792 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



means of curing tuberculosis, or a Behring, who introduces the 

 serum therapy of diphtheria, arouses an interest which is limited 

 only by the four corners of the world. The modest worker in sanita- 

 tion, however, who explains the means of the development of these 

 diseases, and the conditions and laws by means of which they may be 

 prevented, is looked upon without interest and frequently with dis- 

 favor. But in spite of these conditions, the laws of hygiene are gradu- 

 ally becoming more farspread, and their influence is felt more with 

 each advancing year. 



The nose, throat, and ear are so intimately connected with the 

 other parts of the body that their health depends to a large extent 

 upon the condition of the system in general. The laws of hygiene and 

 their application which refer to the body in general are also appli- 

 cable to these parts, and whatever condition benefits the former will 

 have a useful influence on the upper respiratory passages, and, in- 

 versely, any injurious effect will injure the health of these organs. 



The physiology of this region is of much importance. Formerly 

 the nose was considered principally in its relation to the organ of 

 smell. This is a most important function, as it is a constant sen- 

 tinel over the air we breathe and the food we eat. It is a curious 

 circumstance that many of the functions that are referred to the 

 organ of taste really belong to that of smell. In eating ice cream, 

 for instance, the sense of taste simply informs us that it is sweet 

 or otherwise, but the flavor is perceived only by the sense of 

 smell. A proof of this is that where this function is destroyed, all 

 ability in this direction disappears, and the patient thus affected will 

 frequently complain that his sense of taste is defective, not realizing 

 that it is the sense of smell which performs this act. 



The nose, however, has a much more important function to per- 

 form — viz., in respiration. Strange to say, however, this has only 

 recently been realized, and it is even yet not well understood. You 

 have all observed that, when you had a severe " cold " which pre- 

 vented nasal breathing, the next morning the mouth and throat 

 were dry and parched and frequently inflamed, the voice sometimes 

 hoarse, and there was a general feeling of depression. "While the 

 progress of the inflammatory process may be a factor in this, still the 

 mechanical obstruction of the nose from any cause whatsoever will 

 have a similar effect. In patients in whom, for various reasons, 

 an artificial opening has been made in the trachea, the air of the room 

 has to be heated to an almost intolerable point and saturated with 

 moisture, or severe bronchial inflammation will soon develop in the 

 patient, simply because the nose has not taken an active part in the act 

 of respiration. These effects, therefore, clearly demonstrate that the 

 nasal passages have an important function to perform in the breathing 



