Dr. Batty's Asthma Cigarettes: "Not recommended for Children under 6"
-mwb1100
I wonder were they actually made with tobacco though -
there is a herb (Coltsfoot I think) that is supposed to improve asthma when smoked.
-tomos
Back in the days when people didn't associate their constant coughing with their smoking habits, it was believed that their cough was asthma, and anything that made them cough up more gunk was good for them. So, yes, often that meant giving tobacco filled cigarettes to asthmatic children, to make them cough more.
About the only ones that used a reasonably effective treatment for asthma were the Mormons and Native Americans, who used a tea made from ephedra.
Just remember, there was no FDA back then, and snake oil salesmen were a dime a dozen.