Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-29

Habits Oe Rrrathimg.
BAD RESULTS OF HABrrrkL NoUTH-BREarHrNo
there u, perhaps. no habit more common,
and none less seriously considered from med
ical or sanitary point Of view. than the habit of
mouth breathing; many persons win. I'm consc-
qnence, be surprised to learn that it's effects are
certainly pernicious. often Dangerous mr.
Clinton Wagner has just published a little hoos
upon TINS subject, and his statements will Ia
found exceedingly well timed interesting ana
valuable. The book is a mere unpretcntioue
extension OF paper read before the New orn
County Medical society. but IL contains IN a
brief space much Information that will DE CRATE
fully received. DIR. Wagner is the physician To
the Metropolitan Throat Hospital, OF this
city, and is one OF the leading
American authorities on diseases of the
throat. His views and suggestions win there
fore be weighed everywhere as the outcomes of
wide experience and earnest reflection That
people know so little of the results of habitual
Notwithstanding is not astonishing, for the
practice has hardly given rise heretofore among
physicians TO much thought. DIR. Cassels, OF
glasgow. has written a paper upon the sub
iect. though simply in its relations to aural
troubles. aud brief monograph. written from
a sanitary standpoint, was put forward some
years ago 0y Mr.. George Catlin, the we'll
known observer of Indian life aad customs.
nr. Nagners opinions may therefore be
termed strictly independent. and his judgment
in special cases will be found to proceed from
points out. has provided all living creatures
with distinct passages for breathing and the
taking OF food; the passage for breathing with
which man Is supplied is the nose. We are all
naturally nose-breathers. The infant from birth,
oreathes through the nose, and, during sleep,
. keeps the mouth shut, unless there is a local
OBSTACLE TO nasal respiration. Housel who 10
quoted by DIR. Wagner, has observed that in
healthy infants the mouth is invariably closed in
sleep. the tongue lies in contact with the hard
mpnfh has lin
passage. Ii rs somewhat extraordinary. i'm view
OF these authenticated facts that civilized man
is the only animal that breathes through the
mouth. The savage races, like the va
rlous tribes OF the brute creation, breathe
through the nose. like infants, from in
stinct. and keep their mouths closed dur
ing sleep. Catlin says:-"I have seen o
poor Indian woman, in the wilderness lowering
her infant from the breast and pressing its lips
together as 1t fell asleep in it's cradle in the open
air. This illustrates the simple wisdom OF the
savage In respect OF natural laws of physical
health. In $50 tribes visited by Catlin, living in
their primitive condition, and containing over
2,G00,0 600 people, cases of deafness. dumbness
spinal curvature, and deaths from teething and
diseases of the respiratory passages were almost
unknown. He attributes this exemption from
these ailments, so very common i'm civilized
communities, solely TO the habit of breathing
through the nose. From this statement the i'm
pOrtance of DIR. Wagners suliect-especially its
importance to future generations NAV be
fairly judged. DIR. Wagner. il may be noticed.
has had some personal experience among the
Indians, for he was formerly surgeon in the
United states army, and he was at one time
stationed i'm the territory OF Idaho. There no
had frequent chances to observe their eXemp-
ton from diseases of the nose, throat and ear
although their surroundings and circumstances
were such as to favor the development OF thess
diseases.
The causes which lead to habitual mouth
breathing may be looked for in the nose. mouth,
or throat, and the methods Of treating them are
indicated by DR.. Wagner. Anything which inter-
fereS with proper nasal respiration becomes q
cause Of mouth breathing. Thus, paralysis Of
the dilators of the nostrils enlargement OF tho
tonsils. adhesons of the soft palate to the poste-
rior wall of the pharynx, irregular OF protruding
teeth-these are among such causes. The hab.
itual mouth-breather can of course, be readily
recognized. He may be picked out by his re-
tracted lips open mouth, Teceding gums. pro-
truding teeth. shrunken ae. diminished size ol
the orifces of the nosrils, 10y the wrinkles at the
outer angles OF the eyes. and by the lines ex-
tending from the al9 of the nose to the angles
OF the mouth. He is apt TO have silly or un-
pleasant expression, not unlike that of gen.
uine idiot. As to the effect of habitual mouth
breathing upon the pharynx, that is clearly OBJ
served. The almost constant inhaling of cold
air, which is generally charged with impurities,
acts as a direct irritant upon the mucous MEM
brane. Several varieties of sore throat grow
out of this. The ubiquitous ''hawker" is. there
laryngitis, tubercular laryngitis, asthma and
similar troubles may be produced by the UNI
fortunate practice of Notwithstanding. Tho
disgusting habit of snoring is due to the same
practice. In fact, some Of the most acute ills
and many annoying disturbances of health grow
from habit which, though so common and 80
little studied. is unquestionably vulgar, dan
gerous Notwithstanding. As to the treat
ment which must be applied in individual
cases, that part Of the subject, though touched
upon hastily by the author of this book, is Q
matter for practical and personal consultation;
it is enough to know that the diseases born Of
Notwithstanding have specific cause, and that
the cause may receive specific treatment. Dr.
Wagner has done good service in making known
certain disagreeable facts which, it is safe to
say, have been constantly ignored. There is an
interesting appendix to his paper, and there are
three plates-skilfully and truthfully drawn
representing individual cases of mouth-breath-
ing. One is tempted to quote with Dr. Warner,
after looking at the dull deformities of faces:
'Shut your mouth" and .'stretch the nostrils
wide"-an odd fashion. by the way of quoting
from two Of Shakespeare's plays IN q breath
". Y. Times.