SMOKING IN MALLINCKRODT

To just what extent physical comfort influences a student's capacity for mental work is a nice question. But there is little room for doubt that the regulation against smoking in Mallinckrodt Laboratory has been a source of inconvenience to the students who must pass long hours there.

For all practical purposes the only apparent obstacle that prevents the extension of this privilege is the peremptory placard on the wall. In view of the fireproof construction of the building and the constant flare of Bunsen burners the plea that smoking will cause a fire lacks conviction.

As a result of this prohibitive regulation the practice has been for the science students to stop working on experiments and waste many minutes by leaving the building to satisfy their desire for Lady Nicotine.

If there does exist some valid reason for upholding the rule an explanation of it would remove much of the annoyance that is caused by the feeling that an unnecessary privation is being exacted. On the other hand, by rescinding this restriction the authorities of the laboratory could simultaneously grant a popular request and eliminate the frequent intermissions that are taken for the purpose of smoking.