THE THROAT AND THE VOICE 279 



Alcohol may weaken the vocal efforts. Hence, vocalists, 

 clergymen, and public speakers often find that alcoholic 

 drinks impair the voice. 



Tobacco affects the vocal cords and to a marked degree 

 may injure the voice. In fact, our best teachers of vocal 

 music do not allow their pupils to use alcoholic, liquors 

 and tobacco. 1 



1 The celebrated throat doctor, the late Sir Morell Mackenzie, of 

 London, strongly objected to cigarettes. These are his words: 



" Cigarette smoking is the worst form of tobacco indulgence, from the 

 fact that the very mildness of its action tempts people to smoke nearly all 

 day long, and by inhaling the fumes into their lungs saturate their blood 

 with the poison. It should be borne in mind that there are two bad quali- 

 ties contained in the fumes of tobacco. One is poisonous nicotine, the 

 other the high temperature of the burning tobacco." 



When tobacco is smoked there are developed certain acrid vapqrs 

 which have an irritant action on the mouth and throat. The effects of smok- 

 ing are in part due to irritant matters in the smoke. The inflammation 

 often extends to the larynx, or may spread up the Eustachian tubes and 

 impair the hearing. Cigarettes are especially apt to cause these symp- 

 toms. Those who draw the smoke into their lungs often suffer from 

 chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes in consequence. H. NEWELL 

 MARTIN, M.D. 



QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT 



1. What is the throat ? 2. In what way may we get an idea of the 

 throat ? 3. What parts of the throat can we see upon looking into a 

 friend's mouth ? 4. What is the pharynx? 5. Give some hints about 

 the care of the throat. 6. Describe the larynx. 7. What is meant 

 by "Adam's apple"? 8. Describe the vocal cords. 9. How is the 

 voice produced? 10. Upon what does the quality of the voice 

 depend? 11. What is the effect of tobacco upon the throat and the 

 lungs ? 12. How does cigarette smoking affect the throat passages 

 and the voice ? 13. What is the effect of strong drink and tobacco 

 upon the voice? 



