Object Lessons on the Human Body: A Transcript of Lessons Given in the Primary Department of School No. 49, New York CityBuckelew, Sarah F. (Sarah Frances)
Science
Object Lessons on the Human Body: A Transcript of Lessons Given in the Primary Department of School No. 49, New York City
Buckelew, Sarah F. (Sarah Frances)
Hygiene -- Popular works; Physiology; Physiology -- Popular works
_HARM DONE IN THE MOUTH, THROAT, AND LUNGS._--The mouth takes in some of
the poison through the pores of the membrane, or skin, which lines it;
those who smoke, sometimes have what is called "smokers' sore throat";
besides this, the senses of taste and smell arc more or less injured by
nicotine and the other poisons in tobacco.
The fumes, or smoke, from the weed fills the air with poisonous vapor which
irritates the lungs, not only of the smoker, but of all who are where they
must breathe the same atmosphere. Lungs thus irritated are liable to become
diseased.
Cigarettes are still more injurious than cigars because of the smoke from
their paper coverings; also, because from the way they are made, more of
the tobacco poison goes into the lungs. The cheap cigarette which boys use
is made from cast-away cigar stumps and other filthy things.
_HARM DONE IN THE BRAIN AND NERVES._--The smoker feels so rested and
comfortable, after his cigar, and his brain is so rested, that he does not
think about the mischief that is going on among its blood-vessels and
nerves; perhaps he has never heard that tobacco, snuffed, chewed, or smoked
hurts the brain, and does not learn about it until he finds he is losing
his memory, that his mind is not so strong to think as it should be, and
his will too weak to help him conquer his love for the snuff, tobacco, or
cigar, when he wishes to stop using it. He has become the slave of tobacco,
and it is not easy to get free from his cruel enemy.
The nerves also lose their power, or become more or less paralyzed by
nicotine and the other tobacco poisons.
_MORE ABOUT THE HARM DONE BY TOBACCO._--Some persons who continue to use
tobacco are strong enough to throw off the poison through the lungs, the
skin, and in other ways; but how much better it would be if they were not
obliged to employ their strength in getting rid of that which does them no
good, which only gives a little pleasure to nobody but themselves, and
often makes those suffer who are compelled to remain where they are having
"a good smoke." Beside, their breath and clothing have the tobacco odor,
which not only makes the air impure, but is disagreeable to most people.
If this be true of smoking, what shall we say about the filthy habit of
chewing, and the utterly useless and disgusting practice of taking snuff,
which injures the voice as well as the senses of taste and smell?
And what about spitting tobacco juice on the floors of cars, steamboats,
churches,--any place where it is convenient for the man or boy who has lost
his common politeness in his love for tobacco?
We must not forget that cigars, etc., cost money. No one who smokes, chews,
or snuffs would throw away dollars and cents which might be put into the
savings bank, or used in buying something worth having for himself or
somebody else.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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