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H. Friederici, MD
Evanston, Ill

JAMA. 1970;211(12):2016.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

There has been considerable emphasis at different times^1,2 on the hazards inherent in tobacco smoke. To this author it seems that the emphasis has been misdirected: if the smoker endangers his own health by voluntary smoking, it may be argued that he has the right to do so. By doing himself in, by whatever means he considers most suitable, he may indeed contribute selectively to the relief of the overpopulation problem. But there is little consideration for the nonsmoking fellowman exposed to (but not participating in) the "pleasure" apportioned by burning leaves and paper—not to say anything about air pollution. Nonsmokers tend to feel that the smoker hardly has the right to make things inhospitable for those around him, but there is little or nothing they can do in retaliation.

Undoubtedly, the mechanism by which smoking produces pleasure to the smoker is complex. However oral contact . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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