I/O ELEMENTS OF PHYSIOLOGY 



this, alcohol injures the red corpuscles, causing them to 

 shrink and impairing their power to receive and carry oxygen. 

 All these changes diminish the oxygen in the blood. This 

 state of blood is plainly shown in the purplish face of the 

 drunkard, crowded with enlarged veins. The weakened 

 power of breathing explains why a man given to drunken- 

 ness cannot endure vigorous muscular exertion so long as 

 can a healthy person. 



283. The injurious effects described readily explain 

 why the consumption that attacks inebriates is a very 

 rapid and fatal form of the disease. 



284. Effect of Tobacco upon the Respiratory Organs. 

 The hot smoke irritates and dries the mucous membrane 

 of the mouth and throat, producing an unnatural thirst 

 that may readily lead to the use of alcoholic drinks. In- 

 haling the poisonous smoke, which occurs to the greatest 

 degree in cigarette smoking, inflames the delicate mucous 

 lining of the bronchial tubes and air cells. There may 

 result from this an irritating cough, short breath, and 

 chronic bronchial catarrh. 



285. Ventilation. The evil effects of re-breathing air 

 can hardly be exaggerated. The blood stagnates, the 

 heart acts slowly, the brain is clogged, the head aches, and 

 either a dull or a feverish feeling arises. The body 

 becomes sensitive to cold. The skin becomes pale, the 

 blood is loaded with impurities, and the whole body is ob- 

 structed with refuse material. In such a human body, 

 colds, catarrh, consumption, and other diseases readily 

 develop. The constant breathing of even the slightly 

 impure air of most private houses cannot but tend to 

 undermine the health and prevent that perfect soundness 

 of body which thorough ventilation or life in the open 

 air insures. 



286. Judgment with regard to ventilation is rare. In 

 many churches and assembly rooms the windows are tightly 



