The Flame of Life
“Air is essentially a mixture of two colorless gases,—nitrogen 79 percent
and oxygen 20 percent. The oxygen of the air functions in the human body much
as it does in the ordinary fire, and as soon as the supply of oxygen is cut
off, the “flame” of life and of fire are alike extinguished. The chemical
action of oxygen in maintaining the process of life and of fire is called
oxidation or combustion.
In the burning of fuel in the ordinary fire, the oxygen of the air combines with the fuel rapidly, combustion takes place quickly, giving off intense heat and light. In the living organism, oxygen combines with other substances gradually, combustion takes place slowly, producing a degree of warmth necessary for maintaining the temperature of the body essential to life. In fact, were it possible
In the burning of fuel in the ordinary fire, the oxygen of the air combines with the fuel rapidly, combustion takes place quickly, giving off intense heat and light. In the living organism, oxygen combines with other substances gradually, combustion takes place slowly, producing a degree of warmth necessary for maintaining the temperature of the body essential to life. In fact, were it possible
to concentrate the combustion diffused throughout the
human body, it would actually result in a continuous flame larger than that of
a burning candle.
Smoke and Breath
We have observed that the chemistry of combustion is essentially the same in both the living body and in the ordinary fire. There is therefore a very strong likeness between the exhaled breath, which carries away the gaseous waste products of combustion in the body, and ordinary smoke, which carries away the gases produced in the fire. By noting the similarity between combustion in the furnace and combustion in human metabolism we can grasp more readily the complex
We have observed that the chemistry of combustion is essentially the same in both the living body and in the ordinary fire. There is therefore a very strong likeness between the exhaled breath, which carries away the gaseous waste products of combustion in the body, and ordinary smoke, which carries away the gases produced in the fire. By noting the similarity between combustion in the furnace and combustion in human metabolism we can grasp more readily the complex
process of metabolism and clearly see its intimate relation
to the breath.
Smoke Is Exhaled
Smoke Is Exhaled
The gases that result from combustion are principally carbon dioxide and water vapor, which
are eliminated through the chimney as smoke.
Since carbon dioxide and water vapor have neither color nor odor, the smoke from perfect combustion should also be colorless and odorless just like a healthy, fresh breath, having the same composition. The usual colors, the irritating smells, and the poisonous gases associated with smoke are always the result of incomplete or imperfect combustion.”
Your Breath and Your Health
Louis M. Pearlman, M.D.
1936
January 16, 2021