The cigarette taster
Fall in turnover and profits of ABC Tobacco Limited
ABC Tobacco Limited was principal manufacturer of various brands of cigarettes in Happy Land. The company's turnover and profits were highest in the industry. But there were disheartening developments in the last few months. Management held a top level meeting. During discussion, it was revealed that quality of tobacco in cigarettes was deteriorating. The consumers did not get same satisfaction as before. Hence, they were buying imported cigarettes. The government had banned import of cigarettes but these were still being smuggled in. The Chief Production manager opined that some of the best cigarette tasters had left the company or had retired owing to old age. Moreover, no taster can serve for more than five years as constant tasting of cigarettes results in their health deterioration.
Appointment of tobacco taster
The company advertised post of tobacco tasters in local newspapers. The company offered handsome salary and retirement package. But there were very few applicants for the posts. Main reason for low turnover of applicants for the post was the health hazard in tasting cigarettes regularly. The taster would only take a small puff of a batch and tell whether this was okay. But even small puffs would be hundreds in a day and would suffice to cause cancer. Also the tasters would look aged just after five years of service. Even the few applicants were found unsuitable. They were required to taste cigarette at an interval of two minutes and tell the difference. But most of them could not even tell whether the subsequent cigarette was of the same batch or new batch.
A man with bear appears
One day a very handsome and healthy young man Philips appeared with his pet bear named John. He promised to give most satisfactory service to the company. He told that he could even tell brand of a cigarette just by smelling smoke even without smoking a single puff. Company decided to appoint him. But the man put a condition:
"I never leave my friend John behind. He goes wherever I go."
Management was reluctant to accept this condition. But as the applicant was most appropriate, this condition was also accepted. Philips asked for a separate room for tasting cigarettes. Batches of cigarettes would be sent to him and he would taste them at his own time and after rejecting or accepting, he would call the production department staff for taking back the quality checked cigarettes.
Soon the company regained lost reputation. Many years passed. It was a pleasant surprise that Philips was so healthy even after ten years of risky job of tobacco taster. Philips and John- the bear would daily come to factory together and return after close of factory hours.
The bear gets breathing trouble
One day, John had breathing trouble. But anyone could hardly notice. John also could walk with difficulty. The Chief manager one day said to Philips:
"Would it not be better to leave John behind at home as the animal is sickly.
Philips said- John is my life. He cannot remain away from me even for a minute."
John dies in accident
One day, John got a severe breathing difficulty. So he left the factory and went to the road side. The poor animal was crushed by a speedy vehicle. The factory workers saw the accident and shouted: John crushed by truck."
Hearing the shouts, Philips ran out crying to the road side. But another vehicle crushed him also. The factory doctor examined Philips and declared him dead. A factory worker said- Philips was in such a hurry that he could not even see the truck.
The doctor said- How could he see? He was totally blind.
The factory manager said- But still he was so healthy. If he were not crushed, he could serve as cigarette taster for many more years.
The doctor interrupted- But John's health was deteriorating. The animal had acute breathing trouble. Cant' you see who really tasted cigarettes?
Statutory warning- Cigarette smoking is dangerous to health.
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