[LMB] a Shards non sequitur

[Jim Parish]

quietann asked:
> Is it ever made clear just *what* Mehta is smoking?  How do we know
> it's tobacco?  And that far in the future, perhaps there would be
> genetically engineered tobacco that wouldn't be carcinogenic when
> smoked.
> 
> Remember also, when the book was written, anti-smoking laws/lobbies
> were not so powerful.

Cordelia's words (or thoughts) in this connection: "Odd perversion for a 
doctor; well, we all have our weaknesses." I think that says something 
about Betan attitudes towards smoking, of whatever kind.

Jim Parish