138 



THE NEXT GENERATION 



fellow of nineteen who did not smoke. It shows the kind of 

 work a healthy boy's healthy heart should do for him. 



Compare both these records with the wave lines in the 

 third diagram — the one on the next page. See that first 

 flattened-out report (i), taken before the smoking began. It is 



Sphygmograph Records of the Normal Heart 



i, tracing for a vigorous fellow of nineteen ; does not smoke. ;;, healthy heartbeat; 



a calm temperament ; does not smoke. 3, heart tracing for a healthy young woman ; 



does not smoke. (From Dr. McKeever) ' 



quite like the heartbeat of the worn-out young woman — 

 flabby, weak, lifeless. No wonder the fellow felt dull ! 



Study the next report from the same person. See the beat 

 bound upward when the smoking begins — stronger, faster, 

 more vigorous. Fresh blood is being sent to every part of 

 the body. The brain feels it first, and every thinking cell 

 becomes more active. The smoker says he " feels good." 

 And no wonder. Not brain cells alone, but muscles and liver, 

 stomach and lungs and spleen, all these are getting better 

 blood faster and in larger quantity. Even the farthest-off, 

 smallest capillary is stretched out a little larger, and more 

 blood than usual hurries through it for a few minutes. 1 



1 For description of the circulation of the blood, see " The Body at 

 Work," of the Gulick Hygiene Series, chap. ix. 



