do any work; puts off whenever he can; dreads interviews; is really sick before he has to make a speech; sometimes comes home and goes to bed; too sick to go to a dinner where he is expected to speak!,.
Highly emotional; music can calm and rest him; the theatre absorbs him; but he has to go out and smoke whenever there is an intermission; has almost constant little cough which varies from little to big according to degree of “cold” present! Rarely goes to the doctor; very contrary about going; doctor finds he has good lungs and heart, but there is night after night of rattle and squeaks from breathing – the noise when breath goes out; much snoring and sighing; eyes often dull, pale and cold-looking; lack of self-control; gets in tempers over small annoyances; wants to be loved and made much of; unhappy most of the time, and used to be a jolly, happy soul before the cigarette habit took hold so deeply; he smells like an old cigarette; perspires easily and freely.
I am wondering if Tabacum high would do anything for this case. There is often intermittent pulse and sometimes nausea, not violent (no vomiting), also giddiness, particularly when getting out of bed.
Forgetful, discontented and very despondent; dim sight; has times when he cannot see distinctly even with his glasses; he is rarely hoarse; has a beautiful singing voice.
Cant run – lack of wind.
Bowels seem to be normal; lives on a good diet, plenty of vegetables.
Complains of constriction of chest often; says he thinks he has pneumonia; relieved by rubbing; left arm goes to sleep when lying on it at night – in a short time.
Is there any way to use remedies to make the patient dislike smoking – to make smoking give him a real violent vomiting and absolutely cure his desire for cigarettes?.
This is a case where smoking is ruining a splendid physique, a very lovely home and the happiness of a devoted woman, who sees her husband losing health, vigor, interest in living, and his grasp of business and life just from his increasing lack of will cased by continual giving in to the self-indulgence of smoking.
Would putting something in the cigarettes do any good? Its a case where will power must be re-established and the old excuse of “smoking never huts me; I have to have cigarettes to calm my nerves” is present; reason seems to be perverted by the drugging of the smoke demon.
