The Case Against the Little White Slaver V1-4 (1916)

This book was Henry Ford’s personal attempt to thwart the public’s growing love affair with cigarettes. It features a letter from Ford’s friend, inventor Thomas Edison, which reads Friend Ford, The injurious agent in cigarettes comes principally from the burning paper wrapper. The substance thereby formed, is called Acrolein. It has a violent action on the nerve centers, producing degeneration of the cells of the brain, which is quite rapid among boys. Unlike most narcotics this degeneration is permanent and uncontrollable. I employ no person who smokes cigarettes. Yours, Thomas A. Edison. Ford also references his discussions regarding cigarettes with the eminent naturalist John Burroughs. The entire pamphlet focuses on discouraging smoking in childhood. Mr. Ford compiled various other testimonials from famous persons giving their opinions on the evils of cigarettes, as well as the rebuttals from Percival I. Hill, President of the American Tobacco Company.