Preventive Medicine.

In the summer of 19701 felt it would be interesting to follow-up patients in my practice and to record any change in their smoking habits, in an attempt to determine the possible effectiveness of a general practitioner in stopping smoking. Between June 1970 and March 1971,100 patients were recruited. The patients were smokers with whom I had had no previous discussion of their smoking habits. Patients were not chosen strictly at random but where time and opportunity for discussion arose. The patients consulted me for the following reasons: Respiratory infections .. .. 31 Cardiovascular disease .. .. 4 All other reasons. 61 Accompanying other patients .. 4