SOME FACTS ABOUT THE NOSE 135 



happens to be in the same room. The objection to this 

 is that when the lining of the nose is very dry it cannot 

 catch the dust and microbes in the air and keep them 

 from the lungs ; neither can it keep the air that is to 

 pass into the lungs damp enough ; in fact, it is about as 

 well to breathe through the mouth as through such a 

 dry nose. 



But what shall we do about all this ? We must 

 remember that the more water the air takes from other 

 things the less it will take from us. For this reason 

 some people put open dishes of water in their rooms, or 

 plants that grow in water, or wet fern balls. Anything 

 is useful that gives water to the air. 



In my own home water is heated near the furnace in 

 the basement. Damp air from it then mixes with the 

 pure air from out of doors after the latter has become 

 warm, and they rise together to the different rooms of 

 the house. 



If you have a healthy, useful nose, try to keep it so. 

 Some of the rules for the health of the nose are the same 

 as those for the health of the skin. 



1. Take a quick cold bath every morning. 



2. Change your clothes, your shoes, and your 

 stockings when they are damp. 



3. Do not sit in a draft. 



4. Breathe pure air by day and by night. 



