Worse than this, many medical men are guilty of similar instruction to their patients, and when giving a personal demonstration of how a “deep breath” should be taken, they “sniff” loudly and bring about a collapse of the alæ nasi, throw back the head, and interfere with the centre of gravity. Of course, it is only necessary to remind them of the law of atmospheric pressure as it applies to breathing, and they at once recognise their error. Such a state of affairs serves to show that lamentable ignorance prevails even in the twentieth century in connexion with so essential a function as breathing, and on reflection we must realise the seriousness of a situation which, from some points of view, is really pathetic. Most people, if asked to take a “deep breath,” will proceed to—I use the words spoken by thousands of people I have experimented upon—“suck air into the lungs to expand the chest,” whereas, of course, the proper expansion of the chest, as a primary movement, causes the alæ nasi to be dilated and the lungs to be instantly filled with air by atmospheric pressure, without any harmful lowering of the pressure. 2. During this harmful “sniffing” act it will be seen that— (a) The larynx is unduly depressed; likewise the diaphragm. The undue strain, caused by this unnatural crowding down of the larynx and its accessories, is undoubtedly the greatest factor in the causation of throat troubles, especially where professional voice-users are concerned. This has been abundantly proved by the practical tests which I have made during the past twelve years. My success in London with eminent members of the dramatic and vocal profession, sent to me by their medical advisers, might be mentioned in this connexion. (b) The upper chest is unduly raised, and in most cases the shoulders also. (c) The back is unduly hollowed in the lumbar region. (d) The abdomen is generally protruded, and there is an abnormally deranged intra-abdominal pressure. (e) The head is thrown too far back, and the neck unduly tensed and shortened at a time when it should be perfectly free from strain. (f) Parts of the chest are unduly expanded, while others that should share in the expansion are contracted, particularly the back in the lumbar region. (g) During the expiration there is an undue falling of the upper chest, which harmfully increases the intra-thoracic pressure and so dams back the blood in the thin-walled veins and auricles and hampers the heart’s action. (h) Undue larynx depression prevents the proper placing and natural movements of the tongue, the adequate and correct opening of the mouth for the formation of the resonance cavity necessary to the vocalisation of a true “Ah.” It is well known that the tongue is attached to the larynx, and therefore any undue depression of the latter must of necessity interfere with the free and correct movements of the former.