Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-06-09
TAINTED BREATH
Result of Decomposition Along Respir-
 atory Tract.

instead of using disinfectant washes or gargles. should try to discover the
 cause of bad breath. It is almost ridiculous to keep using disinfeetants while the cause of the fetor continues 1 to operate. Suppose any one were to notice a bad smell in the back yard. Instead of finding out exactly what the cause of the bad smell is, he would simply throw disinfectant around, or deodorizer, in order to stop or disguise the smell Such procedure would be silly indeed. No one but sanitary officer would do such thing.
 A bad breath indicates some decom- position going on somewhere in the respiratory tract. It may be hollow tooth filled with decomposing material, or the teeth may be so jammed to- gether as to inclose portions of the food, which ferment and fill the mouth with noxious gases.
 The trouble may be in the posterior mares. One or both nostrils may be stopped up. This leaves an unventi- lated space just back of the nostril, in the upper portion of the throat. The | to accumulate and decompose, which forms a very fetid gas.
 Or, again, the trouble may be caused l by enlarged tonsils. These sometimes assume a globular form, with deep creyices and seams which retain mu- GUS. Again, mucus collects behind and above enlarged. tonsil, where 1t is sure to deeomposec and cause bad breath.
 Any portion of the respiratory tract from the throat to the lungs may be the seat of the difficulty. The mucus surface is liable to catarrh, and the catarrh abrades the mucous mem branes here and there, forming super ficial ulcers, which furnish continu- ous effiuvia to the breath. 14 4ztken little volcanoes they pour out their erup- tion of noxious gases day and night to contaminate the breath.
 The stomach has often been accused Of being the cause of bad breath, but the fact is the stomach rarely is the cause of bad breath. The breath does not enter the stomach. Respira- tion has little or nothing to do with the stomach. Breath is simply an act of drawing the air into the lungs and expellfng it again. !" l The fetor of bad breath sometimes originates in the lungs and is no doubt the result of deranged condition of the whole system. The blood, being surcharged with foul gases and decom- l posing material gives off these gases l at each respiration This is why the breath of a person who drinks liquor will become tainted with the smell of 1 the liquor. At first the breath un- doubtedly smells of the liquor simply 1 because i'll passing through the mouth and throat some of 1t adheres to the I mucous surfaces. If any one were to rinse out the mouth with liquor, the breath would smell for short time, but only for 8 short time.. With the dram drinker the case is different. The l liquor having passed into his stomach, | 1t is absorbed into the blood. Through the blood 1t reaches, the lungs, and with each respiration from the lungs a. portion Of the fumes from the liquor are given off with the breath. This | illustrates how a bad condition of the blood can taint the breath.
 l Undoubtedly onions and many other aromatic substances find their way out of the system through the breath. Tn this way bad stomach may taint the breath. This is why a bad stomach means a bad breath. Bad digestion produces a bad quality of blood. The blood. circulating through the lungs, gives off bad odors, which find their way into the breath. Tn this round about way the stomach may cause bad breath, but as a rule the cause of bad breath can be found closer at | hand-either in the teeth, posterior mares, tonsils, throat or bronchial | tubes.
 Instead of using mouth washes or perfumes of any sort to cure bad breath, a person ought to have the cause of the bad breath discovered Unfortunately 1t would he of little or no use to such a person to call on the average doctor, as he knows nothing or cares nothing about such things. | He is simply engaged in prescribing drugs and spends very little time in | ferreting out causes or removing ob- l noxious ailments by harmless and ra- tional methods. Tn these matters ey- cry person must use his own common sense and try to be his own doctor. No one should be content to allow q bad breath to continue. It is very un- healthyand Is very obnoxious to other people Every man and woman is en- titled to u sweet breath, and with q little care and judgment this can be had. But so long as any one con tinues to take drugs or use narcotics to any extent he cannot hope to have a perfectly sweet breath A pure breath comes from pure living, pure habits and the continuous practice of absolute cleanliness. The toothbrush and cold water should be used thoroughly once a day. Gargling the throat should inn mediately follow. The nostrils should be kept clear; deep breathing prac- ticed. These things alone will do very much toward insuring the possession of sweet breath.--Medical Talk.
 WATCHING A SPIDER AT WORK