The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-11-11
HOLDING THE BREATH

A normal person at rest can take . full breath and then hold his breath 45 seconds. | that is the average, some persons break at 80 l seconds, some not until full minute. But if there is some impairment of the heart
 or the efficiency of the circulation, the time the | individual can hold his breath is shortened. Ii it falls below 20 seconds he should leave 6 note | asking St Peter to call doctor.
 Now and then some one solemnly assures me that although afflicted with this ana that seri- seconds. What of it? I knew man who was so sick he was dead and he had been holding his breath for hours when gracefully bowed
 Some students in California, having nothing much the matter and nothing else to do' held their breath for more than 13 minutes. But they prepared for the stunt by several minutes of forced breathing first, to get the carbon di- oxide content of the blood and the air in the lungs away down and the oxygen concentration away up, and then filled the lungs With pure oxygen just before they began holding the breath.
 Anybody can by 1a or two minutes of mod erately forced breathing-that Is, deeper 1nna- lations through open mouth and nose, ana slightly forced exha1ations at slightly more than the normal rate per minute-so charge the blood with oxygen and lower the carbon dioxide tension in it that he or she can reaoliy hold the breath two minutes.
 Accumulation of carbon dioxide, and not d1n- mutton of the oxygen in the air In the Iunss' IS what makes us breathe.
 In any case of asphyxia where artificial res- piration is being applied, it is a great advan- tage if instead of air the victim can be made made to breath mixture of air or oxygen with from 5 to 10 per cent of carbon dioxide, as from an inhalator-but never from a pump or lung mo- tor Only Schafer's manual prone pressure should be used to make the victim breathe.
 If you are not sure you are prepared to re- susctate in any emergency. send TOT the liius- nus and a stamped envelope bearing your address). The chief purpose of the bellows breathing is Id the pump of
 through the veins to the right side Of the heart' whence it is pumped into the lungs for oxygen
 one cannot actually increase the absorption of oxygen by "deep breathing" Any and every such squirt of deeper or faster breathing Is Tn. evitably compensated by a following period of shallower slower breathing, even by a pc riod of no breathing. that the normal level
 of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood IS regained in a few moments. Almost any other exercise than forced breathing will more .cer- tanly increase the absorption Of oxygen In the body and the metabolsm rate.
 It is best to try to forget all preconceived notions about the way to breathe, and especial
 y the teachings of physifan edeqre onarla ae a soldier on parade, an athlete in training or | just plain person, you will find 1t distinctly vour chesty complex and resume bellows | breathing where you left off thousand years | ago. -.,x
 Buttermilk
 Is buttermilk good for a baby with weak | stomach? (Mrs "A. Al
 Answer-In certain circumstances it may be
 
 | healthful beverage for any one who likes it. Ii l is just half as nutritious as fresh sweet milk | The tactic acid bacteria in it (they are the nat l ural sourers of milk) are probably beneficial | to digestion.
 | If Your Loved One Should Need Help can't savvy the idea of your constant crit | icism of the American Red Cross. And yOu | claim to be q doctor! If you know more thar | the noted authorities. (R. w. O. Answer-You will ''savvy if you understand Il the reason for~my criticism. It is clearly ex- Il plained in the illustrated booklet on "Resusci | tation" Send a dime and stamped envelope | bearing your address, and ask for the booklet | Immunization
 | have hearsay evidence of several case | where children given sOxin-anttOxn instead | of becoming immune to diphtheria, becam,
 more susceptible. (Mrs A. c. E)
 Answer-I can't conceive what such evidence | would be. It requires perhaps three months for the full immunity to develop. after the tox in-antitoxin has been given. Sometimes a chile contracts diphtheria shortly after the first o second weekly dose, and such lead tt | such Misunderstanding By all means giv
 every child who is not already immune thu benefit of toxin -antitoxin or toxoid immuniza tion against diphtheria before the child enter school or as soon thereafter as may be. Copyright 1888. John F. Dille Co)