I4O ELEMENTS OF PHYSIOLOGY 



4. Bends the elbow. 10. Bends the knee. 



5. Straightens the elbow* n. Straightens the knee. 



6. Bends the fingers. 12. Raises the toes. 



7. Straightens the fingers. 13. Raises the body on 



8. Turns the head (Fig. 124). the toes. 



9. Draws the shoulders back. 14. Crosses the legs. 



237. Effect of Stimulants and Narcotics. You learned 

 that true fatty tissue is formed by the accumulation of 

 oily material within the connective tissue cells (Fig. 38). 



238. The weaker forms of alcohol, such as ale and beer, 

 cause a change into fat of much of the albumin in muscle 

 cells, thus bringing about a bloated and flabby condition, 

 called fatty degeneration. It may even reach the heart, 

 causing a dangerous disease called Jatty degeneration of the 

 heart. (There are other causes of fatty degeneration. If 

 an athlete who has developed enormous muscles, suddenly 

 ceases to train, his muscles may undergo fatty degen- 

 eration.) Through the narcotic or deadening effect of 

 alcohol upon the nerves, they become less sensitive, and 

 fatigue is not so readily perceived, so the drinker has a 

 deceptive feeling of strength and power. It was found 

 that two hours after taking two ounces of whisky mixed 

 with eight ounces of water, the muscular strength of 

 the man experimented on was reduced one third. This 

 means that a lifting power of three hundred pounds was 

 reduced to two hundred pounds. An old drunkard usu- 

 ally has a dragging gait and trembling hands. Coffee 

 sometimes causes a twitching of the eyelids ; this is a 

 sign that the body is being poisoned. 



239. Forms of Exercise. It is best to choose a form 

 of exercise or labor which you thoroughly enjoy. Most 

 games are excellent kinds of exercise. Baseball and foot- 

 ball, played in a sensible way, are admirable. Such games 

 not only strengthen the muscles but also develop presence 

 of mind, coolness, fearlessness, self-control, and other manly 



