HOW NOT TO SNEEZE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4733, 4 August 1924, Page 4

HOW NOT TO SNEEZE.

SOME SOCIAL .IND HYGIENIC TIPS. The prevention of a sneeze is usually an easy matter. Dr. Paul Farez, in the “Causerie Medicale” of the “Journal, des Debats” (Paris), gives dozens of methods, dating back •to i classical antiquity, and explains how they act. He believes, however, that the stoppage of a sneeze is desirable —rather in conformity to the laws of good society than as a hygienic measure. The danger of infection from a sneeze he regards us having been greatly exaggerated. The sneeze is nature’s method of relieving irritation. Dr. Farez writes : “One should not infect one’s neighbours ; hence certain apostles of hygiene tell us not to sneeze. IS' IT A WISE ACTION? “But, you say, sneezing Is unexpected and imperious ; we must do it! Rapid, yes; but not instantaneous. Some symptoms precede it; there is tickling in the nasal passages, moistening of the eyes, a feeling of cold at the feet, in the back —oh! this lasts only a short-time, only a few seconds, but it is enough- to serve as a warning. It is imminent, the explosion is at hand; there is yet time to. avert it if wb can use some effective means at once. Now, there are many of these. “Here is one- that is pronounced infallible —tickling the soles of one’s feet. Quite impracticable in society ! or even at home unless one has just taken off the shoes and stockings I There is also yawning, which is easy to bring on at will. But what would your companion say ? That his conversation wearies you ; and he would never forgive you. Then, what? Whistle ? Yes ; but everybody would think you ill-bred. Now here is a noiseless one—puff out your cheeks, as advised recently in the “Concours Medical” ; shut your mouth, leave only a slight orifice bet.ween your lips, and plow vigorously several times. The harder you blow the more the wish to sneeze will disappear. This at least is silent, but it is also quite ungraceful. And then, if it is done while speaking or being spoken to, Wat opinion will your friends have of you ? Dr. de Champeaux adds : ‘you may seem ridiculous at first; but soon all sneezers will imitate you; it will become quite the thing to blow in society.’ Do you believe • him ? After all, why not ?” Whether tolerated or reproved in good company, these processes succeed, we are assured. But-by. what mechanism ? Remember what sneezing is, says Dr. Farez: “Preceded by a short ■ premonitary period, it consists of three stages : the lungs are filled with air by a sudden intake of breath, then the diaphragm contracts violently and the air is suddenly expelled. • The tickling provokes in the diahpragm repeated shocks at short intervals, which show themselves in a series of short, dry expirations. When one whistles or blows, he also breaks up the expira-

tion into a series of emissions—audible in one case, silent in the other. In yawning there is a single inspiration—soft, slow, and deep, followed by a long expiration. What has been done in these two cases ? We have deliberately modified the play of the diaphagm by imposing upon it a sort of discipline. We have replaced by a different rhythm the one that was about to end in a sneeze ; it is a process of substitution. “Ordinarily sneezing has a nasal I sensation for its -starting-point. For example, dust or gas irritates the mucuous surface, and as a defensive reflex it proceeds to reject violently these injurious substances. Some noses are abnormally sensitive ; the least sensation of cold, a slight difference of temperature, the passage from shade to sunlight or the reverse —any of these things brings on a sneezv. These nasal sensations are, the preliminary stage ; if we can suppress them the reflex will have no reason for taking, place. Thus, with thumb and finger, compress the sides of the nose so as to stop it up momentarily—this is perhaps the most effective method. But irritant odours are not always disagreeable. If the perfumes scattered around by women of fasnion impel us to use the gesture recommended above, what (shall be thought of your bringing up ? We must evidently look elsewhere. “Pinching the skin violently or thrusting a finger-nail into the palm of one’s hand have been strongly recommended. How do>they act ? Attentive to the slight pressure, one is in a state of ‘expectant attention’ ; breathing is suspended and the diaphragm is immobilised. This is, m another, form, the substantive process i ecommended earlier in this article’. “But many other schemes are not so uci-leasant. Here are some of them : Rub your nose or eyes, recommends Aristotle,; others prefer to press upon the eyeball or, to compress the two tear-ducts simultaneously with thumb and forefinger, or to rub the jaws vigorously, contract the muscles of the forehead, eyebrows, and face ; press with a finger the upper lip just below the nose ; place the tip of the tongue on the upper incisors or the palate, stretch the neck out forcibly, etc.” One may smile at aL this, says the doctor, but the unanswerable reply is that it works ! He explains : “This is because we. believe in it, some may say : it is nothing but the famous ‘faith-healing.’ Not at all. Credulity is not enough ; we must add, if not conviction, at. least active, sustained concentrated attention; and thus the breath is held, the diaphragm immobilised, and the position that it must assume for a sneeze 13 prevented. You may object—‘But these gestures are (superfluous ; all one needs is to hold the breath for a few seconds.’ This is quite true ; that is all that these varied plans amount to. We may therefore stop sneezing; nothing is easier ; but ought we to do so ? “In the privacy of your own room, have you never given yourself lip comph tely to the impulse to sneeze ?

What a delightful impression of wellbeing ; Aristotle writes: ‘lt is very ple^?nt to sneeze, and the • pleasure is felt in all parts of the body.’ On the contrary, if:the sneeze does not come off, then you experience a’ disagreeable sensation —a feeling of ‘incompji teness,’ as modern psychologists say. "Here we have, in a new aspect, the eiernal conflict between the preference of the individual and the safety of the community: for let us not forget .that this, reflex has been regarded as ,a dangerous- distributor of microbes. “Scientists of repute assure us that the inturious character of the sneezespray. has been greatly exaggerated. This ‘liquid powder’ is no more to be feared than the dry variety, and like the la: ter it is deposited in the mucous membrance of the throat without psocedeing at once to the lung cells, as we have been .w'arned. Even the saliva of an advanced tubercular patient is rarely charged with bacilli, and, if so, there is no danger beyond a yard’s idstance. “In good society, whose rules dp not admit of argument, you must cut short your sneeze ; but perhaps, engrossed in conversation, you are too late, and the explosion takes place. If so, the rigorists tell us, we should keep the mouth tight shut, bo that no saliva will be projected. Yes, but what will become of it ? Not finding the accustomed issue, it will go wherever it call ; it will take upaccustomed paths. Which ? It will attack the Eusta.hian tube, the middle ear, and the sinus, and gain forcible entrance. You expose yourself to otitis, or sinusitis —to hea.ven knows what! “Lei us not be unduly persuaded, therefore, by those who condemn the sneeze.”