161. How tobacco affects the brain.—Some men smoke to make themselves think, and some to keep themselves from thinking. Now, smoking cannot do both things. It really makes the brain less able to think, for it weakens the whole body. A school-boy's brain will surely be harmed if he uses tobacco at all.
WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED
1. The mind makes all the cells of the body work together.
2. Tiny nerve threads carry messages from the mind to the cells.
3. Most of the nerves begin at the spinal cord in the backbone.
4. The mind in the spinal cord tells the cells to eat and grow. It tells the arteries how much blood to carry to the cells.
5. The cells tell the spinal cord if they need food, or if something suddenly hurts them. The spinal cord sends word to snatch the part from danger.
6. Nerves carry to the brain news of sight, sound, odor, taste, and touch.
7. The brain sends word to the muscles to move the arms, the legs, and the rest of the body.
8. The brain thinks.