People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1893 — PREVENTION OF CONSUMPTION. [ARTICLE]

PREVENTION OF CONSUMPTION.

Certain Breathing Movements Claimed to Be of the Greatest Value. I think it is evident that proper development, and expansion of the lungs by means of well-regulated breathing must be regarded as of the greatest value in the prevention and in the treatment of the inactive stages of pulmonary consumption, says Dr. Thomas J. Mays in the Uentury. The more simple the method the more effective and practical will be the results which flow from it. Among the many exercises which are recommended for this purpose the following movements are very valuable: The arms, being used as levers, are swung backward as far as possible on a level, with the shoulders during each inspiration, and brought together in front on. the same level during e’ach expiration. Or the hands are brought together above the head while inspiring, and gradually brought down alongside the body while expiring. A deep breath must be taken with each inspiration, and held until the arms are gradually moved forward, or downward, or longer, in order to make both methods fully operative. Another very serviceable chest exercise is to take a deep inspiration, and during expiration in a loud voice count or sing as long as possible. A male person with a good chest can count up to sixty or eighty, while in a female, even with good lungs, this power is somewhat reduced. Practice of this sort will slowly develop the lungs, and the increased ability to count longer is a measure of the improvement going on withhi the chest. Or, again, the taking of six or eight full and deep breaths in succession every hour during the day, either while sitting at work or walking out in the open air, will have a very beneficial effect. ’

The breathing of compressed and rarefied air is attracting wide attention at the present time in connection with the prevention and the treatment of pulmonary consumption, and is another mode wherewith the chest capacity can be decidedly improved. When air is breathed in this manner there is felt during each inspiration a gentle distension of the whole chest, while during expiration a feeling of emptiness is experienced. Consumption is not a disease which originates in a da£, but it is the outgrowth of morbid habits and agencies which may even underlie the birth of the individual. Defective breathing is one of these habits and its pernicious prevalence is more widespread than is generally supposed.