The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-01-31
MIR. JAMES WILSON,
THE POUTER.PIGRON CHESTED
OR BALLOON MAN.
Scientific Measurements Of the
SphygmOgraph that In Part Ex-
plain O Difilcalt Problem.

The presence in Memphis Ct Nr.
James Wilson, chest expansionist, 9TH
erwise known az the balloon man."
was recently deemed Of sufficient i'm
portance by the Medica! College au-
tborties TO cause them to march their
students in body, with the object Of
showing them something new aud
strange, 10 the Dime Museum, which
is under the able management OF Mr..
Crosby, who spares no expense in
ministering to the instruction rs well
as amusement OF his patrons. AS a
newspaper account OF the proceedings
at the Museum was published next
day, It is unnecessary for me to do
more than mention the fact that the
medical men who examined the case
secuted tho idea that there was abb
sence of the diaphragm or presence CT
this, that or the other OF the visceTs,
which ignorant spectators have ad-
vanced in f@-ciful explanation OF the
extraordinary chest expansion powers
OF Mr.. Wilson. The fact is that the
marked increase in chest giIth during
forced inspiration depends on the
simple fact that lung capacity has not
reached its limit, having steadily &C
companied increased rib mobility. The
ordinary respiratory at is accom-
plisled under the joint action OF the
diaphragm, or muscular septum be-
tween the ebert and the abdomen, the
elevators OF the ribs and the external
intercos' al muscles and GONE parts OF
the internal intsrcostals; while during
forced inspiration numerous muscles
OF the throat, neck, heart, shoulders
and back contract powerfully 10 fix
the upper parts firmly 30 rs to assist
in still further drawing up the
ribs, each pair Of which ro-
tates round horizontal axis through
the backbone, to which they are
united by means Of joints by their
heads and tubercles. Mr.. Wilson's
popularity depends on the fact that
great practice has given him increased
rib mobility. With him the planes Of
the ribs tend TO become horizontal,
the movement OF the upper ribs caus.
ing great increase in the depth OF
the chest, while that Of the lower ribs
tends t. increase its breadth. The
powerful action OF the diaphragm
in increasing the capacity Of the chett
from above downwards, and 30 giving
com f)r the expansion of the lungs,
cannot have been very well under
stood by the philosopher who sta t d
the theory OF absence OF the dia-
phragm to account for what lie could
net otherwise understand.
There can be very little doubt that
under favorable circumstances such
peculiarly as that Of Mr.. Wilson
woald be Of very great advantage in
asst ting man TO overcome the diff
culties offered by the untamed forces
of nature ID his higher development.
We can IMAGINE how hardy and dar-
ing race OF fishermen or hunters might
result from such an ancestor; the
extra chest capacity enabling this one
TO face the perils Of the sea with COM
rarntive fearlessness on account OF the
great swimming ability which would
naturally accompany such increased
power OF ho.at'on, while the primeval
hunter would have q power OF run
ming down his game or finishing a
fierce strugglewhich his less favored
neighbor would not possese, and who
would, therefore, tend 10 go to the
wall in the struggle for existence
should food become scarce or game
become more wary and difficult to APP
proach. But these speculStione,
though interesting, are not the object
OF my present communication. Com
mon sense, whether of the ordinary
observer or OF the medical expert, en-
ables one to take practical view oil
the case which is just sufficient for
general purposes, and 10 that l am
content to leave it. There are, how.
ever, ceit,in points connected with
the physiology OF the case as dis.
tinguished from its anatomical aspect
which are really worth recording, and
which will add interest to Mr.. Viii.
sons exhibitions in the eyes OF some
of those who may visit the museum
during the ensuing week.
In the latest German physiological
work in my possession it is said that
with regard to the effect produced or
the pulse-curve by powerful expila
ton and forced inspire ton observers
are by no means agreed" l thinl
that any person who has seen Mr.
Wilton during his exhibitions will bG
satisfied that the physiological exper
need go no further II he wants case
upon which to perform an experiment
um erucis. On the 2Sth instant l az
fixed sphygmograph to Mr.. Wilson,
right wrist and took the curve CT tn,
radial artery during ordinary respiIa
ton. The curve traced by the needle
OF the instrument was that which hal