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and of living to old age; (5) that you are adding yourself to the number of those whose habits cause more suffering and misery, disease and death, than do all other causes combined." To these conclusions we might add (6) that you are fastening upon yourself a habit that will lead many business men to refuse to employ you.'

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Questions: 1. What are some of the effects of drunkenness on the nervous system? 2. What effects have small doses of alcohol on the power to do mental work? 3. How long does the effect of a single dose last? 4. How does the use of alcohol affect the resistance of the body to germ diseases? 5. To tuberculosis? 6. What opinion do many physicians hold in regard to the use of alcohol in the treatment of germ diseases? 7. How does the use of alcohol affect length of life? 8. How does the use of alcohol affect the drunkard's family? 9. What do employers think of the use of alcohol?

Suggestions and topics for development: Make clear that Figures 75 and 76 are not comparisons between drinkers and abstainers, but that the morbidity and mortality rates in a society composed of drinkers only would be higher than either of those shown. Inquire of the children as to what they know of the attitude of life insurance companies toward moderate drinkers.

1 All authors are agreed that the use of alcohol by the normal person has never produced any good. Small amounts may be taken even for a long time without producing any very evident changes, but even these small amounts are in no sense to be looked upon as good. The well-proved statement that a single glass of beer interferes markedly with the ability to think and the ability to work is quite enough argument for letting alcohol, in any form. alone. DR. MARTIN H. FISCHER.

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THE EFFECTS OF TOBACCO ON THE BODY

"LESS harm would be done by tobacco if it were more harmful." This sentence tells a great truth, and it explains why there are more tobacco users to-day than ever before. The harm that tobacco does is not felt in a day or a month, and many tobacco users are unable to see that the habit is injuring them. Many other persons feel that they would be better off without tobacco, but have the habit of using it so firmly fixed that they are unable to break it. While the use of tobacco has widespread effects upon the whole body, we shall study only its effects upon the heart, the digestion, and the nervous system.

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The effect of tobacco upon the heart. Tobacco contains a poison called nicotin, which is highly injurious to the heart. In those who use tobacco to excess, the heart beats more rapidly than it should, while the force of its beat is greatly lessened. When the habit has been continued for a long time, the heart's action sometimes becomes very irregular, at one time beating too rapidly, at another too slowly, and occasionally missing a beat altogether. This is known as tobacco heart. While it is a serious condition, it usually disappears when the use of tobacco is stopped.

The effect of tobacco upon the digestive organs. The worst effects of tobacco upon digestion are due to the fact that the heart is weakened

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and the digestive organs do not get a sufficient supply of blood. The digestive juices are lessened in amount, so that the food cannot be promptly digested. This trouble comes on slowly, and often is not noticed by the person himself. Even when it becomes serious, the tobacco user often believes that his indigestion is due to some other cause. When such a person gives up the tobacco habit, he is usually surprised to find that there is great improvement in his powers of digestion and in his general health.

The effect of tobacco upon the nervous system. When used in moderate amounts, tobacco soothes and quiets an excited or worried person, enabling him to go on with his work for a time. But often one who has his mind cleared of worry in this way forgets the importance of the work he has to do, and idles away his time instead of going earnestly to work to finish his task. When used in larger amounts, tobacco makes the whole nervous system more irritable. The brain of the tobacco user may become so active that he cannot sleep. His muscles are weak, and he cannot control them, his hands tremble, and he becomes so restless that it is impossible for him to remain quietly at work.

Tobacco and scholarship. The worst effects of tobacco upon the nervous system are its effects upon the mind. Wherever smokers and non-smokers have been compared, it has been found that

non-smokers are much better students. They not only prepare their lessons more easily and more quickly, but they retain what they have learned longer than the smokers. Of 2336 smokers in the public schools of one city, only 320 were able to keep up with their classes, while only 16 were reported as "bright" or "better than average" students. Most of the backward boys in the schools are recruits from the ranks of tobacco users.

Tobacco a nuisance. Even if the use of tobacco were harmless, it would still be a nuisance to other people. Yellow fingers and stained teeth are unpleasant sights, and many people are made sick by the odor of tobacco smoke. No one has a right to do that which makes his neighbors uncomfortable. No one has a right to do that which will injure his own body. Tobacco is both harmful to the user and annoying to others, and the only sensible and right thing to do is to avoid its use.

Questions: 1. Why is the use of tobacco on the increase? 2. Why do those who know that tobacco is injuring them continue its use? 3. What are the effects of tobacco upon the heart? 4. Can this condition be cured? 5. In what way does tobacco interfere with digestion? 6. What effect have small amounts of tobacco on the nervous system? 7. Large amounts? 8. How does its use affect scholarship? 9. Give two final arguments against the use of tobacco. Suggestions and topics for development: The economic side of the tobacco question. The effect of tobacco on the growth and development of the body.

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FIGS. 78 and 79. In writing the light should come from the left side, and the seat and desk should be the proper height to make it easy to keep the body and head erect and the shoulders even. In reading the light should come from the side so that it will shine on the book and not into the eyes.

We look at the sky at night and see it studded with stars. Sometimes we see the round moon like a great quiet mother among the twinkling stars. We look at a rose and we see its beauty and the richness of its color. We know its size and the shape of its leaves.

What is it that comes from the stars and the rose to the eye? It is light. What does the light do in the eye that causes us to see? It starts messages in the nerves of the eye, and these messages are carried to the brain. What do we learn from these messages? We learn from them the greater part of

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