The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-08-27
From DR.. Fitch's Lectures.
The Chest.


cribed, our next step, in the formation of
perfect symmetry, is to devclopc a large,
round. erect, and perfect chest. 4 perfect
and noble chest is the grand basis Of all good
health. The lungs, to ensure good health
in them, and everywhere, must be large,
and perfectly expanded in every part. Ev-
cry air-cel must be fully stretched open, if
possible, at every breath, and, at any rate,
! daily. The lungs cannot be perfectly ex-
banded, when the chest is in any way con
tractcd around them. In perfect chest,
) the spine, from the root of the neck TO the
bottom of the waist, is placed STOPPING back
} wards; rising from the bottom OF the waist
to the root Of the neck, il inclincS a little
backwards Of perpendicular line, and does
not, in perfect chest, crook at all forwards.
The chest, have told you, is basket of
bones. open at the bottom. 1t is of the ut
most importance, in forming fine chest,
} that the bottom Of the chest should be as
open and wide rs possible, and that the
brcaSt-bonc, at the bottom. should be lifted
u"t'aiHs, a. iuu,n as puSoiul,, '.'.i ...s 4,
pressed inwards, or crowded towards the
: backbone at all. To form a fine and per-
feet chest, after the shoulders are fully in
their places, all that is required is, to breathe
properly, and carry the person well. Much
} has been said and written upon diet, eating
= and drinking; but do not rccollect ever
noticing a remark in any writer upon breath
; ing. or the manner Of breathing. Multi
tutcS. and especially ladies in easy circum-
/ stances, contract n vicious and destructive
mode Of breathing. They suppress their
5 breathing. and contract the habit of short 9.
quick breathing, not carrying the breath
, halfway down the chest, and scarcely cX-
panding the lower portions Of the chest at
: all. Lacing the bottom Of the chest also
F. greatly increases this evil. and confirms a
e bad habit of breathing. Children that move
about a great deal in the open air and are
! in no way laced, breathe deep and full to
the bottom of the chest. and every part Of II :
, SC also with most outdoor laborers, and
J persons who take a great deal of exercise
IN the open air, because, as | said before,
the lungs give us the power of action: and
the more exercise we take, especially ont
of doors, or hard labor in the open air. the
{ larger the lungs become. and the less liable
: 10 disease. Bat those in easy circumStan-
ccS, or who pursue sedcntary cmploymcntS
within doors, generally use their lungs but
l very lIttlc,-brCathe very little air into the
chest, and thus, independently of bad posi-
: tons, contract a wrctchCdly narrow, small
chest, and lay the foundation for the loss of
r all health and beauty. III this can be per
l tcctly obviatcd. by a little attention to the
manner Of breathing. RccollcCt. the lungs
: are like bladder in their structure, and can
u be stretched open 10 double their ordinary
i SIZE with perfect safety, giving noble chest,
and perfect immunity from consumption.
-, The agent, and all the agent required 10
u expand the chest, is the common AIR we
Il breathe; Supposing. however. that no OBJ
StaclCS exist external TO the chest, such as
lacing, or tying il around, with stays or tight
) dresses, or having the shoulders lay upon II.
Il as. i have before described. On rising from
d bed in the morning, place yourself i'll an
:, erect posture, your chest thrown back. and
il shoulders entirely of the chest; now lnhalo
: or suck in all the air you can. so rs to I'LL
u the chest to the very bottom of it, so that no
more air can he got in; now hold your
breath, and throw your arms and shoulders
u behind you. as if you would throw them oil
: behind, holding in your breath as long as
u you can; again fill your chest, and walk
: about, holding in your breath rs long rs pos
sibIc. Repeat these long breathS rs many
=, times as You please; done in a cold room is
IL much better, because the air is heavier and
dcnScr, and will act much more powerfully
in expanding the chest. Always. when
c stretching open the chest with air, throw the
/ head back, so as TO lift mp the brcaSt-bonc,
e and bend the whole bust backwards from
n the waist You may, in this manner, eX-
e pand the chest thousand times a day. il
II you please. On going outdoors into cold
= air. inhalc or suck in all the air you can, and
| hold II in as long as possible; stand or sit
c perfectly erect. whilst walking or riding in
- the street, along the roads. in the fields, oi
/ gardens. Practice this mode OF expanding
If the chest Do not stcop forward ut all. but
IS suck in all the air you can. throwing the
It head and neck backwards, and hold i'll the
II air as long as possible. Rs this exercise,
II YOU will often at once check cough, ot
: disposition TO cough. The chest may also
il be fully expanded willis, lying in bed. by
n exercising the chcS, in this manner. it will
: soon become very flexible and cXpansiblc,
l. aud will enlarge its capacity and the size OF
/. the lungs, so as, in few weeks or months
= TO hold double its usual quantity of air
/. whilst, externally, il will measure from one
d To six inches larger in its circumference
10 Should YOU not have full strength to enlarge
IS the chest in this way. then use an inhaling
IN tube. such rs have dclineatcd in plate G.
- The inhaling tube will greatly assist YOU in
d The chest should he treated in this way du.
ID ring your whole lives. Should you become
" invalidS, from any cause, keep your chest,
rs expanded by long brcathS and the inhalinG
% tube, and continue to breathe n little cold
st fresh air daily, by having il drawn from on
W of doors, by leather or tin pipes, or in any
l. other manner you please.
Is Some timid patients and advisers may
N suggest the idea Of injury from this exercise
y but you need give yourself no uncasincs,
t whatever on the subject. You cannot in
C iurc yourselves. Only commence gradual
d iy until the lungs, uir.pipcS, and air-ccll
II are well open and expanded, and, ever nj
tor You need i0nrno hnl CON. "gouccs from
y Expanding your chest, with all Tho mir ma,
70 strength Inyour power The c1ectot lhcs,
a means will be TO make the chest Tat behind
II and in front, rs full aud round, and lifted mp
Is as the breast of the swan. All the ravish
linz ,.,,act;nng pT ,hc rkpst npI an ,xnu;s