H4 The Law of the Rhythmic Breath 



form the only voluntary process of digestion 

 mastication with the care its importance de- 

 mands. 



A pas being regnant in the mouth and throat is 

 naturally the prevalent Tattoo, in the function of 

 speech and production of voice. As the semi-lunar 

 current of this Tattva passes over the muscles of 

 the vocal cords they are drawn up and contracted. 

 The deeper the curves the tenser the cords, and the 

 variations in sound and tone are due to the modifi- 

 cations of this stimulating Tattva through its per- 

 mutations with the others. 



The anatomy of the larynx is a beautiful ex- 

 ample of the co-operative action of the Tattvas. 

 Five cartilages corresponding to the different Tatt- 

 vas enter into the construction of this marvellous 

 vocal instrument, itself of triangular form blended 

 with crescent-like curves. Be not confused by read- 

 ing in Century Dictionary that there are nine cart- 

 ilages. All but the ring-like cricoid cartilage, the 

 seat of Akdsha, which connects the larynx with the 

 trachea, are in pairs, and the dictionary counts them 

 separately, though this is not usual in physiologies. 

 The spherical form of Fdyu is recognized in the 

 thyroid cartilage (Adam's apple), upon the action 

 of which the intensity of the voice is determined; 

 Tejas influence is seen in the triangles of the Ary- 

 tenoids, and that of Prithivi is recognized in the 

 hardest of these cartilaginous bodies, the cornicula 



