Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-01-09
For the Burlington Hawk.Eyc.


The causes of con snur ton may be divided into
three great causes. FIRST: Mechanical causes.
loss of symmet ~, external and internal. Second :
Ersminacy ard debility ofthe constitution. Third:
Poison, inhaiing dust, etc. Fist consumption can
take place, until the air cells OF the lungs
closed, and SO disposed that the air does not fill
them when we breathe, when every air cell is free
ly open, OF each inspiration, no consumption can
take place. Any external cause that contr acta
the basket OF the chest upon the lungs Ivy any ex-
ternal pressure closes the air cells, and tends to
produce consumption. This is often done hy the
weight of the shoulders and arms, bending forw ard
upon the chest. The collar-bones are shoulder
braces, and occur only in man, and are intended ty
nature, to keep the shoulders off the chest; but if
long pressed upon they yield and bend. Pressure
upon them dcpresses the breast-hone at its lower
end, and presses it towards the backbone and
the breast bone TO press upon the heart, and
allows the ribs to press upon the lungs, and press
their flexible sides upon each other.
The structure OF the lungs is flexible, that
the, yield I" the slightest external pressure, and
allow the capacity or size OF the chest to be dmin
ished daily in fact the substance Of the lungs Offer
no resistance to . thinking Of the chest as the
largest lung, when perfectly collapsed, is not
larger than an ordinary list, If SO large.
The weight Of the arms, shoulders, &C., thrown
forward upon the chest causes it to collapse daily
unless resisted by most for,ihlc and constant
strong breath, or inspirations Of air. To delicate
persons the least inclined to chest diseases, this
position Of the shoulders is one grand cause Of
consumption. In fact any position of the shoul.
ders, by which the weight Of the arms is made to
bear across the chest upon it, instead OF hang
ing down SO as to draw the chest backward, will
contribute powerfully to diminish the size Of the
chest-press upon the lungs,-and close the air
cells. To prevent a free circulation q the blood
through the lungs, and thus tend to produce imper
feet breathing. bleeding at the lungs, deposit Of
tubercules, and all the horrors, and realities Of
consumption. Kthere is any appeation that ap-
plies to us as nation it is round shouldered. The
habit OF contracting the chest by STOPPING, is
formed in multitudes at school, by sitting al low
desks, or no desks, by sitting all in heap, either
in school or out Of school, by not holding them.
selves erect, either sitting or standing; as it is
matter Of habit, in a great degree, tailors, shoe
makers, machinists, clerks, students, seamstrcs-
ses, in fact all whose occupation causes them TO
stoop at their work, at rest or at their pleasure
W ""'aSe"o"' RAISING ny uc pOSltioH VI inc
arms, shoulders, and chest itself, another most
frightful cause Of consumption, is wearing the
clothing too tight around the base of the chest,
as to diminish the size OF the waist. Millions
from this cause sleep in untimely graves.
Much has been said and written, against tight
lacing. 1t is not entirely peculiar TO ladies. 1t
occurs in both sexes. The effect, however, is de-
p'orabe in the extreme; itprevents free expan-
sion Of the lungs, closes the air cells of the lobes
OF the lungs at their bases impedes greatly the cir
culation Of the blood, produces shortness ofbreth
hurried breathing, and extensive closing the air.
cells OF the lungs bleeding ofthe lungs, &C. Mis-
conception and ignorance Of chest diseases, pre-
walls to an enormous extent, and hence arises
their farsrreading and overwhelming fatality. 1t
Is preposterous to suppose that wise and good
COD, would create us so imperfecly, that disease
can arise IN its nature incurable, and that may
sweep away the whole human family. Consump-
ton is not child Of nature, but a child of ciyiliza-
ton, and eminenty durable. Men or animals in
their native state are never known to have con.
sumption, but our habits OF civilization produce
pulmonary consumption. On D.
lSo Re CONTINUED;