The Washington herald., 1912-02-25
For the Welfare of Children
y y y ss
The NoSe--GateWay of Life

Contributed by the Medical Society Of the DiStric
Of Columbia and written By specialist on dis
eases Of the nose and throat
That respiration is the most necessary
Of all the needs Of life none will deny
We can exist days without food, foI
hours without water. for very few min'
utes without air. Life is but a matter oi
chemistry: the chemical processes taking
place within the animal body are al
regulated by an element in the air we
breathe. the oxygen. The more that
chemistry delves into the mystery Of life
the more do We come to understand that
we Tive. and move. and have our be-
ing" because OF the oxygen contained in
the air we breathe. This is true. and.
being true. II must be apparent to all
that any cause which prevents our OBJ
tanning a full supply OF oxygen strikes
at the root OF our existence.
The pathway to the lungs. however. Is
so constructed that the air we breathe
must be prepared before II can be used.
II must be cleansed Of dust: it must be
made moist: II must be warmed. The
proper mechanism to do this IL all located
within the nasal chambers. II is there
and nowhere else. and when the course
Of breathing is diverted from its proper
channel changes occur which result in
disease.
To one whose work leads TO a study OF
the conditions presented in the nose.
mouth. and throat together with adjacent
facial structures. the fact Is almost Omni-
present that the ideal normal confirma-
ton Is rarity. Rhinologists are
universally of the opinion that the
normal nose is the exception rather
than the rule. and the dentist who finds
a normal set of teeth, prOClaims the fact
with great rejoicing to all his brethren.
These statements are facts. Why are
they so?
It will be well to consider the anatomy
Of the nose. especially in a brief way.
the bony structures which enter into its
formation.
Principally. two large facial bones com
pletc, by their opposition, the nasal cav
ity. They are termed thes upper jaw
bones. and together they inclOse an open
ing that is heart-shaped with the broad
part or base downward and the apex
upward Csee figure). These bones form
the outer or external walls Of the nasal
cavity and the distan"- between these
two walls determines tn breathing ca
pacity Of the nose.
The width OF the nasal chambers being
determined by the distance between their
lateral walls. the fG"tor which effects
this should next he considered In eN-
amining one OF these bones. II will be
seen that Il il made up Il several por-
tions, body or main part and four pro-
jections. the cheek. nose teeth. and pal
ate portions. respectively. The palate
process. thick and strong. projects hOri-
zOntally inward from the base and forms
the floor Of the nose and the roof Of the
mouth. 1t is more especially 10 this PAL
ate process that attention will he drawn.
because upon its proper growth and de
velopment depends proper respiration.
The aveOlar process. into whi"h the
teeth are inserted. also deserves special
consideration. Because Of its improper
development We have imperfect set OF
the teeth or ''oC >lUsiOn.' az the dentist
terms IT, Because OF this imperfect occlu-
sion we have imperfect masticatiUn with
resultant imperfect digestion and all the
possibilities OF arrangement Of the vital
body processes which lead finally to i'll
health. Do not think. however. that all
these effects ar" apparent To immediate
They are not. II is always
''hindsiGht' that Is better than fore
sight to most Of US. II is when the
individual is pr, sented to US for repairs
that We can see the effects produced
by years of time in the lowering of Vi
tality as the result Of defective develop
ment.
Metanol:sm is .he term applied to those
processes going on within the body which
give the phenomena or life. Metabolism
Is maintained by the air we breathe
and the food We eat At the gateway Of
life stands this most important organ.
To its proper growth and development
should be given a portion Of the effort
that is being made for the betterment
n the race. Much has been uOne: much
remains Vet to >" done.
After birth the development OF the
'hild's face may be said tC occupy three
stages During the hist year tn" develop
nent Of the head and face is general hut
he face gains distinctly on the Uranium
especially in the lower nasal cavity. The
second stage begins at about the second
;ear. continuing To tho NTH. when the
ace grows more in breadth. From the
nth to the seventh year the face grows
more in length. while the nose develops
.hiefly in the lower region II IS during
This period that the width of the nasal
'hamber Is principally attained. the great
Importance Of which has been previously
pointed out. This Is brought about prin-
.ipally by the lateral growth Of the pal
Ite process. previously mentioned.
What are tive forces which influence
he growth OF this process? They are
everal When the mouth is closed the
D
he mouth, producing q suction which ,
orms n partial vacuum between the top |
Il the tongue and the roof OF the mouth. |
[ will be SEEM from the figures that !
he palate projection and that bearing !,
he teeth OF the bones bounding the |
lasaI Chapbers form an arch. the Uuder !
urfsce Of which Is the roof OF the mouth !
he upper the floor Of the nos. WITH u !
'artial vacuum under the roof "f the |
mouth. atmospheric pressure, which YOU |
nay remember is fifteen pounds 10 the /
quare inch. furnishes a force which tends
o broaden this arch and thus widen the |
asal cavity. Again. when the mouth is
lOsed, the tongue lies against the inner
urface OF the jawhOne eNCrting con-
family lateral pressure against its |
ides. pushing them constantly outward |
nd assisting in this lateral growth. the
Importance OF which constitutes the pur-
ose Of this paper. or almost equal i'm
ortance in this development are the
eeth. The stimulation to growth caused /
y prolonged mastication OF food is one