BREATHING THROUGH THE MOUTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7824, 18 December 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

BREATHING THROUGH THE MOUTH.

Tight dressing, though the most serious hindrance to the habit of good breathing, is not the only obstacle. There are careless ways of sitting and standing that draw the shoulders forward and cramps the cheat; and it is as hard for the Junes to do good work when the chest is narrow and contracted as it is for a closely bandaged hand to set a copy ot clear, graceful penmanship. Thou there are lazy ways of breathing, and one-sided ways of breathing, and the particularly bad habit of breathing through the mouth. Now, the uose was meant to breathe through, and it is marvellously arranged for filtering the impurities out of the air, and for changing it to a suitable temperacuro for entering the lungs. The mouth has no such apparatus, and when air Iβ b wallowed through the mouth insteail of breathed through the nose, it lias an injurious effect upon the lungs. A story is told of an Indian who had a personal encounter with a white man much his superior in size and strength, and who was asked afterward if he was not afraid. "Me never afraid of man who keeps mouth open," was the immediate reply. Indeed, breathing through thu mouth gives a foolish and weak expression to the face, as yon may see by watching anyone asleep with the mouth open. It may be noted that an anremic, or low. condition of the blood is seldom found where there is an established habit of full, deep breathing with the mouth closed.— From "About Breathing," in St. Nicholas for Ootober.