HOW TO BREATHE PROPERLY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2550, 9 March 1877, Page 2

HOW TO BREATHE PROPERLY.

Most people, says Public Health, breathe properly, often more by accident or instinct than by design, but, on the other hand, hundreds of thousands do not breathe properly, while many thousands - at this present moment are'suffering-from more or less severe affections of the Jongs or throat o*ing to the - faulty, mode of. respiration—in other words, because they breathe through the mouth instead of through ttie nostrils.. The mouth has its own functions To perform in connection with eating, drinking, and speaking", and . the nostrils have theirs—viz, smelling and breathing. In summer time the error of respiring . through the', months is not so evident as ■in the .winter season, when it is undoubtedly fraught with danger to the person who commits the mistake. If anyone breathes through the natural channel, the nostril!, the air passing over the mucous.membrane, lining the various chambers of the nose, becomes warmed to the temperature of the body before reaching the lungs; but if he takes in air betweenlthe lips and through the mouth, the cold air comes in contact with the delicate lining membrane of the throat and lungs,,acid gives rise, to a local chill, -frequently ending in inflammation. - Many persons, without knowing the reason why they are benefited, wear respirators over the mouth in ; l winter if they happen to go out of doors. : By doing so they diminish the amount of air-which enters between the lips, and ?virtually * compel themselves to breathe through, the nostrils.. But they could attain just the same result by keeping the lips closed, a habit which is easily acquired, and conduces to the proper and natural way of breathing. We believe that if; people would only adopt this simple habit, or in other words, if they would take, for their rule in breathing, • Shut your mouth!' there would be an immense diminution in the two classes of affection, viz., those of the lungs and throat, which count many • thousand of victims in- this country in the course of a single year. ■ Man is the only animal which has acquired the pernicious and often fatal habit of breathing' through the mouth. It commences in childhood, and becomes confirmed in adult life, often engendering consumption, chronic bronchitis, relaxed sore throat, or some other disease of the lungs or throat, which is set down usually to a different cause altogether. In concluding this short article, we - venture to ask our readers ito judge for themselves. .When they step out in . the morning into the fresh but cold .air, let them try the difference of feeling' arising from the two modes of breathing —through the nostrils and between the lips. In the former case they will find - that they cau breathe easily and. freely,'. yet with comfort, while the fresh air, warmed to the temperature of the body by its contact with, the usual mucous . membrane, is agreeable to the lungs; in the other case, if they draw in a few inspirations between the parted lips, the cold air rushing in direct to the lungs, creates a feeling of coldness and discomfort, and an attack of conghing often comes on.