~12.~ The most common condiments are, mustard, pepper, pepper-sauce, ginger, cayenne-pepper, and spices. All these substances are irritating. If we put mustard upon the skin, it will make the skin red, and in a little time will raise a blister. If we happen to get a little pepper in the eye, it makes it smart and become very red and inflamed. When we take these things into the stomach, they cause the stomach to smart, and its lining membrane becomes red just as the skin or the eye does. ~13.~ Nature has put into our foods very nice flavors to make us enjoy eating them. Condiments are likely to do us great harm, and hence it is far better not to use them. ~14. Tobacco.~--Most of you know that tobacco is obtained from a plant which has long, broad leaves. These leaves are dried and then rolled up into cigars, ground into snuff, or prepared for chewing. [Illustration: Tobacco-Plant.] ~15.~ Tobacco has a smarting, sickening taste. Do you think it would be good to eat? Why not? ~16.~ You know that tobacco makes people sick when they first begin to use it. This is because it contains a very deadly poison, called _nicotine_. ~17.~ If you give tobacco to a cat or a dog, it will become very sick. A boy once gave a piece of tobacco to a monkey, which swallowed it not knowing what a bad thing it was. The monkey soon became sick and died. ~18.~ Many learned doctors have noticed the effects which come from using tobacco, and they all say it does great harm to boys, that it makes them puny and weak, and prevents their growing up into strong and useful men. If tobacco is not good for boys, do you think it can be good for men? Certainly you will say, No. SUMMARY. 1. Both animals and plants are sometimes diseased. Flesh obtained from sick or diseased animals is unfit for food. 2. Unripe, stale, and mouldy foods are unfit to be eaten and likely to cause severe illness. 3. Foods are sometimes spoiled by having things mixed with them which are not food, or which are poisonous. 4. The foods most liable to be adulterated in this way are milk, sugar, and butter. 5. Tobacco, while not actually eaten, is thought by some persons to be a food, but it is not. It is a poison, and injures all who use it. 6. Boys who use tobacco do not grow strong in body and mind. CHAPTER VI. OUR DRINKS. ~1.~ Water is really the only drink. It is the only substance which will satisfy thirst. All other fluids which we drink consist mostly of water. Thus, lemonade is lemon-juice and water. Milk is chiefly water. Wine, beer, cider, and such liquids contain alcohol and many other things, mixed with water. ~2. Why we Need Water.~--If we should wet a sponge and lay it away, it would become dry in a few hours, as the water would pass off into the air. Our bodies are losing water all the time, and we need to drink to keep ourselves from drying up.