Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-01-07
The Technique Of Breathing.

miliar WIN tne DenentS conferred upon
their race by modern science have
ceased 10 hold up The ways of our fore
bears as examples for our imitation.
Unless the exception to this rule he a
barbaric blockhead, he admits that
wells sunk in the heart of city or in
the vicinity of a fanmyard, or at the
foot of hillside cemetery, had much
to do with the putrld fevers that walk,
ed, devouring pestilence, in the dark
mes Of the good old times. He appre-
clates that the active life led by day in
the open air was needed to counteract
in his great grandfather's system the
evil effects Of sleeping upon a feather
bed in a lCwbrcwed room whose dorm
er windows were not open all winter
long. He is nc. ignorant of the salu-
tary dieteuc restrictions and food val
ues, although he may cling to the
wretched theory that cur ancestors liv-
ed longer and were stronger even
down 10 old age than we, their degen-
crate descendants, can hope to do and
be.
Yet the majority of sensible people
in this, the cycle of practical common
sense, are ignorant of or culpably neg
hgent in the practise of the technique
Of breathing. Four-fifths o fthe race
do not breathe properly once in twen-
ty-four hours. Dogberry, often quoted
and never stale, set the pace Of the av
erage thinker. 1t is no more rational
to opine that the right method of res
piration comes by nature than that
reading and writing do. In the golden
by-and-by, which is to confirm all that
is good in our generation and to recti-
fly the EVIL, breathing will be taught
in the lrusery and made the first order
of the day in the kindergarten. The
intelligent mother will explaint to the
child upon her knee the use of his
lungs as she now expatiates upon the
proprlety OF washing his face and
hands.
How many educated mothers
though they may be college graduates
-hethink themselves OF the unpleas-
ant fact that they carry about with
them daily and allow to remain in
! their children's lungs quantity, more
or less in volume, of foul, unchanged
air. Psychologists know and phySi
clans Will tell you-with carelessness
that is strange when one considers the
gravity of the circumstances-tha
there is always in the lungs what is
known technically as 'residuary air."
Furthermore, that seven deep, dellber-
ate resprations are necessary to eXpel
this residuum and to supply its place
with fresh air. If piled with further
questions, the man of healing divulges
that most people never breathe all the
way down to the bottom of the lungs;
that, in consequence of this neglect,
the lower lungs become inactive, some
times atrcphied-occasiona tai
though such cases are phenomenaD
ossified.
Reduction to Ineligible English
eliminates the truth that health and
vigor depend largely upon The action
of the lungs, and that when this i'm
portant function is impaired, disease
and Weakness must ensue.
A celebrated Health Club to which
have had the honor and happiness to
belong for some years, enjoins upon
each member the duty of taking one
deep breaths every day, advis- !
ing that these be drawn in sections of
ten each, at convenient seasons. Those |
who practise learn to take advantage |
of the freshest air to be had in the |
course of the day. The first ten !
breaths are enjoyed after leaving the |
morning bath. The shoulders are
thrown back, the chin is level or
slightly raised, the arms are held |
lightly to the side, the hips are firmly |
closed. Never breathe with the |
mouth open" in an admonitlon which
can not be too rigidly enforced.
The ten breaths are drawn from |
new, live air, not that which has stag
mated all night in the house. Each in
spraion is slow and steady. filling the
lungs 10 their depths, the live air is
held for a few seconds, then respired as
slowly as it was drawn in. To throw
it out in a rapid pant is hurtful to
muscles and tissues.
Ten breaths taken this way will not
only strengthen and refresh the respi-
ratcry apparatus, but quicken the blood
into liyelier flow so naturally and
healthfully that the action of the heart
is not made regular. The skin all over
the body is tinged with clear pink
the system having been awakened all
along the line of life. In cold weather
ten deep breachs, taken on the ferry
boat, the keen salt air tingling in the
nostrils, or in the tech of north wind
earring down the street, will warm one
rom head 10 toe. The thought and the
action become an instinct in time, the
iuty a pleasure which is missed when
united
When the lungs are threatened with
/ severe cold, pneumonia may be-of-
or, de-Javapted nv narsiutanf and cara