The Press., 1901-12-12
WORK. OF THE LUNGS.
THE NECESSITY FOR PURE AIR AND
 PROPER BREATHING.


 Nature to Disease--The Lesson of
 the Black Hole of Calcutta.
 To my msnd the part of the physical man upon which depends all the pos abilities of mental resource is that part which has relation to respiration and which for its perfect work de- bends upon the quality of the air we breathe, the quantity respired and the method thereof. The apparatus for respiration consists of the lungs, which are double, the one on the right side having three lobes, the other on the left only two. We must always bear in mind that nature is generous in her provisions, and she has given us so much of lung tissue that large part can be quickly exhausted and become inactive, yet life endure for its legiti- mate threescore years and ten and it's duties and activities continue unhin- dered by any conscious lack. Under an infinite number of tiny cells or ulti- mate lobules. Some have estimated these at five or six hundred million, and, wonderful to relate. only with the first breath that the infant draws are both lungs ever filled with absolutely new air. All through life there is nec- essarily what we call a residual air, which may be of greater or less amount, according to the breathing habit of the individual. It is said that the extent of surface through which the air breathed passes is approximate ly about 1900 square feet, and the ex- erection from the lungs daily is over two pounds of poisonous matter. In
 fact it is certain that at least one third of the waste and poisonous mat ter caused by the activities of the
 organism, its growth, repair, decay, is
 excreted through the lungs.
 Unfortunately, a great majority of mankind breathe very superficially,
 using only part of this large area of lung tissue. Even if persons are out
 of doors, unless by wise activity, the deep cells of the lungs are not aerated
 for the simple reason that very few
 men or women know how to free the
 lungs properly. Dettweiler states that
 "deep breathing not only ventilates the
 lungs and aids the circulation, but in
 many cases is able to strengthen the muscles of the thorax, especially those about the upper part of the chest" And
 believe that we have right to expect from respiratory gymnastics a real c<r nf1,n r>f tho OP nature to disease. Even if the lungs
 have begun to break down, honest ef- fort in this direction will supplement medication
 One of the methods of correct breath ing is to put the hands lightly on the hips, fingers backwards; throw the shoulders we'll back, hold the chest up, chin in, and then inhale slowly through the nose as long as possible. When some discomfort is experienced, then, forming the lips in the shape of letter O, exhale as slowly and evenly as is consistent with comfort, making a slight blowing sound. Such an exer- else for five minutes, clad only in one garment or, better, with no garment at all, night and morning, in well venti-
 lated room, will do very much in man, woman or child to develop the lung ca- pacity, improve the carriage of the body and enrich the quality of the blood, which depends upon the activity of the lungs for it's purifcation.
 It is no wonder that so much care
 has been given by nature to the appa-
 ratus for the respiratory function, for
 we know perfectly well that man has
 lived as much as sixty days without food, he has been forced to exist for | some time without water; but, alas, without air death must come in a brief space of time!
 For instance, in 1756, 146 persons
 were confined over night in a small space not larger than $500 cubic feet, 1 with only two little windows on one side. Within an hour all broke out in
 profuse sweat. They were tortured | with thirst and difficult breathing, and
 in three and half hours the majority were delirious. Then when the morn
 ing came forty-three only lived to tell | the tale. Another extreme case was at the battle of Austerlitz. Three hun-
 dred captured soldiers were confined in small cellar, and within a few
 hours all but forty were dead. The reason is self evident. The air was in. sufficient for the demands of each in- dividual, the poisonous exhalations from the body were thrown off through
 the lungs. and most agonizing death ensued. It behOOves us, then. most
 carefully to consider in arranging for the ventilation of homes, hotels. hos pitals and jails not only that proper quantity of pure air shall be allowed free circulation. but also to be watch full lest this pure air shall be vitiated by retained impurities.
 A great many investigations have been made to ascertain the relation of air to disease, and perhaps the simple statement of the fact that among all
 industrial classes those are healthier | and have the lowest death rate who are gardeners, farmers. agricultural laborers and fishermen-in other words, those whose occupations are carried | on in the open air-will be a truth all can understand.
 What lesson. then. to all who may have families of children to rear! How
 important that every effort should be
 made to secure the largest amount of
 air space about the dwelling. plenty of
 room for the children to play out of
 doors, and by all means avoid having
 little ones sleep in an apartment which the winds of heaven do not visit.- Julis Holmes Smith. D D.. in Pilgrim. Harsh NefghbOrs.
 "Hcw do you like your neighbors?"
 Mot bit" said the woman who was tying little boys hat on. "You see they don't like children"
 How do you knowY'