Osage Valley banner. (Tuscumbia, Miller County, Mo.) 1879-1881, 1881-10-06
The Habit Of Mouth Breathing.


1t is certainly remarkable that so
little has been written on subject so
important as mouth breathing, II APP
pears, indeed, that DIR. Cassells, OF
Glasgow. communicated. four years
ago, an Interesting paper on this topic
10 the Edinburgh Medical journal, but
the scope OF that essay was confined to
the consideration OF the habit as a
cause of aural troubles. II has been dis
cussed also, from general sanitary
point Oi view by Mr.. George Catlin,
well known as the portrayer OF Indian
life and customs But wenow have for
the first time an exhaustive treatment
of the subject by DIR. Clinton Wagner.
DIR. Wagner begins by pointing out
that man is by nature nose breather,
the practice Of mouth breathing being
acquired through carelessness, ignor-
auce or local trouble which renders
nasal breathing difficult or impossible.
The unweaned infant always breathes
through its nose; unless 1t did the act
Of sucking could not be performed.
From observations made by Honsell in
the Freiburg clinic, it appears that in
healthy infants the mouth is almost al
ways closed during sleep, the tongue
lying in contact with the hard palate, and
the mouth not acting as an air passage.
The relation which the nose bears 70
the functions OF respiration is too often
overlooked by persons suffering from
bronchial or pulmonary disorders. 1t
can easily be verified by experiment
that the air in its passage through the
tOrtaous channels of the nose is raised
TO the temperature OF the body before
u reaches the larynx. No matter how
low the temperature may be. the sense
of cold Is never experienced below the
border of tho soft palate so long as
breathing is carried on with closed
mouth. Moreover, the air thus inhaled
Is moistened by the natural secretions
which cover the turbiuated homes in a
condition OF health, and the short,
bristly hairs at the orifices of the
nostrils net as 4 filter or sieve 10 arrest
dust and other impurities which the air
may contain, and which II drawn in by
the mouth. may net rs an exciting
causelin developing laryngeal, bronchial,
or pulmonary trouble. II is even as.
serted that man can inhale through his
nose for a certain time mephitic air in
the bottom OF we'll without harm;
whereas II he opened his mouth 90
answer q question or call for help. his
lungs arc closed, and he expires.
The causes which lead to habitual
mouth breathing are TO be looked for in
the nose, mouth or throat Until re-
Gently the methods Of examining the
nose were so imperfect that q correct
diagnosis was, in many cases, imprac-
ticable; but now, with the aid OF the
rhinoscope and by means OF a strong
Teaeetod light thrown up through tho
nostrils, dilated by a proper speculum,
Z il IS possible 10 recognize any obstruc.
ton 10 the passage OF air. Some in
stances OF congenital, imperforate nos
trils are reported, and the like occlu-
sion may be caused by a cicatrical
contraction FROM scalds or burns. For
eign bodies, too. such as buttons, seeds
or stones, may lodge in the inferior
meatus, which is the passage chiefly
concerned in breathing, and thus pro
duce complete or partial closure A
general thickening or hypertrophy OF
the mucous membrane, covering the
tnrbinated bones, such as is found in
chronic nasal catarrh. would, in some
cases, completely shut up one or both
passages. Indeed, slight congestion
from an ordinary cold may so nearly
close the air channels that breathing
through the nose becomes for the time
very dillicult The mouth is therefore
resorted TO, and thus the penicious habit
may be unconsciously acquired. Among
: the mouth causes which interfere with
proper nasal respiration the most com
mon arc enlarged tonslls. Tho glands
press tho yelum upward and backward
against the posterior wall of the
pharynx. and prevent the passing OF air
from the nose to the larynx. Irregular
uneven or protruding teeth, by OBJ
etructing perfect closure OF the mouth,