This multi-part series on the effects of tobacco, written by L. Weston Oaks, a medical doctor, includes a section on the “physical, mental, and spiritual organization of woman”:

In the words of a famous surgeon, “Woman is a separate being from man: and you cannot judge her by her grosser mate.” This is another way of saying that the physical, mental, and spiritual organization of woman is, in the main, far more delicate and sensitive than that of man. Especially is this true of her nervous system. And more particularly is it apparent in the functioning of the sympathetic division of her nervous system – that part which governs processes not presided over by the will or consciousness. God has endowed her with many attributes not understandable by man; and has given her a more finely attuned spirit, capable of sure and unwavering intuition. he has imparted to her soul that added divine spark, which lends to every woman, no matter how plain of feature or form, the peculiar charm of femininity. For many centuries, in the highest civilization, she has been placed upon a throne and enshrined queen over all that was worthy in man’s heart. The good woman’s look, thought and word have fired man to aspire great and worthy things. Weak or misdirected ones have tobogganed individuals and even nations into sorrow and suffering.

An instrument, such as a galvanometer for detecting weak electric movements, or a balance for weighing minute particles of matter, must necessarily be finely constructed; and the very delicacy of its function precludes any ruggedness of structure. So it is with woman’s nervous mechanism. Its very sensitiveness impels her to unreasoning excess in her activities and enthusiasms. If she be unfavorable to a practice, except as a mother, she has no understanding of the motive or weakness that could led another into its power. But once started upon it herself, she recognizes no limitation in its pursuit. the woman who takes up smoking is doubly affected by it, first b3ecause of the sensitiveness of her body to its influence, and second by her lack of moderation.

[Discussion of the affects of tobacco on the female body, including these lines: It is a common observation that women who have used tobacco for long show a decided coarsening of feature, a roughening of voice and marked increase of hair upon the face. As the years advance, such women lose some fineness of soul that entitled them to serene supremacy in their men’s hearts. … When a woman resigns herself to the tobacco habit she forswears her birthright of feminine beauty of soul and of feature. When to be called beautiful is the major delight of every born woman, could anything strike more surely at the desire of her heart? … Smoking not only destroys a woman’s ability to attain motherhood, but it also robs her of the desire to fulfil this most sacred purpose of her existence.]

The past decade has brought a revolution in ideas of woman’s place in the economic phases of life. And it must be admitted that she has proved herself equal or superior to man, in many of the fields she has invaded. However, with her natural ignoring of moderation, she would also extend this equality of sexes to partaking of his vices, maintaining that it is no worse for a woman than for a man to do it. In politics and in industry woman’s influence has been welcome; but, should she forsake her idealized pedestal and descend to man’s level in those things that increase his ungodliness, she will forfeit more than she knows. Man realizes, in his heart, that his mate lives upon a higher plane than his own, and unconsciously worships her in it, which is as it should be. Allow her to come down from this, and the psychology will naturally be altered. He will soon regard her as an equal. From being the goddess of his heart she will become the partner of his weakness. Descended from her sublime station, she will be shorn of her power to inspire higher thoughts and desires; and will become his equal. womankind as a whole will never falter in the pathway Divine wisdom laid for it; but many individuals are failing to see it, in their blind desire to reign in a new and impossible role.

The greatly intensified effects of tobaccoism upon the delicate organism of woman can bring naught but degeneracy and unhappiness. Forfeiting, by her own foolish presumption, man’s admiration – which she so constantly seeks – she will bring upon herself misery and discontent, physical and mental.