S86 HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY 



" Every ounce of alcohol requires nearly two ounces of oxygen 

 to oxidize it fully. Taking twenty-five ounces of oxygen gas as 

 the amount used in a day, there will be only one ounce used in an 

 hour. So to oxidize an ounce of alcohol takes an amount of 

 oxygen equal to the whole supply of the body for two hours. 

 Three or four drinks of whisky contain this ounce of alcohol. 

 If this amount is drunk, there will soon be a lessened action and 

 a narcotic effect throughout the body, due mainly to the lack of 

 oxygen. A noticeable degree of uncertain action is called in- 

 toxication. 



" Using alcohol in the body is like burning kerosene in a coal 

 stove. By taking great care a little kerosene can be made to give 

 out some heat from the stove, but the operation is dangerous. 

 Some people seem to oxidize alcohol within the body with but 

 Httle harm; but they run great risks of doing themselves harm, 

 and the result is not nearly so good as if they had used proper 

 food. 



'^ Poisons produced by Alcohol. — When too little oxygen enters 

 the draft of the stove, the wood is burned imperfectly, and there 

 are clouds of smoke and irritating gases. So, if oxygen goes to the 

 alcohol and too little reaches the cells, instead of carbonic acid 

 gas, and water, and urea being formed, there are other products, 

 some of which are exceedingly poisonous and which the kidneys 

 handle with difficulty. The poisons retained in the circulation 

 never fail to produce their poisonous effects, as shown by head- 

 aches, clouded brain, pain, and weakness of the body. The word 

 intoxication means, 4n a state of poisoning.' These poisons grad- 

 ually accumulate as the alcohol takes oxygen from the cells. 

 The worst effects come last, when the brain is too benumbed to 

 judge fairly of their harm. It is not true that alcohol in a small 

 amount is beneficial. A little is too much, if it takes oxygen 

 which would otherwise be available to oxidize wholesome food. 



" Effects of Tobacco. — Tobacco smoke contains the same kind 

 of poisons as the tobacco, with other irritating substances added. 

 It is usually sucked into the mouth and at once blown out again, 

 but cigarette smoke is commonly drawn into the lungs and after- 

 wards blown out through the nose. It is irritating to the throat, 



