Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-12-31
THE HOUSEHOLD.
About Brenthing.

II is a curious fact that, although breath
ing is very simple and necessary accom-
plishment, there are a great many people
who have forgotten how to do it in the best
way. 4 you will watch perfectly healthy
baby when it is asleep, you will see that It's
shoulders are quite low and even, that its
mouth is usually closed, and that it is
breathing comfortably from its lower chest.
We know that the lungs are the chief puri-
iers of the blood but to perform their du-
ty satisfactorily the air-cels of the lungs
must be filed with filtered air, and they
must have plenty Of room in which TO work,
SO we are, ON the whole, well satisfied with
the baby's method of breathing. In fact,
we have reason to believe that the system
has been taught by nature herself and
when we can get natures methods at first
hand it is seldom worth while to try to i'm
prove upon them very much.
But when the baby grows up, if it chance
to be girl, her clothing is usually such
that it interferes with the free action of
muscles that are concerned in enlarging the
cavity of the chest, so that the lower part
of the lungs, which should be busy taking
in their share of oxygen to make the blood
fresh and bright, are seldom used, and the
blood goes away from the lungs only partly
freed from its impurities, while the lungs
themselves do not get exercise enough for
their own good
But tight dressing, though the most seri-
Gus hindrance to the habit of good breath
ing, is not the only obstacle. There are
careless ways of sitting and standing that
draw the shoulders forward and cramp the
chest and it is as hard for the lungs to do
good work when the chest is narrow and
CONSTRUCTED as it is for a closely-bandaged
hand to set a copy of clear, graceful pen
manship. Then there are lazy ways of
breathing, and one sided ways of breathing,
| and the particularly bad habit of breathing
through the mouth Now the nose was
| meant to breathe through, and it is marvel
/ lousy arranged for filtering the impurities
out of the air, and for changing it to "A suit
able temperature for entering the lungs
| The mouth has no such apparatus, and
when air is swallowed through the mouth
/
an injurious effect upon the lungs A story
is told of an Indian who had personal en-
counter with a white man much his superb
or in size and strength, and who was asked
afterwards if he was not afraid me new
er afraid of man who keeps mouth open,
was the immediate reply. Indeed, breath
ing through the mouth gives foolish and
weak expression to the face, as you may
see by watching any one asleep with the
mouth open
1t is well to establish the habit of deer
breathing if it does not already exist, but
in addition to this, the reserve air which is
left in the lungs after an ordinary expira
ton should be expelled and the lungs thor
oughly ventilated at least twice every day
First, then see to it that the air in tn,
room is as pure and fresh as out-of-door ali
can make it. Then, with all tight and su
perfluous clothing removed, lie flat ON thu
back and, with the mouth firmly closed
take a full, deep breath. Hold it eight q
ten seconds, and then let it out. TAX
, another, and yet another breath in the SAM
: way.
After that, take breath into the lung
, as slowly as possible, beginning to fill then
, at their lowest extremties, and inhalin
gradually until they are filed to their fuI
capacity, when the air should be exhaled il
the same slow and steady manner in whic
it was taken in. Repeat this exercise tire
1 or four times Now watch and see if tn
p shoulders are kept drawn down and in
movable while the air is inhaled, as the
, should be, or if they are drawn up, and ar
t thus robbing the diaphragm aud muscles O
p forced breathing of half their exercise.
1 When YOU have taken this movemel
Il again to make sure that the shoulders al
- in good position, throw your arms vertica
: " over your head and take another quicl
e full inspiration, swinging the arms rapid
y to the sides close to the body and back agai
e over the head. Swing the arms up an
down four times on the same breath, an
: repeat the exercise three or four times.
,, After this, it is good plan to stand ere
e with the arms horizontal at the sides, an
l. vigorously clap the hands from that pos
ton over the head a few times. When tai
ing such movements in an erect position
e always keep the chin two or three inch
Y back of the vertical.
e a few such exercises as these, for five
Is ten minutes at night and morning, will pr
" mote refreshing sleep and give increased y
D tally for duties and occupations of the da!
le and it may be noted in conclusion that
N anpmic or low condition of the blood is ;,
r dom found where there is an establish,
% habit of full, deep breathing with the mou
10 closed.-HeieH clark S,cdzy, in ST. Mich
N las.