The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-10-24
PHYSICAL Culture.
SOME VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS IN
REGARD TO BREATHING.

hEGAffD ~ bHEA fflIvtis
Results Of InhaIing Impure Aria Phy-
sioIogicai Expianation-Give the Lungs
Plenty of Pure Ai1--A Few Exercises
for the Lungs.
Some Of our readers who may be far re-
moved from any opportunity Of gymnastic
work In regular gymnasiuns, may feel that
there is little use in their trying to undertake
such work, however much they may need
physical development. But they are mis-
taken. II one really Is Ia earnest, much can
be done. II may be something like taking
medicine for certainly there Is less fun In
home exercise than In the gymnasium. but il
viii soon become interesting ard enjoyable
One Of the first and most important things
for any one to do is to put into your lungs,
several times day, as large an amount OF
pure air as possible. On this depends SO
much the absolute oxygenizing OF the blood,
which carries nutriment to every part Of the
body. The amount Of impure air which
people are willing to take into their lungs IL
perfectly marvellous. Half q dozen peopla
will sit In an ordinary sized room, with one
or two kerosene lamps, perhaps, which are
eating the same vital principle from the air
that the lungs need, whole evening, with
windows and doors tightly closed, and won
der why they feel so sleepy or headacheyi
Could they be required to measure the air
capacity Of the room, and compare it with
the amount Of air Initiated by one person In
q given time, they would be surprised to find,
perhaps, that, during the first hour, so much
oxygen has been taken from the air, and 80
much carbonic acid az 4 SO many impurities
thrown into it, that, from that time they had
been breathing and rehreathing Initiated air,
which each respiration renders moro and
more impure.
PHYSIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION.
Could they only watch the change in the
flow of the blood, they would not only not
wonder they did not feel brilliant, but they
would be astonished that the brain worked at
all, with such insufficient nourishment The
blood that flowed freely at first, and Of
bright scarlet color, would gradually grow
more sluggish in its action, and the color
would change slowly to a more and more
purple hue, indicating that it carried less and
less oxygen, the life giving principle, and
more and more of the clogging and poison
GUS elements. It is unfortunate this process
cannot be watched, but, If you really want
to be strong, see to it that you give your
lungs plenty Of good afr. sleeping and wax
ing.
Another point you may not have thought
Of. It'll ono thing, and the first one, to have
the air you wnnt to breathe pure and abund-
anti the next thing is 10 know how to take II
properly.
"Why, we breathe all tho time,n you say.
Very true; but most people breathe very
badly, giving only tho upper cells Of their
lungs any refreshment, while the lower cells
are painting, so to speak, or, rather, it Is the
middle cells which get the most nutriment.
while the upper and lower lack It,
In ordinary inspiration the lower part OF
the lungs should DO inflated first, and the
upper chest should move little or not at all.
While this process is going on, a certain set
OF muscles Is constantly at work There IL
another set that is not needed except in case
Of forced inhalation and exhalation. The
lungs need this extra feeding, and forced In
halation and exhalation should be INDUCED
in two or three times day.
Unless you arc sure You are a rood
breather, you VIA best accomplish tho d.
sired end by lying fat on your back. In this
position the back muscles are kept stationary
and the shoulders held down, while thu
diaphragm viii moro surely be depressed.
When your forced inspiration Is taken a. Il
should be, the lower chest will rise strongly
first; then the side muscles viii swell. caiis-
ing at the Same time slight depression again
in front; then tho muscles of the upper chest.
Many people suck the diaphragm up, nppar-
emily, actually making the lower chest
smaller. Raise the lower chest rnuscularIv
first, IL you have this habit, and then fore.
the breath In,
EXERCISES ron THE LUNGS.
Here are O few movements:
Talso strong, full breath, as nearly right
as may be, through the nostrils, hold a
second, and expel the same way. Repeat
several times.
Now, inhale strongly, hold, then, making a
small aperture with the lips, us though YOU
were going to whistle, blow il out vigorously,
inhaling again the second 1t is ont. Repeat
several times, and you will probably End, by
tho time you have taken the third or fourth
breath, you are breathing properly; the lower
part OF the chest will move normally at first.
while the upper chest viii move later with
out thought on your part.
Next, take a strong breath, and hold It
while you count twenty, then gradually in
crease the count to forty or fifty. Do not
repeat this more than twice.
Again, take full breath and exhaust very
slowly. Then initiate as slowly as possible.
Count while you are at work, thus diyerting
your mind and giving you an opportunity Of
testing your gain. After workingv on your
back long enough to know you are working
In the right way, try the same movements
standing, raising the arms at the same time
slowly over the head.
When tho blood Is circulating freely by
this process, rise vigorously on the toes
twenty or thirty times, increasing as you
can; then lift the toes strongly, keeping the
heels firmly down; then stoop very low, sep
arating the heels, throwing the knees well
apart and out, and keeping the back a.
straight as possible. This will keep up tho
circulation and develop tho regs.--Mary q.
Allen in Youths Companion.