Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-09
HON. to Breathe COrrectLu

TToRsEs. dogs and babies know how
i 10 breathe without instruction, but the
majority of adults and even hah-groWh
children are quite unacquainted with tne
art OF correct breathing. In correct preath-
ing the entire chest cavity Is eNpahueu
The chest is constructed In such way as
to facilitate normal breathing. In the low
er part Of the body we have the pelVls'
which supports the form. At the upper
part of the body are the collarbones, shoul-
der blades ribs and breastbone. The verte-
brae behind form a support for the upper
part of the trunk In the middle portion
OF the trunk are the floating ribs. AT this
point there is great hexibility and oppor-
tunlty for movement, so 1t is apparent that
the greatest movement should be In the
center.
The trunk Is divided by a movable muscu-
lar curtain--the diaphragm-which moves
TO and fro with respiration. When air Is
taken into any part Of the trunk the cavity
is enlarged. The lower part of the trunk
must necessarily expand with the upper
part. Normal breathing is the means OF
rhythmicaly compressing the Viscera ana
so pumping the blood out of the large veins
of the abdomen. At the same time, with
each breath, the diaphragm descends ana
congresses the Viscera as one might wiring
water out of a sponge. The movement OF
the viscera is necessary for health.
The diaphragm is a pump; It pumps air
on one side and blood on the other. Breath
ing has an important relation to the circu-
lation for the movement of the diaphragm
pumps the blood out of the liver, sending 1t
out into the general circulation. Deep
breathing then, is Of the highest Importance
in maintaining the health of the stomach
the liver and other abdominal organs. When
deep. forceful respiration does not occur
the blood stagnates in the abdominal WIS.,
cera and disease is the result.
rort,,aI m n NJ finn is sixteen
TO eighteen times a minute, or about one
breath for every four heart beats. The
rate of respiration differs greatly in differ
ent animals. The hippopotamus, for ex-
ample breathes ninety times a minute, and
the rat two hundred times in the same
period. The OK, the dog and the horse
breathe at about the same rate as man.
The amount Of air that passes In and
out Of the lungs during respiration is about
twenty-five cubic inches. This represents,
! however, but small part of the actual
| capacity of the lungs. The average man is
| able to take into the lungs. after an ordi-
nary respiration, one hundred or more cubic
| inches and to force out of the lungs, after
| an ordinary expiration, an equal amount
| There is still left in the lungs after as
much air as possible has been forced out
| Of them, about one hundred cubic inches,
| making the total lung capacity of the av-
| erage man about three hundred and twenty
| five cubic inches. which Is equal to nearly
| one and half gallons.
During the sleeping hours the respiratory
movements are more superficial than when
| one is awake and resting. They are also
| slower. The lungs and chest are a great
| central engine which influences the activity
| of every organ, even every cell in the entire
| body. Lessened breathing, during sleep,
| slows down every function. 1t is necessary
| that activity should be lessened in order
| that sleep and rest may be secured, but
| the work of the liver and kidneys and in
| testnal digestion goes on during sleep to
| the same extent during the waking
| hours, thus requiring the expenditure OF
| oxygen. Hence the body should be supplied
| with an abundance of fresh air during sleep
| by the proper ventilation of the sleeping
| room.