166 THE HOUSE 1 LIVE IN. 



who dry up the nasal membrane with snuff, or 

 make the nose a chimney for tobacco smoke 

 purposes for which we may be very sure they 

 were never designed by the Creator, and to 

 which well informed people would not be apt 

 to apply them. 



THE MOUTH. This is, in many respects, 

 the more important door of the human frame. 

 For if the nose should cease to perform its 

 office, we could supply its place, in some 

 measure, by the eye, the ears, and the touch. 

 The same is true of the ear, and even of the 

 eye. But if the mouth were to fail if this 

 door were closed forever there is no substi- 

 tute. We may indeed receive a part of the 

 supplies necessary to our existence (I mean 

 air) through the nose ; but a far greater part 

 could not be received even in this way ; and 

 our frame would soon decay, and mingle with 

 its kindred dust. 



I have never known but one instance in 

 which an effectual substitute for the mouth 

 was provided. Several years ago, a young Ca- 

 nadian by the name of Alexis St. Martin was 

 wounded, in the army, by a ball which shot 



