breath does not come through the nose as quickly as through the mouth; the lungs are kept more expanded, and one does not get "out of breath" so quickly. (7) The voice of the mouth breather has a hard twang, not a full, resonant tone as when the nostrils are open. (8) Flavors and odors are better appreciated. Sometimes the sense of smell is almost lost by mouth breathers. If one cannot breathe through the nose, even for a short time, there is probably an adenoid, or tonsil-like, growth in nose or pharynx, and a physician should be consulted. "Adenoids" are glandular or grapelike in form.
Diseases of the Respiratory Organs.—A cold or catarrh is an inflammation of a mucous membrane. If the inflammation is in the nasal passages, it is called a cold in the head; if it is in the pharynx, it is called a sore throat; if it is in the larynx or voice box, there is hoarseness; if it is in the bronchial tubes, it is bronchitis; finally, if it is in the air cells, it is pneumonia. If the air is cut off from access to the air cells, there is an attack of the painful disease called asthma, which is accompanied by a feeling of suffocation. Some believe that asthma is caused by the mucous membrane lining the finest bronchial tubes becoming inflamed and swollen, and closing the tubes; others think that the muscles in the large bronchial tubes contract and close the tubes. Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura and makes breathing painful. If much fluid forms between the pleuras, the inner pleura may press upon the lungs and interfere with breathing.
Alcohol not only weakens the blood vessels near the surface,
but the blood vessels in general. Weakened and
congested blood vessels in the lungs make them more
liable to pneumonia and other congestive diseases. Continual
congestion causes an abnormal growth of connective
tissue fiber in the walls of the cells. This diminishes
the capacity of the lungs and interferes with the exchange
of carbon dioxid and oxygen.
Tobacco.—It is often asked why cigarettes are so much more injurious to the health than pipes and cigars. The nature of the paper of cigarettes and various other absurd reasons have been assigned. The true reason is that the cigarette smoker usually inhales the tobacco smoke. Cigar smoke, if drawn into the lungs, would usually be coughed up at once. Cigarette smoke is weaker—it is so weak
