Keeping physically fit; common-sense exercises for the whole family (1916) (14758663666)

Identifier: keepingphysicall00crom (find matches)
Title: Keeping physically fit; common-sense exercises for the whole family
Year: 1916 (1910s)
Authors: Cromie, William J. (William James), 1877-
Subjects: Physical education and training
Publisher: New York, The Macmillan company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress



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n exchange of gases which takes placebetween the capillaries and the tissues in whichthe blood from the lungs parts with its oxygenand absorbs carbon dioxide which is thrown outin the breath. The brain is affected by deepbreathing as is shown by its tendency to causegiddiness, but this feeling soon wears off in thosewho cultivate the habit. W. Marcet, M. D., F. R. S., says that deepbreathing increases the power of sustainednervous effort. He claims that a man who inordinary breathing lifted a weight of four poundstwo hundred times in succession after a restand deep breathing for two minutes lifted thesame weight seven hundred times. Deep breathing quiets the nerves and is use-ful in neurasthenia as it increases the will power.When troubled with insomnia I have securedsleep by going to an open window and takingdeep breaths for five minutes. I know of manyothers whom the same treatment helped. Deep breathing will very often relieve consti-pation and indigestion, due to the vigorous rise
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110 Keeping Physically Fit and fall of the diaphragm. Add to this the in-fluence of powerfully oxygenated blood, and theintestines perform their peristaltic movements,which are necessary for digestion, with moreenergy. Exercise is especially effective in relievingconstipation. In medical gymnastics, deep-breathing exercises are used in anaemia, nervousand digestive disorders of the circulation. Now for the exercises. In deep-breathing ex-ercises we should aim for the following results:to strength the muscles of ordinary breathing,as the diaphragm; to strengthen the extra mus-cles of breathing such as those of the shoulders,arms, and back. We should endeavor to pre-serve and increase the elasticity of the lungs, todevelop evenly all their parts, to heighten per-manently their capacity. Still other objectsshould be to expand the chest, to deepen theordinary breathing and reduce its rate, andstimulate the circulation of the blood. Thereare thousands of air cells in the lungs that or-dina