Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1893 — HOW TO BREATHE. [ARTICLE]

HOW TO BREATHE.

Consumption May Be Prevented by Proper Methods, August Century, 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. 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 each 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 servicable 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 capacity can count up to sixty or eighty, while in a female, even with good lungs this capacity is somewnat 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 in 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 while walking out in the open air, will have a very beneficial effect. ‘ Thebrealhing of compressed and rarefied air is attracting wide attention at the present time in connection with the prevention and 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 distention of the whole chest, while during expiratian, a feeling of emptiness is experienced. Consumption Is not a disease which

originates in a day, but is the outgrowth of morbid habits and agencies which may even antedate the the birth of the individual. Defective breathing is one of these habits and its pernfeiofls prevalence is more wide-spread than is generaly suppposed.