The record-union., 1895-09-23


coming loyal to that foe through compul-
sion. Mere submission is not loyalty.
ARE WE BREATHING CORRECTLYs
Most people believe that they know
how to breath. But it is fact Of which
| physicians are well aware that only a very
few people in breathing fulfill the entire
Office. In the SotRitGridn for September
| DR.. Patchen writes of respiration as
remedy. He holds that full exercise of
the respiratory organs does more than to
supply the blood with its normal need,
but it goes SO far as to be remedial
agent, and to develop parts that without
proper breathing must suffer. That is to
say. regulated breathing is remedy for
certain ills; it is curative power of much
efficiency, and DR.. Patchen goes so far as
to say that it's cultivation may be an ef-
fectual remedy in some distressing forms
of chronic disease.
! HI holds that both health and disease
|
the same organic functions. Disease is
condition of imperfect vital action, then.
q failure to carry forward physiological
I processes sufficiently harmonious to
maintain health. although there are of
course many external influences affecting
! healthy processes Unfavorably, but the
! t~,,-c IL nf
| tematic or constitutional.
To illustrate the doctor supposes many
people to be camping, and the tent to be
! blown down by a storm, by which the
party is drenched and chilled. Here ex-
posure is the common external incident,
/ but the results will be as different per-
! haps as there are people, but usually
would be that some would have rheuma-
! tism. some pneumonia, some catarrh,
while the majority would remain well.
| Disease does not become chronic until
! the vital action has been some time de-
| ficiert. So that restoration of the vital
| function is the path to cure. He declares
at this point that in searching for rem
edy that may be uniformity depended on
! 10 promote vital processes and functions.
| tory rythm caused by the abdominal form
of respiration, because it is intimately as
sociated with all the vital functions en-
gagged in the processes of nutrition, but
more because it exercises q dominating
! influence over them.
! What then is abdominal respiration?
! The answer Is that a chronic sufferer is
always a good brestner, therefore one
who is poor breather is not likely to
ing means for one thing the consuming
of all the oxygen habitually that normal
capacity demands. But good breathing
takes in also the motion of the abdominal
walls and diaphragm.
To illustrate, he takes the cases of de-
fective circulation in the veins and capil-
/ laries. Stagna.ion and congestion in
them give rise to various disorders of
more or less severity. Stagnation or con-
gestion requires practically the same
treatment. no matter in what organ or
locality. The rational remedy for effects
| due 10 veinous stagnation is cultivation
of respiratory rythm, the means of nature
for the perfect aspiration of the veinous
channels in all parts of the body. This
cultivation is to be continued so long
edly maintained in the most satisfactory
manner.
He holds that the curative effects Of
respiratory rythm are not limited to in
fiuence over the contents of the veins
and capillaries, but runs to the relief of
maj positions of the pelvic organs; this.
power ofthe diaphragm. Sustentation is
not state but function promoted by
the motion of the abdominal walls and
/ the diaphragm as they participate in the
act OF respiration. So that chronic di-
gesiive disturbances are TO be remedied
| very often by proper breathing, notably
} For the doctor holds that these ills are
not so much the result of a sedentary
/ life as OF restricted action of the dia-
phragm ana diminished respiratory
/ rythm, which lessons the supply of in
spired oxygen necessary, in large sense.
! to the proper assimilation of food. Re-
store to the dyspeptc the natural force
and power OF respiratory rythn, and you
remove, says he. a cause of his infirmity,
although his sedeutary habits may re-
main the same.
But what does the doctor mean by
respiratory rythm? Simply this. to ex-
/ tend respiratory motions of the chest TO
the abdomen. But this can be done only
/ by cultivation in those whose breathing
is defective. In ordinary cases any IN
! telligent person can practice this cultiva-
/ ton. but IN the weak and sickly il must
/ be promoted under the advice ana direc-
/ tion of skilled physicians, for voluntary
respiration is fatiguing exercise and the
weak must approach II cautiously. Hence
/ the doctor strongly advises cultivation
through gymnastic exercise. or Swedish
movements which are commensurate
with the strength of tie body, and that
are of a character to compel respiration
! 10 assume the abdominal form.