Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-05-01
How to Breathe.

rs to how they eat, drink and sleep, but
very few ever give the slightest atten-
ton to how they breathe, and yet res
piration is one of the great functions OF
all physical life. The habit should be
formed of ext anding the lungs slowly
to their utm st capacity many times
daily in the fresh air. Digestion is eff
fected by respirat on and circulation.
Should the latter be deficient, the prop.
er amount of blood is not sent to the
stomach during digestion; and should
the former be imperfect the blood will
lack strengthening power, as good
blood is obtained from pure and we'll
assimilated food, we'll oxygenated by
breathing plenty of pure air; thus from
good blood, circulation and respiration
we have built up structures of healthy
muscle, nerve and brain. Let us not
forget to take into consideration the
quality of the brain; the quantity may
be great and sufficient, but where it
lacks tirmness in texture there will be
no remarkable traits. Muscle, to be
the best, should be firm and tough;
this would bring us to conclude that
the greatest minds are found where
there is bulky, compact brain, con-
nected with firm, densely-knit, we'll
constructed body. Yet animal power
is not mind, but is that something
which is required by the mind in this
world to manifest it through. A dis.
eased state of the body affects the mem.
DRY. weakens the system generally; and
those channels through which we were
won't to receive the pleasurable emo
tons have, with the thrill of IN instant,
electrified mi lions of nerves which we
spring to execute their perverted func-
tions, wreaking on US the most terrible
physical and mental torture There is
one rule to be observed in taking ex.
ercise in walking-the very best form
in which it can be taken by the young
and able bodied of all ages-and that
is, never to allow the action of respira.
ton to be carried on through the
mouth. The nasal passages are clearly
the medium through which respiration
was designed by our Creator to be
carried on. "God breathed into man s
nostri!s the breath of life" previous to
his becoming living creature. The
by long walk with the mouth firmly
closed, and respiration carried on
through the nostri instead of through
the mouth, is inconceivable to those
who have never tried the experiment.
Aud, indeed, this mischievous and really
unnatural habit of carrying on the work
OF inspiration and expiration through
the mouth instead Of through the nasal
passage is the true origin of almost all
the diseases of the throat and lungs,
as bronchitis, congestion, asthma, and
even consumption itself. The excessive
perspiration to which some individuals
are 80 liable in their sleep, which is SO
weakening to the body, is solely the
effect of such persons sleeping with
their mouths closed. And the same
unpleasant and exhaustive results arise
to the animal system from walking with
the mouth open, instead of, when not
engaged in conversation, preserving
the lips in state of firm but quiet
compression. As the heat and velocity
of the blood through the lungs depend
almost entirely upon the quantity OF
the atmospheric air inhaled with each
inspiration, and it is unavoidable that il
should be taken in volume by the
mouth, while it can only be supplied in
moderate quantities and just in su!i.
Gent proportions to serve the purpose
of healthy respiratory action while
supplied through the nostrils, it is
clear that the body must be much light.
er and cooler, and also the breathing
much freer and easier, when the latter
course, rather than the former one, is
adopted. Children should never be
allowed to stand or walk with their
mouths open; for besides the vacant
appearance it gives to the countenance,
it is the certain precursor of coughs,
colds, and sore Threats.