340 RESPIRATION AND EXCRETION 



under the pressure. Other organs of the body cavity, as the stom- 

 ach and intestines, may be forced downward, out of place, and in 

 consequence cannot perform their work properly. 



Suffocation and Artificial Respiration. — Suffocation results from the 

 shutting off of the supply of oxygen from the lungs. It may be brought 

 about by an obstruction in the windpipe, by a lack of oxygen in the air, 

 by inhaling some other gas in quantity, or by drowning. A severe electric 

 shock may paralyze the nervous centers which control respiration, thus 

 causing a kind of suffocation. In the above cases, death often may be 

 prevented by prompt recourse to artificial respiration. To accomplish 

 this, place the patient on his back with the head lower than the body; 

 grasp the arms near the elbows and draw them, upward and outward until 

 they are stretched above the head, on a line with the body. By this means 

 the chest cavity is enlarged and an inspiration produced. To produce 

 an expiration, carry the anns downward, and press them against the chest, 

 thus forcing the air cut of the lungs. This exercise, regularly repeated 

 every few seconds, if necessary for hours, has been the source of saving 

 many lives. • 



Common Diseases of the Nose and Throat. — Catarrh is a disease to 

 which people with sensitive mucous membrane of the nose and throat are 

 subject. It is indicated by the constant secretion of mucus from these 

 membranes. Frequent spraying of the nose and throat with some mild 

 antiseptic solutions is found helpful. Chronic catarrh should be attended 

 to bj^ a physician. Often we find children breathing entirely through the 

 mouth, the nose being seemingly stopped up. When this goes on for 

 some time the nose and throat should be examined by a physician for 

 adenoids, or growths of soft masses of tissue which fill up the nose cavity, 

 thus causing a shortage of the air supply for the body. Many a child, 

 backward at school, thin and irritable, has been changed to a healthy, 

 normal, bright scholar by the removal of adenoids. Sometimes the 

 tonsils at the back of the mouth cavity may become enlarged, thus shut- 

 ting off the air supply and causing the same trouble as we see in a case of 

 adenoids. The simple removal of the obstacle by a doctor soon cures 

 this condition. (See page 395.) 



Organs of Excretion. — All the life processes which take place 

 in a living thing result ultimately, in addition to giving off of car- 

 bon dioxide, in the formation of organic wastes within the body. 

 The retention of these wastes which contain nitrogen, is harmful 



