Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-04-06
How to Observation-Disclosures OF ln-
hallng Air.


pamphlet, which was published in En-
gland, and is now being translated in most
European languages, on the importance Of
breathing through the nose, in order to
preserve health. He has made observa-
tons on this subject, first among civilized
nations, finding that individuals who hab-
itually keep their mouths open are never
very healthy or long lived. gAfterward he
observed the same thing during q sojourn
of many years among the Indians Of North
| and South America; and he has come to
the conclusion that there exists definite
law for breathing and sleeping, obedience
to which must exercise the most beneficial
influence on the we'll being of the human
race, and which cannot be too strongly in
sisted upon. at 9t4as,,a ~ H.4lf
Mothers, and all others who hsve
children to educate, should be persuaded
of its Importance, that they may inculcate
upon their children and pupils the golden
lesson contained in these four words, Keep
yo,1r mouth shut. Hitherto this advice has
been considered only as moral iDjunc-
ton, to restrain children from talking too
much; but Catlin prescribes it literally,
and insists that air should only pass in or
out of the lungs by the nose, except in the
act of speaking or singing. He is so en-
thusiastic concerning the great value Of
this simple hygienic recipe that he closes
the book with the following remarks: If
| had a million dollars to spend for
charitable purpose, SURPRISING all others
In value, i would spend IL 10 print
four millions Of my books. and distribute
them among four million mothers, rich a.
well as poor. ] would not obtain therefor
any monument nor decoration Of nobility,
but would-which is much better--have
obtained hs ths peculiarly Joyful satlsfsct,o on
higher value than money ever can have"
There is no doubt but that the advice is
good. The air, by being inhaled through
the nose, is more perfectly freed from
dust, and In winter reaches the lungs in q
warmer condition than when Inhaled by
the mouth (Which is Of great importance
to people with weak lungs) 1t keeps the
lower forward portion Of the brain cool,
when inhaled by the nose while 1t dries
the saliva, and thus interferes with diges-
ton, when inhaled by the mouth; and
those who sleep with their mouths shut
will not have that dry, unpleasant taste
when they awake In the morning, and are
less subject 10 that nocturnal social nuis-
ance-snortng. sag
There are O. few other points Of minor
Importance, but not worth mentioning. A
ehabitually open mouth gives most stupid
expression TO any face, and, usually, only
the ignorant classes have this habit while
the more refined generally possess the OPP
posite habit, and keep their mouths In
stinctively shut. Il 1850 i31ai .bWH
However, in regard to the, theory that
life Is shortened by the habit of breathing
through the mouth, we are satisfied that it
depends on another cause, namely, defect
1 in the. primary organization, of the indi-
Vidaal. The channels Of the nose are often
not Loft wide enough 70 admit sufficient
sir for respiration; so,that the individual
is compelled to respire at least Q portion
Of il through the mouth. 1t Is fact,
known by connoisscurs Of horses, that,
when, their nostrils are too narrow they
cannot stand much fatigue, are short
winded, never live long, and soon break
down But, 40 the horse cannot breathe
through his mouth at all, the defect in
question is more dangerous 10 him than 70
man, and often fatal when he Is over
worked. "a T4tsgmis0e
. In many instances, however, we feel con-
fident that breathing through the mouth
is matter Of necessity, at least In part;
but though the defect In the construction
come by an effort Of the will, it may still
mitigate the evil Erch0n9s
In London, every eight minutes, night
and day. somebody dies; every i've min
utes child ID born. In It's vast population
Of nearly 100000 it has 140, roo habitual
gin drinkers, 10000 professional gamblers,
$1,000 criminals known to the people -
thieves and receivers Of stolen goods,
10000 habitual frequenters Of public
houses, and 5000 street Arabs. To keep
this vast multitude of disorderly charac-
ters in something Hike obedience 70 the
law, 5000 policemen are necessary.