Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-07-07
Why Persons Sn0re,

It may not be generally known that
il is the vibration of the velum pendu-
lum palati which causes snoring, but il
is no less a matter Of interest 10 great
many people who either snore them
selves or are annoyed by snorers.
DR.. Lewis II. Sayre, Of Fifth avenue,
New York, was asked by a Sun reporter
why people snore.
"Because they don't shut their
mouths" he said.
What is snoring p
"Wcll, it's common enough said
DIR. Sayre and in an ofT-hand fashion
he explained that snoring is a noise
made in the postcrior part OF the mouth
and nasal fossw during the moments Of
inspiration. II is due TO a relaxation of
the leya'or palati mollis and the cir
cumhexus palati in sleep, 10y which the
yelum pendulum palati is left free TO
vibatc or flap in the two currents Of
the air which enter at the same time
through the nosirils and the mouth
Beside the vibration Of the yclum pen
dulum palati or soft palate there Is also
a vibration Of the column Of air itself
Thus is produced the rasping, snorting
noise 80 we'll known and 30 unpleasant
to every one within carsho; o. the placid
snorer himself
Df. Sayrc was asked what caused
snoring.
When a man is iatigued," be said,
"and his seli-control is unusually re-
laXed in sleep. hc IS apt 70 let his lower
jaw drop down. No man was ever seen
or heard to snore with his mouth shut
The moral is obvious. Tho sof; palate
| flaps like q sheet in the wind, and the
near neiRhbors Of the snoring sleeper
are correspondingly disturbed. Now,
the Indians never snore. They think il
/ disgrace. An Indian believes that IL
he snorcs when he is young he will
grow up to be even less handsome at
maturity than nature originally intend
ed. His vanity, therefore, is enough
TO make a savage sleep in a proper po-
/ ition."
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 a bad
habit" he said; "but am frequently
called upon 10 prescribe for its cure"
"Can il be curedy"
Easily"
"Why do elderly or corpulent people
commonly snoreT
Because their systems are generally
more relaxed in sleep, and their mouths
then fall open. Any one will be likely
TO snore il he sleeps with his mouth
open, and no one will il he shuts it."
"How can the habit be cured ?"
"First, you must give a person
chance TO breathe through the nose,
aud then make him do so. II there is
any obstruction in the nasal passage
that must be removed by treatment.
Then If = snorer can't keep bis mouth
shut mp 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 10 hold q system Of straps
under the chin and keep the mouth shut
until the patient can form a habit of
sleeping on his side, or with his head
sufficiently elevated 10 hold his Jaw"
"Is IL an easy matter to hold ones
jaw when asleep?"
Hardly more 80 than when awake"
"why is snoring. then, so common IL
II is 80 easily curedY"
because catarrhal troubles are 20
common, which prevent free inspiration
through the nost,ils. In sleeping-cars
and in hotels one frequently hears the
resonant snorc, because people in those
places usually go 70 sleep tired out. An
old doctor used to advocate sleeping on
the face to guard against the possibility
Of snoring"