1990 saw the launch of a new pipe and cigar magazine called The Compleat Smoker. The author of the following article was in contact with TCS publisher Tad Gage, who expressed an interest in exposing misrepresentations being made by the health establishment concerning the effects of pipe and cigar smoking. The information contained in this piece formed the basis for an article entitled \"Are We Looking Through the Surgeon General\'s Smoke Screen?\" which appeared in the premier issue of TCS. The relevance of what we offer here is to establish a long-standing precedent for a bending of the facts and suppression of information to advance the anti-smoking agenda.
Pipes, Cigars, and Public Policy: The Official Smokescreen
by Stephen Johnson
Things are tough for smokers these days, and they\'re getting tougher all the time. The case against cigarettes has been well documented. But are Americans getting the complete, factual story about the health effects of pipe and cigar smoking? The answer to this question is quite revealing, not only because of what\'s in the medical literature, but also because of what it says about how the war on tobacco is being waged.
"; tx += "A Brief History
"; tx += "The first U.S. Government report on smoking and health was issued in 1964 by then-Surgeon General Luther Terry. This document was the first public disclosure about the dangers inherent in cigarette smoking. What the report said about pipes and cigars was, however, a different story. In fact, Dr. Terry concluded: \"For smokers of cigars only or of pipes only, three of the studies [examined] show small increases in over-all death rates, ranging from 5% to 11%. The [American Cancer Society] study of men in 25 states, however, gives slight decreases for both types, as does the study of British doctors for the two types combined.\" Incidentally, it should be mentioned that a risk increase of up to 11% is considered by researchers to be within the parameters of statistical error.
"; tx += "The Surgeon General\'s report of 1964 is notable for its reasonably unbiased presentation of data. 16 years later we had C. Everett Koop as Surgeon General, and things were very much different. In fact, Koop\'s 1982-83 reports on smoking and health set the tone for all subsequent reports by unconditionally blasting all forms of smoking. An examination of three particular studies raises some disturbing implications about how official advocacy has interfered with what the public has been told since that time.
"; tx += "The Numbers Game
"; tx += "Two of the studies in question were cited in both the 1964 and 1982-83 reports. Both were done by the American Cancer Society, one being a study of men in 9 states, the other being the above-mentioned 25-State study. Let\'s examine the 25-State study first. This study began in 1958, so it was still under way at the time of the 1964 Surgeon General\'s report. It concluded in 1978. Here are the mortality ratios from that study as cited by both Surgeons General:
"; tx += "1964 Report | 1982-83 Report |
Nonsmokers | |
1.0 | 1.0 |
Cigarette Smokers | |
1.83 | 1.79 |
Pipe Smokers | |
.86 | 1.18 |
Cigar Smokers | |
.97 | 1.18 |
Since the 25-State study ended in 1978, the 1982-83 report quoted the final result. What Dr. Koop failed to mention was that the mortality ratios he reported for pipe and cigar smokers represented an increase over findings made earlier in the study. In the world of research, this is a critical omission, and certainly one which deserves scrutiny. C. Everett Koop\'s belligerent anti-tobacco advocacy has been legendary, and provides two very plausible reasons for what might seem to be merely a small oversight. The first, and most obvious, is the fact that in 1964 the American Cancer Society found pipe and cigar smokers to be outliving nonsmokers
The real eye-opener comes with the American Cancer Society\'s 9-State study. This study was concluded in 1958. Once again, here are the numbers reported by both Surgeons General:
"; tx += "1964 Report | 1982-83 Report |
Nonsmokers | |
1.0 | 1.0 |
Cigarette Smokers | |
1.70 | 1.97 |
Pipe Smokers | |
1.05 | 1.44 |
Cigar Smokers | |
1.10 | 1.34 |
Since the 9-State study ended in 1958 the results reported by Koop should have been the same as those in the 1964 report. BUT THEY ARE NOT. Yet another
Missing Data
"; tx += "The third study in question was released by Northwestern Pennsylvania University in 1975. It was conducted by a group called \"No Other World,\" with the assistance of regional chapters of the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and American Lung Association. The study involved longevity, and while the results did not bode well for cigarette smokers, its findings on pipe and cigar smoking are very interesting. The study found that moderate cigar smokers live as long as nonsmokers, while those cigar smokers who smoke more than three cigars a day experience a slight decrease in longevity. The results for pipe smokers were surprising: According to the study, pipe smokers outlive nonsmokers by an average of two years! Even more surprising were the findings that heavy pipe smoking did not change this, and that pipe smokers don\'t seem to gain any longevity benefit by quitting. While the study was good news for pipe and cigar smokers, its data never appeared in the reports made by Surgeon General C. Everett Koop. Incidentally, a similar longevity study was done in 1985 by the University of Dublin, Ireland. Its findings echoed those of the 1975 study. Given official reluctance to report anything positive related to smoking, it is likely that the 1985 study has similarly been ignored.
"; tx += "Perspectives
"; tx += "To better understand what pipe and cigar smokers face in the war on tobacco, we need to not only examine the official handling of data, but also have an overview on the medical literature itself. First, it should be stated that the medical studies dealing in a substantive manner with pipe and cigar smoking are few in number compared to those on cigarette smoking. And many of the studies which do examine the health effects of pipes and cigars contain serious flaws.
"; tx += "A major oversight common to many pipe and cigar studies is failure on the part of researchers to take some important variables into account. One such variable, for example, is the effect of differing amounts of tobacco consumption. Another is whether or not the study subjects practice inhaled smoking. This variable is quite significant since there are a fair number of pipe and cigar smokers who inhale their smoke, primarily among former or concurrent cigarette smokers.
"; tx += "There is yet another factor to consider in examining the medical literature on pipes and cigars: How large the studies are in terms of the number of subjects. One problem with research done since the \'70s is that pipe and cigar studies typically have been done with small numbers of subjects. In fact, over the last 10 years or so some researchers have commented that the low percentage of pipe and cigar smokers among the overall population puts limitations on the number of subjects available, and may therefore affect the validity of the conclusions reached in their studies.
"; tx += "Although scientific research is a complex field, we can still critically examine it if we know what to look for. With this knowledge a review of the existing medical data on the health effects of pipe and cigar smoking provides ample reason for being skeptical of the position that all forms of tobacco use are dangerous. Unfortunately we cannot count on any objectivity from official sources. Our situation is further complicated by the media\'s partisanship in dealing with smoking-related issues. It is therefore crucial for us to remain skeptical, and examine things for ourselves.
"; tx += "Setting Agendas
"; tx += "In the thirty years following the first Surgeon General\'s report on smoking and health, tobacco has come under increasing attack as a major threat to the public. Under the leadership of C. Everett Koop in the 1980s, a vigorous anti-tobacco agenda became official Government policy. There is solid evidence to suggest that Koop bolstered his advocacy by altering the facts to fit his view of tobacco as being universally evil. Some of that evidence was cited earlier in this article, and we can only wonder if there has been other misreporting of data, and more suppressed information since 1983.
"; tx += "We must also question whether or not we can truly count on the objectivity of health research, especially that which is government-sponsored. The annual budget of the National Institutes of Health is larger than that for our national defense. Much of the health research in this country is, and has been done, under the auspices of the NIH. Can we really believe that our government hasn\'t interfered with the integrity of the research process? One thing is certain
Pipe and cigar smokers are in an unfortunate situation, being a small group and therefore an easy target. We do, however have something going for us: We have a factual basis for challenging the campaign being waged against us. And we have enough in our favor to continue enjoying our pastime without guilt or fear. The best we can do now is to remember to be informed, and do what we can to tear down the official smokescreen.
"; } if (na == "johnson4"){ ti = "How I Spent my Summer Vacation"; tx += "by Steve Johnson
President, Southwest Pipe & Cigar League
Over the summer I had the opportunity to spend some time in England and the Czech Republic. My travels included pipe-related activities that added much to a truly memorable vacation.
"; tx += ""; tx += loadFrame("johnson/ukcr-photos01.html")+ "Steve\'s Summer Vacation Photos |
London Calling
"; tx += "On the suggestion of SWPCL member Gunnar Weber I contacted the Pipe Club of London (PCoL) at the beginning of June to see if a get-together might be possible. I was pleased to hear back from the PCoL\'s Secretary/Treasurer Michael Gratrick, who was open to that possibility. However, since my arrival in London would be at the height of the summer holiday season, the only concern was if any PCoL members might be in town for the occasion. Happily, Michael reported back that at least a few of them would indeed be available, and with a lively exchange of e-mails our plans were made.
"; tx += "I arrived in London on July 30th. With lots to see and not much time, I had to fit in as much as I could, although I couldn\'t do anything pipewise until my meeting with the PCoLers on August 3rd. The first part of that Friday was taken up with a tour of the Churchill museum and underground war rooms, followed by a tour of the World War II cruiser HMS Belfast docked at the Tower Bridge. Then at 2 p.m. it was time for me to hop on the Underground for the much-anticipated gathering. Our arranged rallying point was Piccadilly Square, and although I had a fair amount of real estate to cover, I managed to make it to the appointed spot more or less on time. When I got there, I was greeted by six PCoL members with pipes firmly in hand (or should I say mouth) who quickly let me know that I was among new friends.
"; tx += "Besides Michael, our company included Life President Peter Wiseman, Committee Members David Polhill and Clifford Gilbert, and Ordinary Members David Golen and Simon Wilks. After exchanging introductions Michael presented me with a beautiful half-bent Comoy with a \"brandy glass\" bowl, accompanied by a tin of Samuel Gawith\'s \"Squadron Leader\" (which, appropriately enough is an outstanding English blend). Then it was off to our first stop
Fox\'s is indeed a wonderful shop, and as difficult as it was to leave, we had other stops on our agenda, so it was time to move on. Before going to our next \"port of call\" we went to a nearby pub for a few pints of tasty (and strong!) English beer. After we were done with our libations, we visited John Marshall\'s stall at the Piccadilly Crafts Market next to St. James\'s Church. John\'s father Dennis began as a young man making pipes for Barling and Charatan. In 1980 he went independent, making pipes under the brand name Millville. Although Dennis is now retired, John continues the tradition of making finely crafted pipes at bargain prices. During the course of my conversation with Dennis and John, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that they were familiar with the work of our own Paul Perri. Sadly, the Marshalls\' stall had been victimized by theft a few weeks before I went there, but they still had some very attractive pieces on display. One in particular (a semi-bent Dublin) caught my eye, and Michael was very kind to treat me to it.
"; tx += "When our visit with the Marshalls ended we headed off to the world-famous Davidoff shop not far from where we were on St. James\'s Street. The name \"Davidoff\" is synonymous with high-end smokers\' requisites, and the swank interior and selection of merchandise certainly reflect this. However, unlike Dunhill, which has divested itself of its tobacco heritage, Davidoff proudly continues to cater to those who appreciate fine tobacco in its various forms. Although the shop leans more heavily toward cigars than pipes, it is nonetheless worth spending some time there if you are in London.
"; tx += "Our next stop was George Smith & Sons on Charing Cross Road. Although its floor space is appreciably smaller than Fox\'s, the shop also had a wonderfully classic English feel to it, and it exhibited a similar balance between pipes and cigars in the inventory that was on hand. Being on the hunt for pipe tobaccos not normally available through American shops, I asked the proprietor of Smith\'s for his recommendation. As a result of my inquiry, I added two tins to what I would bring back from my trip. One was Old London Mixture, which is the last of the old blends made exclusively for Smith\'s. The other tin was Murray\'s (of Erinmore Flake fame) Original Mellow Smoking Mixture. Between Fox\'s and Smith\'s, my hunt saw me back home with a most satisfying catch!
"; tx += "The problem of traveling on limited time is that some things have to be missed. This was certainly true of my time with the PCoL contingent, and after we left Smith\'s it was too late to visit the other two shops Michael had suggested in his e-mail prior to my trip
Thanks to a new law that went into effect in the UK on July 1st, all indoor smoking (with the exception of tobacco shops and homes
The evening ended all too soon, and at about 9 p.m. we decided that it was time to start heading back to our respective abodes. We traveled part of the way together leaving Camden Town, then said our good-byes as we went our separate ways at the St. Pancras Underground station. My deepest thanks to the Pipe Club of London for the excellent and generous hospitality I was given. It was indeed a special experience, and an outstanding example of the unique camaraderie we enjoy as pipe smokers.
"; tx += "The Czech Republic
"; tx += "On August 5th, it was time for me to move on to the Czech Republic, where I have cousins living in the region of South Moravia. Upon arriving at Prague International Airport, I was met by my cousin Pius Durovec, who would act as tour guide for the duration of my visit. After making a stop at his home in Prachovice, he took me to the family\'s farm in the South Moravian village of Michov, which was to be our \"base of operations\" for most of my time in the CR.
"; tx += "When Pius learned of my interest in pipes, he made some inquiries and found a pipe factory located in the town of Proseč, which is only about 40 miles away from where I was staying in Michov. Pius very kindly made arrangements for a visit, and on August 7th I was pleased to call on the BPK pipe factory. We were met by BPK\'s owner, Jan Kadlec, who ushered us into his office. The office also acted as a showroom replete with examples of BPK\'s wide-ranging production.
"; tx += "Jan did not speak English, so Pius was our translator for what turned out to be a fascinating conversation. I was surprised to learn that pipemaking was a major industry in the region for many years. The BPK operation began literally as a cottage industry in 1847 under the old name of BH-Kadlec, when local craftsmen were making pipes at home. The actual factory was established in 1901, and at its height of production between 1920 and 1939, BPK employed 600 people. Under communist rule, the factory was taken over by the Czechoslovakian government in 1950. After the fall of communism, the factory reverted back to private ownership of the Kadlec family in 1994. Jan told me that 85% of the pipes made by BPK are exported to the U.S., although little of that makes it here to California.
"; tx += "Unfortunately, safety regulations prevented me from going into the factory itself. I was, however, able to see the finishing room and briar storage areas, so I got a sense of the scale on which the BPK factory continues to operate. At the end of our tour, Jan showed me into the store room where stacks of finished and boxed pipes are kept. Pius then asked me to select a pipe from among what was an amazing assortment. It was a tough choice, but my eyes gravitated to a pipe with a rather uniquely stylized bulldog bowl. After going back and forth with a number of other pieces, I decided that I had found a winner, and I was very pleased to add the BPK bulldog to what I would bring home with me from my vacation.
"; tx += "Although the BPK factory produces machine-made pipes, I was impressed by not only the variety, but the quality of its pipes
Two days after our visit to Proseč, Pius took me to the Medieval silver-mining town of Kutná Hora. While I was touring the mine, he scouted out a wine and tobacco shop that had some pipes. When I emerged from the tour, he took me to the shop, called Dymky Doutniky Vino (translated into English, that means \"pipes cigars wine\"). In spite of its very small size, it had a quite a nice selection of merchandise that included high grade pipes made by Butz-Choquin and Design Berlin. However, I was on the lookout for a handcrafted pipe by a Czech maker, and the owner of the shop happened to carry just what I hoped to find. In his display case, he had a few handmade pipes by the Czech craftsman Karel Krška. Krška started making pipes in 1992, and while his name is not well known here in the U.S., he has been building a reputation in Europe over the years. Given the limited number of Krška pipes the shop owner could show me, my choice was easier than it had been at the BPK factory. With that said, I was very glad to find the beautiful and finely made Krška that made my pipe search in the CR complete.
"; tx += "I spent the last full day of my time in the CR going through Prague with my Czech relatives. Unfortunately, our schedule did not allow me to visit two tobacco shops in Prague that had been recommended to me by Peter Wiseman during dinner at The Constitution. Both shops have names relating to Sherlock Holmes
Alas, all good things must come to an end, and on August 12th, Pius saw me off at Prague International for my flight back home. This was really the trip of a lifetime for me, made all the more special by the pipe-related activities I was able to enjoy in England and the Czech Republic.
"; tx += "Related Links
"; tx += "The Pipe Club of London [" + linkOut("http://www.pcol.co.uk/")+ "http://www.pcol.co.uk/]";
tx += "
J.J. Fox [" + linkOut("http://www.jjfox.co.uk/static/")+ "http://www.jjfox.co.uk/static/]";
tx += "
Davidoff of London [" + linkOut("http://www.davidoffoflondon.com/")+ "http://www.davidoffoflondon.com/]
Map and info for George Smith & Sons [" + linkOut("http://www.londontown.com/LondonInformation/Shopping/G_Smith__Sons/703f/")+ "http://www.londontown.com/LondonInformation/Shopping/G_Smith__Sons/703f/]";
tx += "
BPK Pipe Factory [" + linkOut("http://www.bpkprosec.cz/")+ "http://www.bpkprosec.cz/]";
tx += "
Krška Pipes [" + linkOut("http://www.krska-pipes.com/eng/")+ "http://www.krska-pipes.com/eng/]
"; tx += loadFrame("johnson/ukcr-photos01.html")+ "Steve\'s Summer Vacation Photos |
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