, 1863-03-21
Breathe Through your Nose.


The air which enters the lungs is as different
from that which enters the nostrils as distilled
water is different from that in an ordinary ciserr
or frog pond. The arresting and purifying pro
cess of the nose upon the atmospere with its poi
sonous ingredients passing through 1t, though less
perceptible, is not less distinct, less important
than that of the mouth, which stops cherry-stone'
and fish bones from entering the stomach.
The intricate organization in the structure o.
man, unaccountable as it is, seems in a measure
divested Of mystery, when we find the same phe-
nomena (and others perhaps more surprsing) in
the physical conformation of the lower order Of
animals; and we are again more astonished when
we see the mysterious sensitiveness Of that organ
in instinctively and nstantaneously separating the
gases, as we'll as arresting and rejecting the mate
rial impurities of the atmosphere This unac-
i countable phenomenon is seen in many cases.
We see the fish surrounded with water, breathing
the air on which it exists 1t is known fact that
man can inhale through his nose, for a certain
time, nephtic air, in the bottom of a well, with
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question, or calls for help, in that position, bis
lungs are closed, and he expires. Most animals
are able to inhale the same for considerable
length of time without destruction of life, and no
doubt from the fact that their respiration is
through the nostrs,in which the poisonous efauvia
is arrested. There are many mineral and veget-
able poisons also, which can be inhaled by the
nose without harm, but if taken through the
mouth destroy life. And so with poisonous rep
tiles and poisonous animals. The man who kills
the rattlesnake or the copperhead, and stands
alone over it, and keeps his mouth shut, will re-
ceive no harm, but if he has companions with
with whom he is conversing over the carcasses OF
these reptiles, he inhales the poisonous efluyia
through the mouth, and becomes deadly sick, and
in some instances death ensues. Infnesimal in
sects also, not visible to the naked eye, are in
habiting every drop of water we drink, and every
breath of air we breathe and minute particles
of vegetable substances, as well as of poisonous
minerals, and even glass and sick, 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 along, 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 microscopic investiga-
ton.
Against the approach of these things to the
lungs and to the eyes, nature has prepared the
guard by the mucous and organic arrangements,
calculated to arrest their progress. Were it not
for the liquid in the eye, arresting, neutralizing
and carrying out the particles of dust communi-
Gated through the atmosphere man would soon
become blind and but for the mucous in his nos
trils, absorbing and carrying off the poisonous
particles and efluvia from the lungs and brain,
mental, deragement, consumption of the lungs,
and death would ensue.
In mans waking hours-when bis limbs and
muscles and mind are all in action, there may be
but little harm in inhaling through the mouth, If
he be In healthy atmosphere, and at moments of
violent action and excitement it may be peoessa-
ry. But when he lies down at night TO rest
from fatgues of the day. and Si-lds bis system and
all bis energies to the repose of sleep, and his
volition and all his powers of resistance are Civ
ing way to its quieting influence, if he gradually
opens his mouth to its widest stran-that racks
his brain-that paralyzes his stomach-that gives
him the ightmare-brings him imps and fairies
that dance before him during the highland
during the following day, headache, toothache,
rheumatism dyspepsia, and the gout
That man knows not the pleasure of sleep he
rises in the morning more fatgued than when he
retired to rest-takes pills, and remedies during
the day, and renews his disease every night. A
guilty conscience is even better guaranty for
peaceful rest than such treatment of the lungs
during the hours of sleep. Destructive irritation
of the lungs, with its consequences, is the imme-
diate result of this unnatural habt-and its con-
tnued and more remote effects are consumption Of
the lungs and DEATH Catlin.