Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-03
STARVING THE LUNGS.
Matron's Common-senss Talk sor v,.s-
Chested Young Women.

Matron's Common-sen.. TALK fur v,.s-
Chest~d Young Women.
From the New Ycrk World
1T s possible for woman 20 improve her
complexion. brighten her eyes and increase her
strength without the expenditure Of a nickel.
or the loss OF ten minutes time day, n she
will do ne I say"
This was the declaration made Just one month
ago yesterday by rosy, well-rounded mA,ron
before party Of women friends. who had been
discussing ills and aches for an hour or more an
her uptown fat. Two Of them were married
women and they both looked worn and dragged
One was childless. the other the mother Of four
children The rest Of the party consisted OF one
twenty -year-old girl pale. nar-ow-chestod and
weak; another girl about the same are who.r
labored breathing partly accounted for
when we looked at the wasp waist and the rig,d
casing plainly visible under the dress Then
there was third. possibly half q dozen years
oIder than her COMPANION, Of better phyaqoe
thhn they. but dull-eved and laneuid Ne
hostess was in direct and striking contrast With
all hse. Her ewes sparklod. her checks elowe.i
her step was firm and there WINS q subtle mag
heusm IN her healthfulness that attracted YOU
while IL made you envious.
When Nellie's headaches and Fm,na's ti,~d
back and Gertrude's weak lungs had heeu fully
discussed. ritied and sighed over and vhen
the childless wife had explained about her own
ailments and those OF her pug dog. and the
mother OF four boys told of her daily routine
indoors the symposium had nearly resehs.i
the verge 81 fearful sympathy Ii was then
that the one healthy-minded healthy bodi,,b
woman spoke. IL was a rather rude shock %
have one ailments 80 suddenly Get az naught.
but the very novelty of the thing made them
listen.
The trouble with you girls, she said. and
she Included the two wives in this category
sis that you are starving"
There was q murmur Of surprise at this. and
the Young women looked at each other 81
don mean you are starving your stomschs
continued the matron. but Won are starving
your lungs You don't drink in enough air
and what you do take in you take in improp-
eriy. Now, what want Won all 10 do is 20 try
10 Initiate my manner Of breathing for one
month. and take this lung exercise not less than
four times day for the first week and a dozan
times day thereafter. Now. all stand up
hands at your sides-let them hang naturally
chIns up and mouths shut See how I do a.
The teacher threw her shoulders back end
slowly took deep inhalation through the pcs-
triis. The well-rounded bust filed out and the
veins on the neck swelled. A tape measure
taken In hand by the speaker before she began
TO talk, was placed under her arms and around
the chest. IL showed a measurement Of 81.
inches. Then the air was slowly expelled from
the lungs and the tape drawn taut e IS
inches. showing an expansion Of ssI inches
| threw the tape aside. that this exercise be
taken in the open air, and TO gain the benefits
L have mentioned you must observe these
rules:
''First-wear no corsets at all; or, II You
must wear them, have them looser than YOU
ever wore them before.
''Second-Breathe through the nose and
keep your mouth shut. This 10 Of vital i'm
portance.
"Third.-TGke breath with every stem a. Won
l WE IL and lss tsl A.
Then exhale the air more rapidly than you took
1t IN and empty the lungs completely This is
as important as breathing through the nostrils
because it empties the lower lobes Of the lures
that are rarely called into action except during
| violent exercise. Their capacity il Increased
and strengthened by use. Follow out these
rules for month and report results-
The instructions were faithfully carried out
by four OF the party. One Of the girls became
| i'll and was unable TO make the test OF the
four who carried il out the most noticeabls i'm
provement was that Of the young woman With
the weak lungs. She had gained three poends
in weight, her appetite was good. her ewes
brighter and the muddy complexion showed
signs Of clearing.
1T was really task at FIRST" she said. 81
don think ever took deep breath before in
my life. loosened my corsets as directed and
the first deep inhalation gave me q pain in the
upper part Of my right lung. II seemed, too
that all the blood rushed TO nv head while I
/ ~
all my head began to ache. This Continued for
| three Gays every time tried il. but after that
il passed away, and then seemed 10 get new
life. walked over the big bridge and took in
the air from the river twice q week. AZ the
end of ten days my appetite began to increase.
ate more and let ont another inch Of corset
After that the pain in the right lung disap-
peared and didn't feel such a rush Of blood 10
the head. The chest expansion 10 2ss4 inches,
an increase OF half an inch"
The languid young woman made q report
later IN the day. but she could hardly be called
languid then, for she was animation itself and
declared her intention Of continuing the treat
ment indefinitely. The mother Of four boys
reported progress She had, TO tell the truth.
forgotten her instructions for days at a time,
because there was 80 much 10 do at home"
The childless wife was as lively o. o sixteen
year-old school girl and her chest measure
ment had increased from 81 TO 81 inches m
inflated.
I'VE will form a society,"" said the matron.
''and call il The Society for the Expansion of
the Lungs There viii be no officers, no dues
and no meeting place, but 1 hope every woman
in the city Of New York will become . member
and strictly observe the rules