Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-03-31
Importance Of Correct Breathing.
BY JOHN NJ. HOWE. N. D.

upon this subject is always interesting and
appropriate.
Notwithstanding the excellent works
extant, the breathing of many persons Is
80 imperfect as to be the superinducing
cause of their various ailments. Who, foi
instance, traces the bad feelings with
which he is constantly annoyed, to lack
Of full and deep inspirationf Who traces
the extreme nervousness and depression
of the mind, almost bordering at times on
desperation and insanity, to this cause
And yet the evidence Is conclusive that
there Is no more prolific cause of dyspep.
sia, liver arrangements, constipations, ex.
treme physical languor, with mental and
nervous depression, resulting in the dis.
tortion of the spinal column, flattening OF
the abdomen, and rigidity of the entire
muscular system, with cold extremities.
1t is not enough that we are constantly
surrounded by the air both out of doors
and in our houses. If we do not intro
duce a sufficient quantity into our system,
disease is the inevitable consequence.
Chemical analysis and physiological re.
from which are drawn the elements for
forming each part of the animal system.
OF this fluid the whole fabric Is built up,
and its sap, juices and secretions sustained
and replenished
The temperature and vital force of the
body are dependent on the introduction of
oxygen into the system, which can only be
done by perfect inspiration. The lungs
are placed in the body for this purpose,
and unless they are employed to the ex-
tent of their natural capacity there must
be q corresponding abatt tment of vital
| power, and eventually the life will be
shortened
Many of the cases of consumption which
affect humanity, and hurry so many to un-
| timely graves, are but the natural result
of imperfect breathing. This will be ap.
parent when we consider the che nical
changes which are effected in the system
through the agency Of oxygen. Food Is
taken in the stomach, and by digestion
! convered into blood, which circulates to
every part of the system, depositing,
wherever it is needed, its tibrin, which is
converted into tissue. In the course of its
circulation it becomes loaded with impuri-
ties derived from the action of oxyr en- on
the elements of food and the various tissues
OF the body, which, if allowed to continue
in the circulatory system, would produce
disease and death; but by being carried to
the lungs, is there brought in contact with
the air introduced by them, and parts with
its deleterious substances, which are car
ried Oft by expiration, and becomes
charged with oxygen, which is needed to
keep the system up to its normal condi-
ton of heat and activity.
BY this process the venous blood Is
arterialized and is again fitted for its of.
flee in the circulatory system. If there is
a limited supply of oxygen, the elabora.
ton of the fbrin of the blood into tissue
is proportionally retarded, and the lodg
ment of the particles of imperfectly formed
tissue on the membrane of the lungs pro
duces irritation, Inflammation, und finally
tubercles, or tubercular consumption"
This final result, in most cases, might
have been prevented if proper attention
hrd been paid TO breathing. Multitudes
OF cases OF incipient pulmonary disease:
might be cured by o diligent aud perse
vering use of the organs God has giver
us. Many who have been brought tC
premature graves by consumption anC
bronchial affections, might have beer
saved to the church and the world by
knowledge of these physiological truths
and practical application of them.
The free and easy expansion of the ches
is obviously indispensable to the full play
and dilatation of the lungs whatever i'm
pedes it either in dress or in position il
prejudicial to health, and, on the othel
hand, whatever favors the free expansion
of the chest equally promotes the healthy
fulfllment of the respiratory functions.
Stays, corsets, and tight Wristbands ope
rate most injuriously, by COMPRISING the
thoracic cavity, and impeding the due dila
tation Of the lungs, and in many instances
they give rise to consumption. have seer
4. 1. Al.
indented by the excessive pressure, and
long continued bad health, and ultimate
death was the result. Abiding to thi:
subject, Mr.. Thackray mentions that
men can exhale at one effort from six tc
ten pints of air, whereas in women the
average is only from two to four pints. In
ten females, free from disease, whom he
examined, about the age of eighteen, the
quantity of air thrown out averaged three
and half pints, while in young men OF
the same age he found it to amount to six
pints. Some allowance is to be made fol
natural differences in the two sexes, but
enough remains to show great diminu
ton of capacity in the female, which car
be ascribed to no other cause than the use
of stays.
When we breathe we take into the chest
or eXhale and give out a certain quantity
of air, which can be measured by breath
ing through a curved tube into a bel
glass of water, inverted over pneumatic
tube. DR. Herbst, of Gottingen, has lately
been performing some curious experiments
in relation to the quantity of air that il
breathed. Now, a person of any under
standing will appreciate from them the
comfort of full and unrestrained breath
ing Dr. Herbst says that a middle-sized
man, twenty years old, after natural ex
piration, or emission of air, inspired oi
took in eighty cubic inches when dressed
and one hundred and sixty when his tight
dress was loosened. After full dilatatior
of the chest, he inhaled one hundred anG
twenty-siX inches when dressed, and one
hundred and eighty-six when undressed
Another young man, aged twenty one
after natural expiration, took in fifty
when dressed, and ninety-six when un
dressed Had Dr. Herbst made his obser
vations on some of the ladies who carry
the use of corsets to extremes, we appre
hend he would have obtained results of {
nature really alarming.
At the hotel Dieu," the great hospita
at Paris, a young girl of eighteen lately
presented herself to Breschet for his ad
vice. On the right side of her throat shC
larger than ones fist. 1t reached from tht
collar bone as high as the thyroid carti
lage. When pressed downward it wholly
disappeared, but as soon as the pressure
was removed it was indolent, soft anC
elastic 1t was observed to be largest wher
the chest was tightly laced with corsets
In short, by placing the ear on it, the mur
mur Of respiration could be heard in thu
tuR,or, which proves that protrusion o
the lungs had taken place, or, in othel
words, that the poor girl had been LACED
SO tightly that her lungs, having no longel
sufficient space in their natural position
were squeezed out Of it, and were forcing
their way up along the neck.
To breathe WELL the clothing, the posi-
ton in which one stands, or sits, or lies
the speaking and singing, all should be il
subsection to the physiological laws of tht
system, allowing the breathing organs
upon which the whole organization de
nends amnla snaca 10 nerfnrm thair Ginn