The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-09-11
Importance Of Systematic Lung Exer.

else.
Medical and surgica, Reporter.
If l should say that very many
healthy people do not use all their
lungs for respiration, and that this is
so habitually, some of You may be
surprised. Yet this is very true. and
especially so with men of sedentary
habits, students and women. Some of
these may be '.too lazy to breathe"
yet not fully conscious of it. 1t may
be better to say they are .'too careless
to breathe" or have never considered
its full Importance. DIR. j, H. Tyndall
(''Treatment of Consumption" p. 58)
has we'll said: 'The Importance of
knowing how to breathe cannot be
overestimated. No line of treatment
(of lung diseases) at home or by
change Of climate should he inaugu-
rated without thorough instruction in
lung gymnastics, in the mechanism of
breathing. Until you have paid close
attention to the subject for a number
of years, you will never know how
many human beings do not know how
to breathe, and through which organ
to breathe. Respiration, this most i'm
po2tant of all functions of life, is by
some carr ed on specifically, by 9th
ers pervertedly and contrary to physi-
illogical requirements" ~.
breathing is a function which
should be exercised slowly and pro-
foundly: q requirement which can only
be fulfilled by breathing through the
nose. Breathing through the mouth
leads to superficial and often rapid
breathing; still oftener to swapping off
the air. j..
We are often called on to prescribe
for patients or give advice for relief of
those who are of %sedentary habits, as
bookkeepers, clerks, women or stu
dents, who will complain OF pain in
the upper half of the chest, or of at
least a very uncomfortable feeling of
depression in the breast or lungs.
These patients ofteU express u fear of
organic lung trouble, and that con
SUMPTION is threatening them. In
| such eases VIC will very often note a
laneu;d expression or a=semi-melan-
choly appearance. 1t is also not at
| all uncommon to note n sallowness Of
skin, a feeling of inability for any
considerable manual effort, dyspn9a
when the effort is made, or that the
patient becomes quickly exhausted, is
constipated. has hebetudc of mind,
and very little disposition to do more
than absolute duty demands.
But in such cases l believe we have,
in forced respiration. a valuable means
with which to accomplish complete
relief, or at least to ASST in reaching
such a desirable end. Let a patent
who comes with soreness of breast or
lungs, Il little cough, dyspnGa on cx-
ere Sc, lassitudc, easily exhausted,
rapid pulse on slight exertion, consti-
patton, mental hebelude. etc, com
mcnce at once these forced inspira-
tons and ~eNpirations. and pract ce
this for ten to fifteen minutes from
four to six times every day. and with
proper measures otherwise he will
soon feel like a new He will
need very little medicine, often only a
placebo. aud will need mostly hygienic
management as to diet, hours of work,
exercise, sleep. etc.
Tyndall saws (loc. ci.,) Lung gym.
mast cs proper should be carried on in
the open air, while at work if possible,
or while walking u standing still,
or in a we%ll-ventilated room. The
exact limits to which actual gymnas
tics should be carried on at home or ir
a gymnasium often tax the best judg
ment of the physician. Nearly al
performances require more
or less severe stralning of the pectora
muscles, and sudden calls upon the
heart for increased action"
While walking, the patient SHOULD
as frequently as possible (say, every
ten or fifteen minutes) take deep in
SEPARATIONS and expirations withou
straining, from six 10 eight times il
succession. which act completely emp
ties and fills the lungs"