Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-03-30
Importance Of Correct Breathing.
By JOHN N. HOWE. MD.

instance, traces the bad feelings with
which he is constantly annoyed, to lack
of full and deep inspirations Who traces
the extreme nervousness and depression
of the mind, almost bordering at times on
desperation and insanity, to this cause 4?
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, fattening 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 consequences.
Chemical analysis and physiological re-
search show that the blood is the source
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 secretlons 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 a corresponding abatement 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 chemical
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 fibrin, which is
converted into tissue. In the course of its
circulation it becomes loaded with impuri
ties derived from the action of oxy, 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 off 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
limited supply of oxygen, the elabora-
ton of the fibrin 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 csses, might
have been prevented if proper attention
| hai been paid to breathing. Multitudes
of cases of incipient pulmonary diseases
might be cured by a diligent aud perse
vering use of the organs God has given
US. Many who have been brought tC
premature graves by consumption and
bronchial affections, might have beer
saved to the church and the world by 8
knowledge of these physiological truths
and practical application of them.
The free and easy expansion of the chest
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
fulillment of the respiratory functions.
Stays, uorsets, and tight Wristbands ope
rate most injuriously, by COMPRISING tn,
thoracic cavity, and impeding the due dila
tation of the lungs, and in many Instances
they give rise to consumption. have seeI
one case in which the liver was actuall,
indented by the excessive pressure, ant
long continued bad health, and ultimate
death was the result. Abiding to thi
subject, Mr.. Thackray mentions tha
men can exhale at one effort from six t
ten pints of air, whereas in women tn
average is only from two to four pints. Il
ten females, free from disease, whom h
examined, about the age of eighteen, tn
quantity of air thrown out averaged thre
and a half pints, while in young men o
the same age he found it to amount to si
pints Some allowance is to be made 70
natural differences in the two sexes, bu
enough remains to show great diminu
ton of capacity in the female, which ca
be ascribed to no other cause than the US
of stays.
When we breathe we take into the ches
or exhale and give out certain quantit
of air, which can be measured by breath
! ing through a curved tube into be-
glass of water inverie ed over pneumati
tube. DR.. Herbst, of Gottingen, has latel
been performing some curious experiment
in relation to the quantity of air that
breathed. Now, person of any undel
standing will appreciate from them tn
comfort of full and unrestrained breath
ing DR.. Herbst says that middle-size
! man, twenty years old, after natural ez
piration, or emission of air, inspired @
!, took in eighty cubic inches when dressed
and one hundred and sixty when his tigt
: dress was loosened. After full dilatatio
of the chest, he inhaled one hundred an
twenty inches when dressed, and on
hundred and eighty-six when undresset
Another young man, aged twenty on
after natural expiration, took in fift
q when dressed, and ninety-six when III
=, dressed. Had DIR. Herbst made his obSe
vations on some of the ladies who carr
3 the use of corsets to extremes, we appr,
hend he would have obtained results of
' nature really alarming.
l At the hotel "Dieu," the great hospit,
= at Paris, young girl of eighteen latel
! presented herself to Breschet for his al
vice. On the right side of her throat ST
had tumor of variable size, but new,
larger than ones fist. 1t reached from tt
e collar bone as high as the thyroid cart
lage. When pressed downward it who'll
disappeared, but as soon as the pressu
V was removed it was indOlent, soft ar
;, elastic. 1t was observed to be largest whe
y the chest was tightly laced with corset
: In short, by placing the ear on it, the mu
} mur of respiration could be heard in Il
;, tun,or, which proves that a protrusion
e the lungs bad taken place, or, in 9th
words, that the poor girl had been lact
y so tightly that her lungs, having no long
:, sufficient space in their natural positio
were squeezed out of it, and were forciI
IL their way up along the neck.
To breathe well, the clothing, the po:
= ton in which one stands, or sits, or lie
- , the speaking and singing, all should be
= subsection to the physiological laws of Il
u system, allowing the breathing organ
. upon which the whole organization
pends, ample space to perform their fun
=, tions, while the air of sleeping rooms al
. the ventilation of dwellings, especially
II the inclement season of the year, shou
y not be neglected. Attention to this su
4 ject would greatly diminish the ravages
= disease, and restore health and enjoy me
- to many who now pine away in gloom al
" Iacnop pJapou = uaoUb mud Home