78 HUMAN BIOLOGY 



An investigation ^ has been recently carried on among the 

 football squads of fourteen of the American colleges and uni- 

 versities to determine the relative success of the smokers and 

 non-smokers who tried for positions on the varsity teams. 



" Six institutions furnished data relating to the ' try outs.' 

 A total of 210 men contested for positions on the first teams ; 

 of this number 93 were smokers, and 117 were non-smokers. 

 Of those who were successful, 31 (i.e. 33 %) were smokers, and 

 77 (i.e. 65 %) were non-smokers. It will be observed that 

 only half as many smokers were successful as non-smokers. ..." 



Hence, the ambitious boy, who has any regard for develop- 

 ing a vigorous body fitted for athletic success, for training 

 a mind capable of clear thinking, and for preparing himself 

 for a successful life work, will resist all temptations to smoke, 

 at least until he has attained his full growth. 



IV. Drugs and Patent Medicines 



105. Headache powders. — Drugs are chemical sub- 

 stances used in the preparation of medicines. They should 

 never be taken except under the direction of a competent 

 physician. Headache medicines usually contain some chemi- 

 cal (e.g. acetanilid) which reduces the heart action and so 

 relieves the pain by diminishing the blood pressure without 

 removing the cause of the pain ; for the real cause may be 

 disordered digestion or eye strain. Cases of permanent 

 injury and even of death have resulted from taking these 

 headache compounds (Fig. 24). 



106. Soothing sirups and cough medicines. — In most 

 soothing sirups and cough medicines are found substances 

 derived from opium, which is a powerful narcotic. Hence, 



1" Smoking and Football Men." — Popular Science Monthly, 

 October, 1912. 



