3 , , , . . .-,'; ; APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY 



keep themselves alive. On hot summer days they are 

 lively, for then they can form enough heat to keep them- 

 selves warm and have some left over with which to work. 



195. Alcohol and warmth. Heat is produced by the 

 oxidation of alcohol. But it would be entirely wrong to 

 think that it makes the body really warmer. The body 

 does not like the heat which is produced in this way, but 

 it at once tries to get rid of it by sending more blood 

 through the arteries of the skin. This makes the skin 

 warm and red, and the drinker says that he knows he 

 is warmer because he feels so. His skin is really warmer, 

 but this is because the heat is coming to the surface and 

 is passing off. He loses more heat than he gains. Often 

 his skin begins to perspire so as to get rid of still more 

 heat. Men are deceived by this feeling of warmth more 

 than by any other thing about alcohol, and some people 

 who will not drink at any other time will drink before 

 starting upon a cold ride. This is the worst time of all 

 to drink. It brings the blood in contact with the cold air, 

 and so more heat is lost. After the heat from the oxida- 

 tion of the alcohol has passed off, the skin becomes cold 

 once more, and the body feels colder than ever. But it 

 was really colder all the time. 



SUMMARY 



1. The air of inhabited rooms is continually being made 



foul by the breath and by vapors given off from 

 the body. Its oxygen is also removed by breathing. 



2. We must change the air of a room often enough to 



keep away all odors from the air. 



3. Heat is produced by oxidation in the cells. This 



warms the body and also furnishes it with power to 

 do work. 



