The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-10
NATURAL BREATHING FOR STEADY NERVES

OAGAV1f NERVES ,sg. .".
 Last week we quoted from 'fIald- ane's "Respiration" (Yale Univer- sity Press, l93S) the following:
 The common symptoms or com paints of neurasthenic persons or those suffering from fatigue or shock are analogous to the exagger- ated reflex restriction in the depth of breathing and the inability to hold the breath (as long as c normal person can, say 40 seconds). All these symptoms seem to be due to what Hughlings Jackson called Gre. lease of,control." A.F 'tss,sl {
 If Schafer,s method of artificial respiration the prone pressure method universally used for resus- citation of victims of submersion, electric shock, asphy2iation with smoke or gas) Is applied to Q normal subject who voluntarily suspends breathing, 1t is quite easy to main- tain Q rhythmic flow of six quarts, per minute more or less, of air Into and out of the lungs. That Is the average amount of air breathed in Q minute by normal adult at rest. l' But if the subject voluntarily overbreathes, that Is, takes regular deep breaths, but without violent effort, at the rate of twelve Q minute for Q period of l-2 to 2 minutes, until 50 much carbon diox- ide is washed out that apnea en. sues.--a period of c minutes or more when there Is no desire to breathe and no need to, and then the prone pressure artificial respiration is ap- piled, there IS Q board-like rigidity of the chest and belly muscles which resists the attempt to compress the thorax 80 completely that little or no air can be pumped in and out of the lungs-until the period of apnea passes and the natural desire and need for oxygen returns. This phen. omenon Is called the Hering. .Breuer reflex tHering and Breuer first noticed and described iO and 1t serves as c protection against over- -breat thing or over.ventilation.
 The neurasthenic patient may feel that "he cannot expand his chest to breathe, just as If 1t were mechanically restricted and he de- velops symptoms which, with the frequent, shallow breathing, Hald- ane calls "asphyxial."
 Right here I beg to quote from article printed in this column last year. '...1' .....
 "When anoxia (oxygen deficit develops in the course of an illness the intellect and tho senses become dulled without the patienb being subjectively aware of what has happened" .g
 (This accounts for many inexpN- cable or irrational decisions made by ailing folk who are not inoompe- tent in the ordinary lay or legal sense.)
 "An individual in the earlier stages of anoXia may feel quite confident that is mind is clear, and his Judgment sound when in fact he Is aberrant, lacks ,Self-control and is likely to behave In on un- reasonable manner. Ills memory Is impaired, his appreciation of time iS altered. Understanding is ifn- paired moro than sensation. The subject sees without knowing what
 "0reat muscular weakness and easy fatigabiiity are characteristic effects of anoxia, whether ia illness or in mountain climbing (or in air- sickness when flying ct great alti. tude. Nausea, vomiting, or less of appetite occur rather where the anoxia is less gradual in onset, as in mountain climbing or flying ... rapid, shallow breathing is typical of anoXen!a. ."t
 Tn "Hhow to Breathe" (booklet In Little Lessons series, by William