262 VOICE PEODUCTION

As the speaker and singer must often practise
their art in an atmosphere that is far from pure,
they will do well to carry out in a routine way
some sort of mouth toilet on their return home and
the next morning. Various simple mouth and
throat washes may be used, such as (1) water with
a little common salt dissolved in it ; (2) water con-
taining a few drops of carbolic acid — just enough
to be distinctly tasted; (3) water containing lis-
terine ; (4) either of the last two with the addition
of a pinch of bicarbonate of sodium to a teacupful
of the fluid, when there is a tendency to catarrh. -

The use of lozenges in a routine way is not to be
commended, and those containing morphia, co-
c'aine, etc., should be employed only under the
supervision of a medical practitioner. Some-
times, especially in the case of nervousness, a
licorice pellet or a particle of gum arable serves
a good purpose in aiding in keeping the mouth
moist.
For one with a healthy throat the sipping of
water is unnecessary, and the habit is one on no
account to be learned, for the most admirable
effect may be spoiled through the speaker stopping
to sip water ; there is the fatal and rapid descent
from the lofty to the little.
