The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-09-17
WHY PERSONS sNoRE.

WHEY PEKSUNS SNORE.
1t may not be generally known that
it is the vibration of the velum pendu-
lum palati which causes snoring, but it
is no less matter Of interest to great
many people who either snore them
selves or are annoyed by snorers.
DIR. Lewis H. Sayre, of Fifth Avenue,
New York, was asked by Sun reporter
why people snora.
because they don't shit their
mouths" he said.
"What is snoring?"
"Well, its common enough" said
DR.. Sayre and in an off-hand fashion
he explained that snoring is rfoise
made in the posterior part of the mouth
and nasal fossae during the moments of
inspiration. 1t is due to relaxation of
the levator palaii molls and the cir
cumfiexus palati in sleep, by which the
velum pendulum palati is left free to
vibrate or flap in the two currents of
the air which enter in at the same time
through the nostrils and the mouth.
Besides the vibration of the telnm pens
dulum palali or soft palate there is also
vibration of the column of air itself.
Thus is produced the raspiug, snorting
noise so well known and so unpleasant
to every one within earshot of the placid
stsorer himself.
DR.. Sryre ives asked What caused
'noriug.
"When man is fatigued," he said,
"and his self-contTol is unusually re-
laxed in sleep, he is apt to let his lower
jaw drop down. No man was ever seen
or heard to snore with his mouth shut
The moral is obvious. the soft palate
flaps like a sheet in the wind, and the
near neighbors of the snoring sleeper
are correspondingly disturbed. Now.
the Indians never snore. They think it
disgrace. Au Indian believes that if
he snores when he is young he will grow
up to be even less handsome at maturity
than nature originally intended, His
vanity, therefore, is enough to make q
savage sleep in proper position"
A well-known physician uptown,
whose practice has been largely in cases
of affection of the respiratory SYSTEM
was asked whether snoring is a disease.
"Not SO much a disease as bad
habit he said "but am frequently
called upon to prescribe for its care"
Scan it be cured ?"
Easily"
"Why do eldorly or corpulent people
commonly suore? "
"B9cause their systems are generally
more relaxed in sleep, and their months
then fall open. Any one will be likely
to snore if he sleeps with his month
open, and nc one will if he shuts it,"
How can the habit be cured?"
"First, you must give a person
chance to breathe through the nose,
and then make him do so. II there is
any obstruction in tho nasal passage
that must bs removed by treatment
Then If a snorer can't keep his mouth
shut up by force of will, his jaw must
be tied up. A harness for the lower
jaw is sometimes employed in bad cases
of snoring. A skull cap worn upon the
head serves to hold system of straps
under the chin and keep the month shut
until the patien. can form habit of
sleeping on his side, or with his head
sufficiently elevated to hold his jaw"
''Is it an easy matter TO hold ones
jaw when asleep
Hardly more so than when awake"
"Why is snoring, then, SO common if
it is SO easily cured ?"
Because catarrhal troubles are SO
common which prevent free inspiration
through the nostrils. In siesping-cars
and in hotels one frequently hears the
resonant spore, because psoplein those
places usually go to bed tired ont. An
old doeter used to advocate sleeping on
the face to guard against the possibility
Of snoring"