Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-08
Health Talks by DR.. Brady
Smoke AsphyIia.


Asphyxa. my dear children. In one OF those
confused confusing words derived from the
ancient Greek. II means without pulse liter
ally, but know more than the old Greeks
did, If do say IL shouldn't, and every
schoolboy today. with the exception OF those
who like To smoke cigarettes and show on.
knows that asphyxia means smothering.
Firemcn who are overcome by smoke. suffer
with asphyxa. They arc poisoned by carbon
monoxide gas In the smoke. This carbon
monoxidc is the poisonous element In illum-
mating gas. in the exhaust from an automo-
bile, In coal> gas escaping from stove or
furnace into apartment with open air
vents. and in the mine damp after the use of
dynamite or other explosives. Carbon monox-
ide gas is colorless. odorless. and tastelcss so
the victim scarcely realizes that anything is
happening until he becomes frozen" and help
less. though he may experience 4 weakening
at the knees for an instant before he loses
consciousness But the gas Is capable
OF producing poisonous effects man when
present In the atmosphere In so small a pro-
portion as two parts In 10000. OF course, tho
number of seconds or minutes the victim is
exposed to atmosphere polluted with
bon monoxide would have important bear
ing on the question of poisoning. According
to Professor Yandcll Henderson. the ventila
ton of the proposed tunnel under the Hudson
River for rehicular traffic will assure some
thing below four parts per 10000 and the NJ
teen minutes vehicles will be in the tunnel
will DO too short time for occupants to he
come woozy in any way affected by tho
co given off by automobile exhausts. And
when 1t comes to co, and it's effects. Professor
Henderson Is right there with the data every
time. Still and all. I'm willing to give
space in that vehicular tunnel TO any who
may be more pressed for time than ever in
tend to he.
Professor Henderson makes the startling
assertion that carbon monoxidc is not in any
degree, whatever. tissue poison. whereupon
hat orphNy ptnI <tlr
make up his audience sit up and take notice.
while the professor proceeds, TO elucidate. II
seems that carbon monoXide kills simply by
uniting with the hemog lobin OF the blood, and
crowdinG out the oxygen, so that the victim
succumbs. because OF the serious shortage OF
oxygen his tissues receive.
According to my poor understanding. that
Is perhaps what Kills on so many smokers pre-
maturely-oxygen shortage-and l commend to
Professor Hendcrsons attention the peculiar
shallowness OF breathing which is ASSOCIATED
with smoking. What mean is that the drug
effect of narcotic influence of tobacco seems
to be marked by slow, shallow respiration.
Questions md Answers.
Milk Is Food.-'Drink More Milk" seems to
he the slogan of the day. How is milk
for athlete? Will it give him pep or
will it slow him up?--B. NJ
Answcr--A reasonable daily quantity.
say from pint to Il quart Of fresh milk
1t VIII not slow athlete up. At the
fancy prices charged for milk in many
cities, however. it is no longer an cconomi-
cal food. and If one has reasonably
varied diet, IT isn't even an essential food
except for young children
Car Sickness.-WiI you please advise as
to the cause of car sickness. and what remedy
or preventive may be used for It'll II. II.
Answer-The 1 do not know This
is the best preventive I know: For two
days before the journey and tho first two
days OF the journey Gears ship take
each morning arising half bottle of
Liquor MAGNESIUM Citrate (solution OF citrate
OF magnesia). And each morning noon and
night OF these days take about an hour
before after meal time. drops Of
tincture Of belladonna or tablet of one
-hundredths part of a grain OF its active
principle, atropine sulphate. Before board
ing cars or ship, place in each ear OF
gauze lightly packed in, to dull all sounds
Wear this for the first two days of tho
journey.