Priesthood Quorums' Table

The Cigarette and Individual Efficiency By Dr. M. P. Henderson, of the Brigham Young University The stake presidency of Utah stake, recognizing the menace to our youth of the cigarette evil, has deemed it of such importance that, through the been ordered taken into every visits of the district teachers, this subject has home. Accordingly they asked Dr. Henderson to briefly discuss the craestion from a scientific aspect, and they have submitted what he has written for the benefit and enlightenment of all the Saints in the stake. The information is of general interest: The human body is a self-building, self-repairing, and self-regulating mechanism; but, like other machines, it must be supplied with energy from without in order to carry on its operations. This energy is provided in the form of foods which are taken into the alimentary canal and digested, then passed through the intestinal wall into the blood which carries them to all the tissues of the body. These tissues are composed of individual units called cells, each of which possesses the power to take from the blood the particular tvpe of food which it needs. But the energv of this food is in the potential or inactive form, and before it can be used to do the work of any part of the body it must be released or changed into a kiniric or active form. This is accomplished by a process of oxidation, or so-called "physi- ological burning." Oxvgen unites with the molecules of food within the cells and energy is produced very much as in the oxidation or barning of coal in an engine. Two waste products, carbon dioxide gas and water, are also produced. The energv thus released expresses itself in growth, muscu- lar activitv, thought, etc. The waste carbon dioxide gas is passed from the active cells into the blood, thence into the lungs, and out with the expired breath. The oxygen for this process must reach the cells by way of the lungs and the blood stream. In the human machine, then, there is but one passage-way— the lungs — and blood-stream which must serve for both the entrance of the necessary oxygen and the removal of the waste carbon dioxide gas. One division of this passageway, namely, the blood stream, is also responsible for the trans- fer of the "fuel" (food) to the cells. Since all growth, all muscular activity, and all thought are directly dependent upon the release of energy, it is clear that individual growth and physical and mental efficiency will be largely de- termined by the facility with which food and oxygen are transferred to the cells and the wastes removed from them. The respiratory tract and the blood are admirably fitted for the duty of providing the cells with a supply of cl^n, pure air. Near the entrance to the nasal openings is a growth of hairs which normally intercept the larger particles of dust. The walls of the nasal passages, the trachea, and the bronchial tubes of the lungs are provided with cells which secrete a mucus which collects dust, germs, and other foreign particles which come in con- tact with it. Interspersed with these mucous cells are others which have many tiny projections called cilia, extending from them into the passage- way. These cilia are constantly waving in such manner that the mucus cov- ering them, together with its load, is kept moving toward the exterior, thus

PRIESTHOOD QUORUMS' TABLE 85

preventing the entrance of undesirable substances into the deeper recesses of the lungs. Within the blood are numerous cells whose duty it is to collect the oxygen as soon as it enters the blood stream in the lungs and transport it to the various parts of the body. This is possible only because of the fact that these cells contain a substance, haemoglobin, which has a strong at- traction for oxygen.

How May the Cigarette Affect this System and Through it Individual Efficiency?

A chemical analysis of smoke, just ordinary smoke, such as may arise from the slow burning of rattan, cedar bark, or any similar material, shows itto consist of particles of soot, that is, bits of unoxidized carbon; carbon dioxide gas which results from a complete union of oxygen with carbon; carbon monoxide gas which comes from partial burning or incomplete union of oxygen with carbon; and various other gases and volatile substances gen- erated or released during the burning. A mixture such as this, when in dilute condition is irritating to the delicate membranes of the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, as every one knows from experience. But suppose it to be inhaled, not dilute but concentrated by being drawn directly from the fire through a paper tube, not by way of the nose, which is normal, but through the mouth. The cleaning effect of the nasal passage is lost. The soot passes directly into the trachea and bron- chial tubes. The mucus becomes coated with soot, the cilia are overbur- dened in an effort to sweep it out, and bits of it will be passed into more remote cavities of the lungs, there to remain as foreign irritants. The oxy- gen which normally should pass into the respiratory tract is exhausted by the process of burning, and in its stead are developed carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide gases which fill the cavities of the lungs. The blood which has been returned to the lungs to throw off its load of carbon dioxide and take on a fresh supply of oxygen is unable to effect this change and is re- turned to the cells still laden with waste and without an adequate supply of oxygen for further cell activity. In addition, it has had forced upon it a considerable quantity of carbon monoxide, a most violent poison. This gas passes readily through the walls of the lungs into the blood stream. Here it unites with the haemoglobin of the blood cells and destroys its power ever again to carry oxygen. As little as seventeen parts of this gas in ten thou- sand parts of air in a room has been found to be fatal to animals, and any- thing above fifteen parts in ten thousand parts of air is regarded as dis- tinctly dangerous. What would be the effect of habitually inhabling even such a simple mixture as this?

Cigarette Smoke is Not Ordinary Smoke

One ounce of tobacco smoked in the form of cigarettes has been found to give as much as from one pint to four pints of carbon monoxide gas. In addition to the substances already mentioned it contains nicotine, furfural, sulphureted hydrogen, hydrocyanic acid and acrolein, besides small quan- tities of various other substances. Nicotine is a highly poisonous, oily fluid which constitutes one to ten per cent of tobacco with an average of three per cent. It is readily volatilized by heat so that from twenty to eighty per cent of it is taken directly into the respiratory system of the smoker. In this form it readily passes into the blood which quickly distributes it to all the cells of the body. Experiment on animals, has shown that its more immediate effect are a lessening of the rate of heart beat, and weakening of the force of heart action; increase in the rate of breathing; nausea and

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vomiting; and very often convulsions by direct attack upon the cells of the brain and spinal cord. Furfural is a volatile, oily liquid which Sir Lauder Brunton, an eminent scientist, estimates as fifty times as poisonous as alcohol. In small doses it gives rise to tremors and twitching of the mus- cles, and in larger quantities causes convulsions and general muscular par- alysis, ending in complete paralysis of the respiratory system. The per- centage of this substance in cigarette smoke is higher than with either the pipe or cigar. Sulphureted hydrogen is a strongly irritating gas which is be- lieved to effect its poisonous influence by direct attack upon the cells of the brain and spinal cord. Death results almost instantly from inhaling it in concentrated form. Some investigators advocate that one part of this gas in one thousand parts of air will cause fatal results in a very short time. Hydrocyanic acid is a very volatile substance, and is one of the most deadly of all known poisons. It is fatal to all forms of animal life, and is used extensively for fumigation of greenhouses and other buildings to exterminate extensively for fumigation of greenhouses and other buildings, to exterminate approximating .25 per cent. It is readily absorbed by the blood and passed to all parts of the body. Acrolein is a volatile, colorless liquid, which is formed during the incomplete burning of substances containing fats or glycerine. Thomas A. Edison says: "The injurious agent in cigarette smoke comes pricipally from the burning wrapper. The substance thereby formed is called 'Acrolein.' It has a violent action upon the nerve centers, pro- ducing degeneration of the cells of the brain, which is quite rapid among boys. Unlike most narcotics, this degeneration is permanent and uncon- trollable." The above represents a brief statement of the facts. What are the results? Does a practice which constantly prevents the entrance of oxygen in ade- quate amounts to the body cells and hinders elimination of waste carbon dioxide gas contribute in any degree to bodily efficiency? Can a practice which keeps the cells of the brain, the nerves and the muscles constantly striving to withstand the attacks of poisons, such as nicotine, carbon mon- oxide, hydrocyanic acid, and acrolein contribute anything to mental or moral efficiency? Can a practice which in youth inhibits the growth of the heart, stunts the development of the entire physical body, and causes perma- nent degeneration of the cells of the brain make the individual more effi- cient? The cigarette habit is such a practice. It may be said that many great men have indulged in this habit. Granted. But compare them with themselves, what might they not have done without this practice? In this day of keen competition, can one afford the handicap of the cigarette? (Read Tobacco and Human Efficiency, by Fred J. Pack.)

"There are things worse than war." So say the champions of mili- tarism. Yes, and there are acts worse than murder, if that awful crime is regarded from the standpoint of the victim. But to the murderer there can be nothing worse. In a war, too, somebody is guilty of murder, and to the guilty party, be it an individual or a body of individuals, there can be nothing worse. One of the old pagan philosophers used to pray the gods to give him what was good for him, even if he did not desire it, and to withhold that which was not good, even if he did ask for it.