The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-10-24
THE CALIFORNIAN.
Breathe Through Your Nose.

The air which enters the lungs is as differ
ent from that which enters the nostrils as
distilled water is different from the water in
an ordinary cistern or frog pond. The ar
resting and purifying process Of the nose up
on the atmosphere with its poisonous ingre-
dents. passing through it, though less per-
ceptible, is not less distinct nor less impor-
tant than that of the mouth, which stops
cherry.stones and fish bones from entering
the stomach.
The intricate organization in the structure
of man, unaccountable as it is, seems in
measure Invested Of mystery, when we find
tie same phenomena land others perhaps
even more surprisingly in the physical confor-
nation of the lower order of animals and
we are again more astonished when we see
the mysterious sensitiveness of that organ in
instinctively and instantaneous!y separating
the gases, as we'll as arresting and rejecting
the material impurities of the atmospheric
This unaccountable phenomenon is seen in
many cases. We see the fish surround ed
with water, breathing the air on which it ex-
lists. 1t is known fact that man can inhale
through his nose, for certain time, mephitc
air, in the bottom of we'll, without harm :;
but if he opens his mouth to answer a ques-
ton, or calls for help, in that position, his
lungs are closed, ard he expires. Most ami
mails are able to inhale the same for con-
siderable time without destruction of life, and
no doubt, solely from the fact that their res
piration is through the nostrils, in which the
poisonous ettiuyia are arrested. There are
many mineral and vegetable poisons also,
which can be inhaled by the nose without
harm,brt iftaken through the mouth destroy
life. And SO with poisonous reptiles and
poisonous animals. The man who kills the
rattlesnake or the copperhead, and stands a.
lone over it, keeps his mouth shut, and re-
ceivts no harm but if he has companions
with him, with whom he IS conversing over
the carcasses of these reptiles, he inhales the
poisonous eff1uvia through the mouth and be-
comes deadly sick, and in some instances
death ensues. Infnitesimal insects, also, not
visible to the naked eve, are inhabiting every
drop of water We drink, and every breath of
air We breathe and minute particles of veg
etable substances, as well as of poisonous
minerals, and even glass and slick, which
float imperceptibly in the air, are discovered
coating the respiratory organs of man. and
the class OF birds which catch their food in
the air with open mouths as they fly, receive
these things in quantities, even in the hollow
OF their bones, where they are carried and
lodged by the currents of air, and detected
by microsct pic investigation.
Against the approach of these things to
the lungs and eyes, nature has prepared the
guard by the mucous and organic arrange
ments, calculated to arrest their progress
Were it not for the liquid in the eye, arrest
ing, neutralizing and carrying out the parti-
cles OF dust communicated through the at
mosphere, man would soon become blind
and but for the mucous in his nostrils, alb
sorbing and carrying off the poisonous par
ticles and efuvia for the protection of the
lungs and the Train, mental arrangement,
Of the lungs and death would
ensue.
In mans waking hours, when his limbs, and
muscles, and his mind are all in action, there
may be but little harm in inhalng through
the mouth, if he be in healthy atmosphere;
and at moments Of violent action and excite
ment it may be necessary. But when he lies
down at night to rest from the fatigues of the
day, and yields his system and all his ener-
gies 70 the repose of sleep, and his volition
and all his powers Of resistance are giving
way to its quieting influence, if he gradually
opens his mouth to the widest strain, he let's
the enemy in that chills his lungs-that racks
his brain-that paralyzes his stomach-that
gives him'the nightmare-brings him imps
and fairies that dance before him during the
night; and during the following day, head
ache, toothache, rheumatism, dyspepsia and
the govt.
The man knows not the pleasures of sleep;
he rises il. the morning more fatigued than
when he retired to rest-takes pills and RENEE
dies during the day, and renews his disease ey-
cry night. A guilty conscience is even better
guaranty Tor peaceful rest than such treat
ment of the lungs during the hours of sleep.
Destructive irritation of the lungs, with its
consequences, is the immediate result of this
unnatural habit, and its continued and more
remote effects, consumption of the lungs and
death.-Catlia.