The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-10
ASSISTING THE BODY.
ucsIthfulneas OF Merry Laughter Full
Demonstrated.

While I'm conversation with DIT. W. W.
f,or,,c~ IN sorne therapeutical matters OF
general interest that gentleman poihteu
OUT how necessary even the most lhsls-
niGcant looking motions OF parts Oh INC
human BODY are ia bringing about per
feet state Of health 81, ar
"eorne years ago." the Doctor said, i
,yroto an article entitled "Why don't they
yr,feqn and l have been intending Tor
como time 10 say something about the
value OF laughter. There is more happl-
ness In the world tnan most people mink
II YOU Will notice on the streets there are
many merry people, especially young peo-
pie. ,
"If Won accost some serious thoughtful
persons I'm n cheerful way, you Will nhu'
their sOlemnity is not deep and you nave
the answer Of a pleasant smile. Cheer-
fulness bcgets checrfulness ana the duly
of all to be cheerful, is therefore appar-
ent. How It lightens the load on the
hearti ,,
81 lately came across a most beautlful
little essny on 'Merry Laughter" so much
more beautiful than any thing / could say
that | will not longer keep 1t from your
readers. 1t is from q late issue OF the
MARYLAND Medical Journal and by us tal-
ented editor. Or. A. X. Bond. Doctors
VIII appreciate more than other men the
exquisite grace Of some OF the express
sions. II may be well 10 add for the IN
formation Of the laity, that II is Dy the
spasmodic contraction Of the dIa
,1broro, the floor OF the lungs, that
laughter is produced more Vlo1eh1 con-
traction produces sneezlng.
me article on merry laughter reads as
follows: ,-,.o-
,s Of many sorts. There is the laughter
~ derision; the laughter Of mere nervous
ness. finding its acme in the schoolgirl
pigele: and that nameless laughterpecd-
liar apparently TO Americans, utterly IN
comprehensive and offensive to Euro
peans the laughter OF attention. All OF
these are suppressed or abbreviated forms
OF laughter, and so are excluded from
our consideration at this time. having no
therapeutic influence.
But the laughter Of pure merriment.
What do We not owe to its genial inllu-
ence? What would this world what
would society, be without It!
"A merry laugh is the index Of sunny
disposition. Of "A happy heart. il cannot
be counterfeited. It's place in nature
can never be filed by the smile OF
over-wrought civilization, with when
the countenance Of the social automatoh
is "sicklied Ger" at stated intervals.
The physiology OF merry ldubHtti -
worthy Of study. II IS the dance OF he
diaphragm. which trips rhythmically up
on the underlying abdominal organs. e1-
citing peristalis and quickening the
flow OF the life-bearing blood current
We may believe that beneath its benign
rule also the wholesome secreuons OF the
pancreas and liver are poured out in great
ar abundance upon the contents Of the di-
gestive canal sweetening. and checking
while the eyes twinkle and the muscles OF
the face circle into festal wreaths Of Jolli-
tv. Surely. such a healthful habit must
not be allowed 10 vanish from the earth
Every phianthropist must protest against
such a robbery Of life's treasure-house
The vices which pollute the fountains OF
pure laughter; the lust for gain which
atrophies the faculty OF mirth, the phil
OsOphy which stiles merriment; must all
Weld 20 the pressure OF human need and
give way 10 customs and teachings more in
accord with the hygienic laws Of the hum
an body. Even the sO-called culture Of
higher civilization which ohliterates
the happy. careless age OF childhood and
robblng laughter Of its element OF inter
nal massage. reduces Il 10 useless and
emasculatcd relaxation OF the feature"
must bow before the truer needs Of life.