The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-02-27
Position In Repose.

There is reason for everything, if
we can only find it ont, 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 travel, must have been
struck with the variety of attitudes as
sumed by the people Of different coun-
tries. The Hindoo aits down on the
ground with his knees 6r,uSn up close TO
his body, SO that Lis chin will almost
I.rost upon them; de Hunk squati down
cross-legged; the European sits on
chair; while the American often raises
his legs to level with his head. Nor
are the postures assumed by the same
people under varying circumstances less
diverse. Climate or season, for example,
will cause considerable alteration in the
posture assumed, rs we'll as shown by
Alma Tadema in his pictures of the
four seasons exhibited in the Academy
year ago. In his representation of
Summer he painted a woman lean
ing backward on a ledge, with one
leg loosely hanging down, while the
other was drawn up so that the foot
was on level with the body. In the
picture of Winter, on the other hand,
we saw figure with the legs drawn up
in front of the belly. The reason for
these different postures has been ex-
planned by Rosenthal. The temperature
of the body, as is well known, is kept
up and regulated by the circulation of
the blood through it, and great proper
ton of the blood contained in the whole
body circulates in the vessels of the in
testines. Now, the intestines are only
separated from the internal air by the
thin abdominal walls, and therefore any
change of temperature in the atmosphere
will readily act upon them, unless they
be guarded by some additional protec-
ton. The Hindoos are we'll aware of
this, and they habitually protect the
belly by means of thick shawl or cum
merbund, thus guarding themselves
against any sudden change Of tempera-
ture. 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 cummerbund may to a
certain extent be fulfilled by change of
posture alone. When the legs are drawn
up, and the picture of Winter already
referred to, the thighs partially cover the
abdomen, and taking the place of addi-
tional clothing aid the abdominal walls
in protecting the intestines and the
blood they contain from the cooling in
fluence of the external air. Thus it is
that in cold weather. when the covering
is insufficient, persons naturally draw up
their legs toward the abdomen, so as to
retain as much heat as possible before
going to sleep. In hot 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
fiat on ones back, but in this position
the abdominal walls are more or less
tight, whereas, when one of the legs is
drawn up, as the painting just alluded
to, the walls are relaxed, and, the intes-
tines not being subject to any pressure
the blood will circulate more rapidly,
and the cooling process be carried on
more effectually. In this attitude, also,
the thighs are completely separated and
loss Of heat allowed from their whole
surface. Mature.