There are many reports concerning the effects of irritation to the nasal mucosa on the lower respiratory tract. In our previous study, the effects of irritation by a nasal applicator to the middle nasal meatus and inferior nasal meatus in the nasal cavity upon the lower respiratory tract were observed by measuring the pulmonary resistance. The study on the right nasal cavity preceded that on the left nasal cavity. It was concluded that the pulmonary resistance slightly decreased upon nasal irritation. In the present study, the effects on lung compliance were studied in the same cases as those in the previous study. The measurement was performed by an apparatus equipped with the polygraph RM-45 produced by the Nihon Koden Co., Ltd. and a transducer of MFP-IT respiratory flowmeter. The effects of irritation to the left and the right nasal cavities were compared, while the patients were asked to breathe by mouth. It was found that there were definite changes in lung compliance. The lung compliance increased in both lungs in 3 cases. It decreased in both lungs in 5 cases. It sometimes decreased or increased by the stimulation in the left or the right nasal cavity in 2 cases. In general, the lung compliance tended to increase to some degree upon nasal muosal irritation.
