Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-08-26
HOW TO BREATHE.

There was once q learned book writ
ten by the famous Indian traveller and
student, Catlin, which was entitled,
''Shu, Your Mouth and Save Your
Life" 1t was not about guarding the
utterances of the tongue to avoid dis
putes and troubles as one might sup
pose, but its great secret was in tell
ing people how to breathe. The fol-
lowing extract from an article by Helen
Clark Swazey in 81. Nicholas, en-
bodies the same ideas and quotes one
of his stories of Indian experiences:
Tight dress ing, though the most SER
ious hindrance to the habit Of good
breathing, is not the only obstacle.
There are careless ways of sitting and
standing that draw the shoulders for
ward and cramp the chest; as 1t Is
hard for a closely bandaged hand to set
copy of clear, graceful penmanship.
Then there are lazy ways OF breathing,
snd one sided WAYS of breathing, and
the particularly bad habit of breathing
through the mouth. Now the nose was
meant to breathe through, and Is mar
velously arranged for filtering the i'm
purities out of the air, and for chang
ing it to suitable temperature.fo for en-
tering the lungs. The mouth has no
such apparatus, and when air Is swal-
low d through the mouth instead of
bTeathed through the nose, 1t has an
injurious effect upon the lungs. A
story is told of an Indian who had a
personal encounter with white man,
much his superior in size and strength,
and who was asked afterward if he was
not afraid. "Me never afraid of man
who keeps mouth open," was the i'm
mediate reply. Indeed breathing
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 a habit of
deep breathing if 1t does not already
exist, but, in addition to this, the re-
serve air which is left in the lungs
after an ordinary expiration should be
expelled and the lungs thoroughly ven
tilated at least twice every day. First,
then, see 10 it that the air in the room
is as pure and fresh as out of-door air
can make it. Then, with all tight and
superduous clothing removed, lie fat
on the back and, with the mouth frm-
ly closed, take deep breath. Hold it
eight or ten seconds, and then let 1t
out. Take another, and yet another
breath in the same way.
After that, take breath into the
lungs as slowly as possible, beginning
to fill them at their lowest extremities,
ard inhaling gradually until they are
filed to their full capacity, when the
air should be exhaled in the same slow
and steady manner in which it was
taken in. Repeat this exercise three
Or oh on1 10
the shoulders are kept drawn down and
immovable while the air is inhaled, as
they should be, or if they are drawn
up, and are thus robbing the diaphragm
and muscles of forced breathing Of
half their exercise.
When you have taken this movement
again to make sure that the shoulders
are in good position, throw your arms
vertically over your head and take an
other quick, fu 1 inspiration, swinging
the arms rapidly to the sides close to
the body and back again over the head.
Swing the arms up and down four
times on the same breath, and repeat
the exercise three or four times.
After this, it is a good plan to stand
erect with the arms horizontal at the
sides, and vigorously clap the hands
from that position over the head few
times. When taking such movements
IN an erect position, always keep the
chin two or three inches back of the
vertical.
A few such exercises as these, for
| five or ten minute at night and morn
ing, will promote refreshing sleep and
give incr eased vitality for duties and
occupations of the day; aud it may be
noted in conclusion that low oondi-
ton of the blood is seldom found
where there is an established habit OF
full, deep breathing with the mouth
closed.