Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-01-22

other is, that it directly obstructs the re
turn of the blood through the veins Una
ny Of which lie in or Immediately unde
the skim towards the heart. These tive
objections, however, bear with equal oil
neariy equal weight against the appIica
ton OF tight clothing to any and all part:
OF the bod Y; whereas our present pur-
pose IS 10 consider its effects when appi-
ed TO single portion-though an impor-
tant one-of the system.
The first principle we propose now to
advance and establish is, that compression
OF the chest by tight lacing, in every de-
gree, weakenS, inevitably, the muscles OF
the chest and back. By muscles, we
mean, OF course, the small bundles of lean
HeSh OF which the various larger portions
OF the human body seem to be made up.
1t is a general law that a muscle con-
signed TO inactivity not only gradually
loses lis power, but becomes atteruated or
emaclated. Thus, if a person, in good
health, should carry one of his arms in a
sling for months and years, the muscles
or 1leShy part of that arm would, in lime,
become shrunk, soft and weak, so as to
appear somewhat different from the other.
One reason why the left arm is generally
found smaller, and its flesh softer than the
right, probably is, that we use it less
The reverse of this is equally true. The
more activity we give to a muscle, provid-
ed we 90 not over exert it, the more thick,
firm and strong does it become. Thus
sailors, smiths, and various other sorts OF
iaborers, have the muscles of the arms I'M
usually firm, full and hard. Who ever
saw an active, healthy blacksrnith-one,
we mean, who had faithfully followed his
employment for many successive years.
the muscles of whose arms and hands
were soft and attenua,ed2
In order, then, TO give that vital energy
10 part which is necessary 10 its nour-
lshment, it must be properly exercised
There Is continual waste wear and
tear, as it might be called-going on in
every portion of the human frame; and
this requires a continued supply Of new
PARTICLES of mater, otherwise u general
emaclatlon would soon follow. The ap-
pIIcatlon OF these new PARTICLES we call
assimilation, and its results. nutrition. 1t
is the power of the system 10 apply these
PARTICLES properly in assimilzlion and nu-
triton, which depends SO much, as we
have already said, on exercise.
The number of muscles affected more
or less by the molion of the chest is NOT
far from one hundred, or nearly one fourth
of the whole number contained in the hu-
man body. Now it is matter of great
importance, whether or not all these mus
cles are hard, firm and strong, or soft,
wasted and feeble. And yet wasted and
enieebled they must all be. in proportion
as that motion of the chest in breathing,
which was designed, in part to exercise
and invigorate them, is prevented by com
preston.
But compression Of the chest not only
does injury BY preventing the full, and
free, and healthy action Of all the muscu-
lar parts concerned; it also prevents the
proper action of the ribs, breast-bone and
collar-bone. This motion of the bones OF
the chest has been often alluded to in this
work; but its importance deserves, a
more particular notice
There is much general ignorance on
the subject Of which we are now treating.
When the motion of the chest is mention
ed, many understand by it the mere pow
er Of bending the upper part of the body
forward, backward and sideways; where
as this general motion, though important,
is but small part Of the motion referred
to.
The natural shape of the chest as form
ed by the ribs at the sides, the spine al
the back part, and the sternum at the fore
part of the body, is somewhat eonicai. or
that of sugarloaf. 1t is smaller at the
top where its internal parts join the neck,
and larger at the bottom where its contents
rest on the midrif or diaphragm.
We have spoken of the shape and mo-
ton of the chest in a healthy condition.
But when this cavity of the body has
been much and long compressed, the
whole state of things is altered. For
though seven of the upper rios are flsten-
! ed to the backbone by joint which ad-
mits of but little motion, aud are SO glued,
as it were, TO the sternum at the fore part.
as 10 permit but lutte motion here also,
aud so as efftctualy to prevent the upper
half of this conicaI cavity from being dis
torted in any very considerable degree,
/ still it may BE- altered slightly, even here
/ The carriages between them and the
breast-boae. by which they are, as we
have already said, glued or fastened to il
may be shortened very considerably by
long continued pressure; and even In,
breast bone itself may slightly yield SO d:
to contract the cavity little. And The
younger the individual. and the softer tn,
bones, the greater is the liability to thi
kind and degree Of displacement and dis
tortion"
1t Is the lower part of the chest, how
ever, which is most easily distorted. Tn