%4 SCIENCE OF BREATH. 



Carefully conducted scientific experiments have shown 

 that soldiers and sailors who sleep with their mouths open 

 art much more liable to contract contagious diseases than 

 those who breathe properly through the nostrils. An in- 

 stance is related in which small-pox became epidemic on 

 a man-of-war in foreign parts, and every death which 

 resulted was that of some sailor or marine who was a 

 mouth-breather, not a single nostril-breather succumbing. 



The organs of respiration have their only protective 

 apparatus, filter, or dust-catcher, in the nostrils. When 

 the breath is taken through the mouth, there is nothing 

 from mouth to lungs to strain the air, or to catch the dust 

 and other foreign matter in the air. From mouth to lungs 

 the dirt or impure substance has a clear track, and the 

 entire respiratory system is unprotected. And, moreover, 

 such incorrect breathing admits cold air to the organs, 

 thereby injuring them. Inflammation of the respiratory 

 organs often results from the inhalation of cold air through 

 the mouth. The man who breathes through the mouth 

 at night, always awakens with a parched feeling in the 

 mouth and a dryness in the throat. He is violating one of 

 nature's laws, and is sowing the seeds of disease. 



Once more, remember that the mouth affords no pro- 

 tection to the respiratory organs, and cold air, dust and 

 impurities and germs readily enter by that door. On the 

 other hand, the nostrils and nasal passages show evidence 

 of the careful design of nature in this respect. The nos- 

 trils are two narrow, tortuous channels, containing numer- 

 ous bristly hairs which serve the purpose of a filter or 

 sieve to strain the air of its impurities, etc., which are 

 expelled when the breath is exhaled. Not only do the nos- 

 trils serve this important purpose, but they also perform 

 an important function in warming the air inhaled. The 

 long narrow winding nostrils are filled with warm mucous 

 membrane, which coming in contact with the inhaled air 

 warms it so that it can do no damage to the delicate organs 

 of the throat, or to the lungs. 



No animal, excepting man, sleeps with the mouth open 

 or breathes through the mouth, and in fact it is believed 

 ihat it is only civilized man who so perverts nature's func- 



