Puccini was a chain smoker, and although he may have smoked cigarettes as well, he smoked particularly strong Toscano cigars. I had (note "had") a friend who smoked Toscano cigars. Whenever he lit one of those things, people used to leave the room. I got the impression that smoking Toscano cigars is a bit like sucking on a Bunsen burner.

Undoubtedly as a result of his tobacoo habit, Puccini had chronic sore throats, and was eventually diagnosed with cancer of the throat. It was while he was undergoing a radical new radiation therapy that his throat hemmoraged and he died of a heart attack.

I see no connection between Puccini's (or any composer's) musical quality and output—and smoking.

Don Firth

P. S. Another composer I was personally acquainted with. I knew him as a fellow student at the University of Washington School of Music. He went on to do okay for himself. Grammies, Pulitzer Prizes. He didn't smoke either.   William Bolcom.
Lookout! Here he comes again!