The Hygiene of the Nose

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 4, 1909

The Hygiene of the Nose

SPECIAL symptoms to be observed are the following:—

1. Disturbances of breathing. Breathing through the nose is difficult, so the mouth is kept open.

2. Disturbances of speech. The voice has a nasal sound, since the stopping of the nose hinders clear speech.

3. Disturbances of hearing, on account of the swelling of the Eustachian tubes. In this way buzzing in the ears, deafness, etc., may occur.

4. Disturbances in the functions of the brain, resulting in inattention, so-called aprosexia nasalis, and the like.

Investigation has shown that this is a common disorder among schoolchildren. In Boston, from five to six per cent suffer with adenoids; in Germany about ten per cent.

In Leipsic investigation made by the school physician showed that out of 9,031 children, 23.2 per cent were afflicted with adenoids. The largest number of cases were found among the children of the so-called district schools, attended by the poorer classes. This was thought to be connected with the scrofulous tendency, and the fact that the children were weaker and not so well cared for. In the burgerschulen, where the better class attend, there were 18.9 per cent of the children with adenoids; while in the

district schools, 25.5 per cent had adenoids.

In Stockholm, specialists are employed to examine every child in the elementary schools. In 1905, among 3,495 children, 13.8 per cent were found to have enlarged upper tonsils; and in 1906, among 3,907, 12 per cent were found.

Adenoids seem to occur more frequently among the mentally deficient. Among 114 feeble minded, Halsted found 20.1 per cent with adenoids. In one school in New York, where there was a special class for defectives, a physical examination showed that 137 had adenoids or enlarged tonsils, or both.

Perhaps, until further studies have been made, it is not best to attempt to establish other correlations, but several are suggested. It seems to be a defect of civilization. No extended investigations, so far as I am aware, have been made among primitive people; but among the South American Indians adenoids seem seldom to occur. Catlin reports that, according to his observation, North American Indians always sleep with their mouths closed.

Teachers have an excellent opportunity for detecting the presence of adenoids in their pupils. By making the preliminary observations, a blank like the following can be used:—

1. Does the pupil sit with open mouth? Always. Sometimes. No.

2. Does the pupil complain of headache? Always. Sometimes. No.

3. Is the pupil attentive? Very. Somewhat. No.

4. Is the pupil backward in learning? Very. Somewhat. No.

5. Does the pupil’s voice have a nasal sound? Always. Sometimes. No.

6. Does the pupil stutter? Always. Sometimes. No.

7. Is the pupil hard of hearing? Always. Sometimes. No.

8. Does the pupil complain of earache? Always. Sometimes. No.

9. Remarks. — Pedagogical Seminary.