Effects of Tobacco on Respiration.—Tobacco smoke contains the same kind of poisons as the tobacco, with other irritating substances added. It is extremely irritating to the throat; it often causes a cough, and renders it more liable to inflammation. If the smoke is inhaled more deeply, the vaporized nicotine is still more readily absorbed and may thus produce greater irritation in the bronchi and lungs. Cigarettes are worse than other forms of tobacco, for they contain the same poisons with others in addition.
Effect of Alcohol on the Kidneys.—It is said that alcohol is one of the greatest causes of disease in the kidneys. The forms of disease known as "fatty degeneration of the kidney" and "Bright's disease" are both frequently due to this cause. The kidneys are the most important organs for the removal of nitrogenous waste.
Alcohol unites more easily with oxygen than most other food materials, hence it takes away oxygen that would otherwise be used in oxidizing these foods. Imperfect oxidation of foods causes the development and retention of poisons in the blood which it becomes the work of the kidneys to remove. If the kidneys become overworked, disease will occur. Such disease is likely to make itself felt as rheumatism or gout, both of which are believed to be due to waste products (poisons) in the blood.
Poisons produced by Alcohol.—When too little oxygen enters the draft of the stove, the wood is burned imperfectly, and there are clouds of smoke and irritating gases. So, if oxygen unites with the alcohol and too little reaches the cells, instead of carbon dioxide, water, and urea being formed, there are other products, some of which are exceedingly poisonous and which the kidneys handle with difficulty. The poisons retained in the circulation never fail to produce their poisonous effects, as shown by headaches, clouded brain, pain, and weakness of the body. The word "intoxication" means "in a state of poisoning." These poisons gradually accumulate as the alcohol takes oxygen from the cells. The worst effects come last, when the brain is too benumbed to judge fairly of their harm.
[47] Expose two sterilized dishes containing culture media; one in a room being swept with a damp broom, and the other in a room which is being swept in the usual manner. Note the formation of colonies of bacteria in each dish. In which dish does the more abundant growth take place?
Reference Books
elementary
Hunter, Laboratory Problems in Civic Biology. American Book Company.
Davison, Human Body and Health. American Book Company.
Gulick, Hygiene Series, Emergencies, Good Health. Ginn and Company.