154 THE WONDERFUL HOUSE THAT JACK HAS 



open, and no cold or other irritation exists, a doctor 

 should be consulted without delay. 



Of course, after the nose passages are opened, it is 

 not easy to break the mouth-breathing habit, but it 

 can be done by any one who is in earnest. The main 

 thing is to become fully impressed with the importance 

 of nose breathing. In daytime one can usually think 

 to correct himself if the old habit comes back. If the 

 resolution to keep the mouth closed while sleeping is 

 firmly willed, just before retiring, and this determina- 

 tion is persevered in night after night, the correct habit 

 will soon be formed. When one does not succeed with 

 this plan, the mouth may be closed with a bandage 

 at night until the habit of nose breathing becomes 

 established. 



But what can a person do when the nose is stopped 

 up by a cold in the head ? Simply persist, even though 

 it be with much difficulty, in breathing through the 

 nose. By and by the pure air will not only clear a 

 route for itself, but also greatly aid in getting rid of the 

 cold as well. How is it in running and other violent 

 exercise or work? Surely the larger supply of air 

 coming more quickly through the mouth will enable 

 the muscles to work faster and better. While in 

 extremely violent exercise an occasional breath through 

 the mouth may be necessary, taking the main supply 

 through the nose is far better. For example, in run- 

 ning one may seem to be getting out of breath for a 

 time, but if nose breathing is persisted in, the runner 



