Health, or, How to Live

LUNG AFFECTIONS

LUNG affections are very much under the control of discipline. A contracted chest, whether hereditary, or produced after birth, is a general precursor and accompaniment of consumption. This difficulty can be greatly, if not entirely, removed. A contracted chest can be expanded. Indeed, we may almost make our own lungs. When the chest is deficient in space, the lungs are compressed and irritated; and they are unable to inspire as much air as is necessary to properly oxydize the blood and prepare it for arterial circulation. When the blood which comes into the heart from the veins, is thrown from the heart into the lungs, it contains a surplus of carbon — the basis of charcoal. Here it comes in contact with the air inhaled by the lungs, takes a portion of oxygen from the atmosphere, and gives off its excess of carbon. Here, then, the blood, by becoming oxygenized and decarbonized, changes its color; and returning to the heart, it is carried to every part of the system to supply its nutrition. It is then returned again through the veins, to the heart and lungs. Before entering the heart, however, it meets with the nourishment of our food, carried through the thoracic duct into the circulation. — This being added, the blood again enters the heart. HHTL 296.4

In this way the whole system is furnished with nutrition. The oxygen taken in through the lungs, together with a portion of electricity, is carried and distributed to all parts of the body, to maintain its substance and vitality. Hence the importance of having not only wholesome and well oxygenized air to breathe, but a good full set of lungs to perform the process of breathing. If the chest is contracted, the lungs have not room to expand and receive a sufficient amount of air; and the vital powers become impaired. The blood is returned to the arteries imperfectly oxygenized, and electrified, and the whole system suffers. General health becomes impaired, the lungs themselves then often become irritated and inflamed, and death by consumption ensues. HHTL 297.1

A full chest therefore becomes an important matter. If the chest is too narrow and flat, a discipline must be gone into, in order to expand it. With proper effort, the chest and the compass of the lungs may be greatly enlarged. In this way consumption may be prevented. Even if it has already reached its premonitory symptoms, it may be averted; or even in any stage short of ulceration, it can be cured. HHTL 297.2

The manner of doing this consists first in standing erect. Persons with weak lungs are inclined to bend over their chest, letting the spine curve between the shoulders, till the lungs become flattened and depressed. Let every such person bring his mind immediately to bear upon the consequences of this state of things, and determine to stand erect; let the front side of his body measure as much from the highest point on his head to his feet, as the back side from the same point. Let him also lie straight in bed; with shoulders elevated by an inclined plane, and head lying on the same line of elevation, with a single pillow. This unvarying erectness of posture will of itself accomplish much in relieving oppressed lungs. HHTL 297.3

A second step to be taken consists in often inhaling large draughts of air; distending the lungs as much as practicable. By continued practice the lungs will be made to contain more and more air: the air cells become expanded. This should be done many times a day until relief can be obtained. HHTL 297.4

A third step consists in repeatedly — many times a day — throwing the arms and shoulders back. This may be aided by weights in the hands — the dumbbells or something equivalent. The shoulders should be kept back, and not permitted to curve round the lungs. If such be the degree of debility that the shoulders cannot be kept back, or in cases of children who cannot remember to do so, put on a shoulder brace. But where Nature is able to sustain herself in this process, she will ultimately do better without a brace, than with it. Those who use them are apt to depend on them, without trying to discipline themselves. If people will bear this matter in mind, and can possibly support the effort, let it be done without a brace; do the same in respect to this, as ought to be done in respect to medicines; use them as the last resort, where Nature cannot perform her own work alone. HHTL 298.1

Where a cough exists, this will demand attention. One of the very best cures for cough, is to stop coughing. Instead of allowing it to have full sway, increasing the irritation of the lungs and bronchial tubes,let it be suppressed as far as practicable. This will diminish the irritation of the lining membrane of the bronchial tubes and the substances of the lungs. The less the coughing allowed, the less the inclination to cough. Where this effort cannot succeed, then some resort must be had to palliatives in the form of remedial agents. When this shall be done, let the mildest palliatives be used which are able to give relief, and as few opiates as possible. If a homeopathic medicine will operate, so much the better. In all cases where a cough is the result of consumptive lungs induced by dyspepsia — and such cases are not few — the best cough-drops in all the world are made by dropping the habits in which the cause originated. HHTL 298.2

Another important matter, is living and sleeping in apartments well ventilated. This is important as a means of health, or the relief from any form or kind of disease. Every apartment of a house, and every school-room-room and public hall, should have a ventilator at the top of the wall. This allows the air in the room to keep itself pure. A portion of the oxygen being taken up by the lungs, and carbon being given off by them, the air becomes devitalized and unfit for being received again into the lungs. This impure air being lighter than healthy air, rises to the top of the room, and will pass off if it can find vent, leaving room for pure air to come in. In this way the lungs are receiving new and healthy air by every inspiration. HHTL 298.3

For the same reason, no one should sleep without free access to a change of air. The offensive smell of sleeping rooms in the morning is owing to the repeated breathing of the same air, till its vitality has become destroyed, and the impure exhalations from the body pent up in a close room, where the air cannot renovate itself. It is all folly for people to talk of being so feeble that they cannot bear a window open, especially in summer, in the night. Every one can bear air enough to sustain healthy breathing; and all notions to the contrary are foolish and wicked. In small rooms, a window, or door, or both, should be opened in winter, as well as in summer. If we breathe the same air twice, it cannot the second time furnish sufficient oxygen for the blood. If people would give heed to these facts, they would prevent and even cure a large proportion of consumptive cases which appear among us. The strength and endurance of the whole system depend, in a very great degree, on the amount of healthy air that is breathed. HHTL 299.1

Tight lacing — compressing the lungs with ropes, and boards, and steel — is now nearly abandoned; but still dresses are made too tight in the waist, and too much filled with whalebone. The chest should have free room to expand itself, and allow the lungs to fill with air. The breathing should meet no resistance from dress. HHTL 299.2

There is great damage done at the present day to the health of females by hanging under-dresses upon the bowels. The unnatural weight dislocates the bowels and all the other viscera of the abdomen. It drags them downward from their proper location and connection with the stomach, diaphragm and lungs. This leaves a space between these organs which gives a sensation of faintness and sinking at the pit of the stomach, which is often called a “goneness.” This leads often to a bending over of the chest and flattening of the lungs. Other organs also suffer. The liver is pushed downward and rendered torpid. The bile, which is the appropriate stimulus for the bowels, becomes deficient; the bowels become sluggish and costive; and the blood is left impure because the bile is not properly taken up, as is shown in the countenance. HHTL 299.3

If ladies would have health and a pure, clear skin, they must allow their lungs to receive the air freely, their liver a chance to cleanse the blood, and their bowels an opportunity to clear themselves. Unless they will do this, they cannot long maintain a clear skin and a healthful feeling. Costive bowels alone are ruinous to a healthy body and a cheerful mind. This state of bowels is produced, not only by a sluggish liver, but by the whole viscera being pressed downward upon the lower intestine, and preventing its proper action my mechanical pressure. All other kinds of costiveness can be greatly overcome by discipline in mind and diet; but that which is caused by mechanical pressure cannot be cured till the pressure shall be removed. HHTL 300.1

The use of physic in such a case would be as unphilosophical as taking an emetic to get rid of tight boots. The bowels and other organs which are fallen down upon the lower bowel, must be pressed upward. Every weight must be removed from them, the dresses suspended from the shoulders, and the bowels repeatedly pressed upward. If their drooping cannot be overcome in this way, a supporter should be worn till their native strength has accumulated. But where costiveness depends alone on the sluggish action of the bowels themselves, it can be overcome by mental discipline. The mind should be brought to bear every morning on their action. They should be brought under the magnetism of thought. Let the mind electrify the bowels till they will move. A regular, systematic discipline in this way has overcome many a case of obstinate costive habit. A mental determination, persevered in, will sometimes effect that which never can be done with medicine. Indeed, medicines should never be taken for costiveness, if it be possible to do without them. Alternatives only increase the difficulty in the long run, as a general rule. HHTL 300.2

Another complaint prevalent at the present day among ladies, is depression of the uterus. This may be caused by a weakness in the ligaments which suspend it, or by falling and pressure, as already described, of the bowels. Where it is produced by the latter cause, the remedy is obvious. Raise the bowels up to their place, and keep them there. When this cannot be done without mechanical support, an abdominal supporter should be used, till Nature shall again be able to support herself; for, without this kind of relief in the case, there can be no cure of this uterine derangement. Here let every young female see how liable she is to incur immense suffering by the weight of heavy skirts hung upon the bowels and resolve never to run the risk of ruining herself for life in this reckless way. The Bloomer costume is certainly to be commended for one of its characteristics, — all the skirtings are hung upon the body of the dress. This lets the shoulders carry the weight of the whole dress, and the bowels and other organs are left free from pressure. HHTL 301.1

Where the depression of the uterus is owing to debility of the ligaments sustaining it, some means must be resorted to for the restoration of tone. This may generally be done by giving tone to the muscular system in general; for these difficulties are generally found in those of feeble physical forces. Hence, restoring the general tone of the muscular system will give tone generally to this part. That part of the system which can be exercised with the greatest advantage in these cases, is the arms and chest. Instances have often occurred where females laboring under this form of complaint were so feeble that they were almost, and sometimes quite, unable to walk. Many such have been cured by a process of exercise which only called into exertion the muscles of the arm and chest. By sitting and lifting weights, tossing balls, and such other measures of discipline as were proportioned to their strength, many have been restored to perfect health and soundness. HHTL 301.2

Millions of females are suffering for want of some vigorous employment of their physical energies. They do not go out enough and exercise in the open air, expand their lungs, and exercise their limbs. The English ladies generally, could almost take one of our puny, pale-faced American ladies in their hand, and carry them through town in their fingers. But walking is not sufficient exercise; it only uses the muscles of the lower limbs. The most important part of the system to be exercised, in any one of sedentary habit, is the arms and chest. An editor once said, “The best board for dyspeptic ladies, is a washboard.” This remark contains sound philosophy. They need, not only for dyspepsia, but for the complaints just described, as well as others, some vigorous exercise for the muscles of the arms, chest, and abdomen. Raising the tone here, will by sympathy raise the tone in other parts. — Philosophy of Health. HHTL 302.1