Morphologic Constitution and Smoking

Abstract

<h3>To the Editor:</h3> —I read the article by C. C. Seltzer (<i>JAMA</i><b>183</b>:639 [Feb 23] 1963) with interest, and if not for his aftersection entitled, "Some Speculations," would have passed it without comment. I will not dwell on the "statistically significant" differences between smokers and nonsmokers which make much of a difference in weight of 5 lb and a difference in height of 1 cm. I will simply call to the reader's attention the fact that he reports these anthropological measurements in four significant figures, ie, measurements not only fine enough to detect a recent bowel movement or a relaxed postural stance but almost fine enough to detect a recent belch or an overdue haircut. I will simply emphasize that the greatest differences reported in bodily measurement exist between nonsmokers and cigar smokers; the least differences exist between nonsmokers and cigarette smokers. This relationship of differences is opposite to