Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-03
FOR THE WELFARE OFCHILD REN
The Nose and Throat as the Gateway of Death.

very near the opening Of the eustachian
tubes, that lead from the back Of the
nose to the ears, and by closing these
tubes the ears are not sufficiently Ven
tilated and deafness may result. Also
there is always Inflammation or Ca
tarrhal condition about an enlarged ade-
mold that may extend into the ears and
cause a thickening Of the ears and deaf
ness. If this Inflammation should become
severe and extend into the ears 1t often
starts an abscess, with rupture or
bursting Of the ear drum and discharge
or running OF pus from the ear. rms
may go into the mastoid bone, which is
that prominent bone just back of the ear,
and end in a severe operation: or, even
worse, 1t might destroy the bone that
separates the ear space from the. brain,
enter the brain cavity and cause menin-
gifts. or abscess Of the brain and death
An adenOid also gives off mucus which
is continually dropping into the throat to
be either Spat out or swallowed. and the
swallowing Of this mucus interferes with
digestion In the stomach and inteStines.
Another interesting fact about the nose
is that connecting with it by little chan
nels are numerous cavities that exist In
the bones of the face. A cavity is over
each eye and under each eye, and they
act as the resonating chambers for the
orifice. They are lined inside by men,
brane that extends into them from the
lining membrane Of the nose, and they
are normally filled with air. If a severe
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AAc d COIu VI lliNAciZd W
ours in the nose it Is very likely to ex-
tend into these cavities or sinuseS. AS
they are called. This Inflammation often
turns into an abscess. and these sinuses
become filled with pus, the bone may
become softened, there is pain over the
sinus affected, and If this condition is
neglected the disease may enter the
brain and death result.
In the throat there are the tonsils. which
are very similar in structure to the
adenoid. and If normal they are very
small and cause no trouble. The same
causes that enlarge the adenoid also en-
large the tonsils. and they readily be-
come the seat Of disease. Passing
through these enlarged tonsils from the
surface toward the base or attachment
are little tubes or crypts which become
infected and fill with a cheesy pus that
has foul odor. This pus is continu-
ously being discharged into the mouth.
giving it a bad taste and making the
breath foul, and when swallowed this
pus is very apt to upset digestion.
Also. there is another way that the
poisons of these crypts can enter the
system. and that is by what are known
channels and glands extends from the
tonsils down the neck and enters the
blood, and the effect OF this ABSORPTION
is to make the sufferer listless and in
different at times. with frequent dull
headaches. In some people these in
fected crypts have been found to be the
direct cause OF rheumatic attacks and
similar joint affections.
Sometimes the tonsils become so enor-
enlarged as to meet in the center
of the throat and interfere with swallow
ing. or. again, a very small and hidden
tonsil may be filled with pus-laden
crypts and the source of low grade OF
poison to the body. Occasionally the pus
in these crypts extends into the tissues
around the tOnsils and an a'bscess forms.
which is known nllnSv which 10 a
very serious, severe and painful disease,
attended with great danger to
the patient
The above in small way shows the
possibility of serious and often fatal
that may overtake us by way
of the nose and throat, and when we
consider how exposed we are to infections
of different kinds in the dust Of the street
and contaminated air of crowded places 1t
is certainly most important that we
should keep these portals in the best
possible condition, so that we will be
protected. not betrayed by them.