The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-04-30
Philosophy of Position in Repose.


There is reason for everything, if
we can only find it out, but it is some
times very hard to discover the reasons
of even the very simplest things. Every
one who has travelled much, and even
those who have merely looked through
books Of travels, must have been struck
by the variety of attitudes assumed by
the people of different countries.
The Hindoo sits down on the ground
with his knees drawn up close to his
body, so that his chin will almost rest
upon them; the Turk squats down cross
legged the European sits on chair
while the American often raises his legs
to a level with his head. Nor are the
postures assumed by the same people
under varying circumstances less di-
verse. Climate or season, for sample,
will cause considerable alteration in the
posture assumed as was well shown by
Alma Tadema, in his pictures Of the
four seasons exhibited in the academy
a year ago. In his representation Of
summer he painted a woman leaning
backward on ledge, with one leg loose
" hanging down, white the other was
drawn up so that the foot was on q level
with the body In the picture of Win
ter, on the other hand, we saw a figure
with the legs drawn up in front Of the
belly. The reason for these different
postures has been explained by Rosen-
thai. The temperature Of the body, as
is well known, is kept up and regulated
by the circulation Of the blood through
it, and a great proportion of the blood
contained in the whole body circulates
in the vessels of the inteztines. Now
the intestines are only separated from
the external air by the thin abdominal
walls, and therefore any change of tenn
perature in the atmosphere will readily
act upon them. unless they be guarded
by SOME additional proteo ton
The Hindoos are well aware of this,
and they habitually protect the belly by
means Of a thick shawl or cummerbund
thus guarding themselves agoinst any
sudden change of the temperature. This
precautiOn Is also frequently adopted by
Europeans resident in hot climates, and
is even retained by them after returning
to England. But the function Of the
cummer-bund may to a certain extent be
fulfilled by change of posture alone.
w H6u the I0GS are uTdNH up dc ia the
picture of Winter already referred to,
the thighs partially cover the abdomen,
and taking the place ofadditional clothing
aid the abdominal walls in protecting the
intestines and the blood they contain
from the cooling influence of the exter-
nal air. Thus it is that in cold weather,
when the quantity Of covering in bed is
sufficient, persons naturally draw up
their legs towards the abdomen, so as to
retain as much heat as possible before
going to sleep in hos weather, ON the
contrary, they wish to expose the abdo-
men as much as possible to the cooling
influence of the atmosphere. The pos
ture depicted by Alma Tadema is the
most efficient for this purpose. 1t no doubt
answers the purpose to lie down fat on
ones back, but in this position the abdo-
minal walls are more or less tight, whereas
when one of the legs il drawn up, as in
the painting just alluded to, the walls
are relaxed, and, the intestines not be-
ing subject to any pressure, the blood in
them will circulate more rapidly, and
the cooling process be carried on more
effeetuaIly. In this attitude, also, the
thighs are completely separated and loss
of heat allowed from their whole surface,
Il Nature.